Director thrilled about new play
Published on The Gazzete (Basingstoke)
by Lucie Richards
LAST night saw the premier of an Anvil Arts production which will transport its viewers to 17th century Venice.
The Haymarket theatre is hosting the first-ever performance of new play Original Sin, by Steve Hawes, about a Venetian convent in 1609 faced with an inspection by the Inquisition.
The play is directed by Paul Chamberlain, and he is thrilled to be tackling a new piece.
He said: “It’s incredibly exciting. I love doing new plays because they are so dangerous – you really don’t know until the first night exactly how an audience is going to respond, and it’s a challenge for the actors who are creating a new role and can’t talk to somebody who’s done it before.
“It’s also great having a writer who’s living to work with, and who is available for some of the rehearsals – it’s helpful to the procedure.”
Chamberlain and Hawes have collaborated before, including an adaptation of Tristan and Isolde and Triangles, about the dark lady in Shakespeare’s Sonnets, at The Haymarket.
He said they started working on Original Sin two or three years ago and explained: “This play is a totally original idea and it’s historically very thoroughly researched. It’s got a lot of authenticity and period detail.”
The director, who is director of regional programmes at The University of Winchester, is full of praise for the play’s set design, and stresses the importance of the production’s music.
Chamberlain (pictured) said: “The play is set at a time when Monteverdi was working as a musician in Venice and so we have developed a musical score which uses Monteverdi’s music.
“The abbess who runs the nunnery is a musician and the nunnery is a very musical place.”
Despite a historical focus, Chamberlain is adamant the play is accessible to a modern audience.
He said: “There are all sorts of things for a modern audience to enjoy. It’s a good night out at the theatre. There’s lots to think about but there’s a strong narrative.”
Original Sin is running at The Haymarket from October 16 to 23, and tickets, from £17.50 with concessions available, can be booked by calling the box office, on 01256 844244, or online at anvilarts.org.uk.
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