Conjugal Rites

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Conjugal Rites is a play by the actor and playwright Roger Hall.

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Performance history

Conjugal Rites was first performed in the United Kingdom at the Watford Palace Theatre [1] on 24 January 1991. It starred Nicky Henson and Gwen Taylor.

The play was premiered at Centrepoint Theatre, Palmerston North in 1990 - starring Alice Fraser and Geoffrey Heath. It was also performed in New Zealand at the Fortune Theatre (New Zealand) in Dunedin. It starred Timothy Bartlett and Janet Fisher. [2]

In 2011, Conjugal Rites was performed at The Courtyard Theatre in London, directed by Andrew Keates and starring Alexandra Boyd and Gary Heron.

Characters

Synopsis

Barry, a dentist, and his wife Gen are in bed when the play begins. They are about to celebrate their 21st wedding anniversary. The scene - their bedroom - remains the same throughout the play, as we see the couple discussing their marriage, their grown-up children and their work.

It is clear that a major shift has occurred in the power balance between the two of them, since Gen has studied for a law degree in later life, and has recently become a practising solicitor.

Towards the end of the play there are revelations about infidelities on both their parts - Barry with a patient, and Gen with a fellow solicitor.

TV adaptation

Conjugal Rites was adapted as a situation comedy for ITV made by Granada Television which ran to 13 episodes over two series in 1993 and 1994. The lead roles were taken by Gwen Taylor and Michael Williams. Though they are only referred to, but not seen, in the stage play, the couple's son and daughter appear in the sitcom: Phillip (Stephen Moyer) and Gillian (Cordelia Bugeja). [3]

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Conjugal Rites is a British television sitcom which aired on ITV in two series between 16 April 1993 and 17 June 1994. It is based on the 1991 play Conjugal Rites by Roger Hall, with Gwen Taylor reprising the role she had played on stage.

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References

  1. ↑ "Conjugal Rites". Archived from the original on 3 March 2012. Retrieved 24 May 2009.
  2. ↑ Samuel French acting edition
  3. ↑ Conjugal Rites
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