What you need to know: ‘It’s a human interest story’. Geraldine Barclay is looking for a job. She gets an interview for a post as secretary in a mental institute. She turns up.

What you might like to know: The ideals of farce and visual humour, set off against Orton’s sharp, satirical dialogue make this one of the finest pieces of British drama of the 1960s. Attacking religion, bureaucracy, healthcare and in fact almost all establishments of the time, this play caused an outcry on its debut. Orton’s taste for upsetting the public was well documented, with provocative letters to the newspapers under false names and vandalising library books, but ‘What the Butler Saw’ came at the peak of his popularity sparking more controversy than ever.

What you don’t need to know: This cutting satire of modern cultural values will be set against the jolly decorations of the hall, and delightful interval refreshments. Here is revealed the underlying juxtaposition of a society that harshly criticises itself on one hand, and then stuffs itself full of minced pies when no-one is looking. In this way the production seeks to bring together the two key, conflicting impulses of society, of self-denial and indulgence. We just said you don’t need to know this. Why are you still reading?

Cast

Dr. Prentice – Christopher Dunlop

“I’m a perfectly normal man’

Geraldine Barclay – Menna Bevan “looking for a part-time secretarial work. I’ve been certified insane”

Mrs Prentice – Alice Booth

“mistress of the fraudulent climax”

Nicholas Becket – Ben Watts the “real page-boy”

Dr. Rance – Rob Castell

“your immediate superior in madness”

Sergeant Match – Tom Loudon “I’m ready when you are Doctor”

Production Team

Directed by Peter Sorel-Cameron Produced by Fran Albery

Set Design Kate Catchesides

Technical Director Chris Howcroft Technical Assistants Jack Robson

Laura Coombe Set Construction Chris Banks

Costume Designer Lizzie Green

Special thanks to: Rhett and Julia from the Maddermarket, Jon Hyde and Rob Little, Becca, UEA Security, Val Taylor, Seth Sinclair, Maddie, Duncan Gates, Liz Sidebottom, and Café Nero. Dr. and Mrs Prentice would like to thank the Station hotel for the use of their linen cupboard. Extra special thanks to: Victoria McKenzie, Ned Glasier, Rachel Grundy, and the Drama Soc Committee.

Coming Soon:

UEA Drama Society Presents:

CLOSER

by Patrick Marber

Wed. 4th, Thurs. 5th and Fri. 6th February 2004 UEA Drama Studio

Box Office: 01603 592272. Tickets: £3.50 concs.