Presented by Next Stage Theatre Company
Tuesday 26th - Saturday 30th November at 7.30pm with a matinee at 2pm on Saturday 30th
Susan - middle-aged and married to Gerald, a fusty, self-absorbed Vicar - treads on a rake and knocks herself out. A slightly ineffectual Doctor - Bill Windsor - is summoned and, suspecting concussion, he orders Susan to rest whilst Gerald, and his waspish sister Muriel, look after her. Dysfunctional son Rick, in his early 20’s, is coming to lunch and will want to see that his mother is getting better.
So far, so predictable - Alan Ayckbourn in familiar suburban territory with middle-class families, embroiled in middle-class lives and values. But this clever, thought-provoking and ultimately sobering play has a twist. To escape from her routine and mundane life, Susan invents an imaginary family: Andy a handsome and adoring husband, Tony an athletic and loving brother and Lucy an attractive and doting daughter. All of them are invested by Susan with the characteristics accomplishments so dismally lacking in her “real” life family. However as Susan’s concussion worsens her life begins to run out of control and soon real and imaginary worlds collide. As Susan sinks helplessly beneath the weight of these two worlds her fragile mental state reaches breaking point.
Performed by an outstanding cast of Next Stage actors, headed by Caroline Groom as Susan, Woman in Mind is the final play in Next Stage’s Silver Anniversary year.
Performed 25 years on, almost to the day, from when it was first staged in Bath in 1994 as the second production of fledgling Next Stage Theatre Company, director Ann Ellison BEM is delighted to be re-visiting her favourite play by friend, mentor and company patron - Sir Alan Ayckbourn.
Staged in-the-round, Woman in Mind will be a fitting conclusion to Next Stage’s exciting year of Birthday productions and a fitting tribute to the patron who has done so much to help and support the company.
Come along and celebrate with us all at the end of Next Stage’s 25th year of delivering theatrical excellence to Bath audiences.
Cast:
Rehearsal Photographs:
