South Downs (play)

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South Downs is a 2011 play by the British playwright and author David Hare. It is set in 1962 in a public school, similar to Hare's own school, Lancing, in the South Downs. [1] It is a response to Terence Rattigan's 1948 play The Browning Version and was commissioned by Rattigan's estate to mark Rattigan's Centenary.

Contents

It premiered alongside a revival of Rattigan's The Browning Version from 2 September to 8 October 2011 at the Minerva Theatre, Chichester (the small auditorium of the Chichester Festival Theatre). The two plays were directed separately by Jeremy Herrin (South Downs) and Angus Jackson (The Browning Version).

The plays re-opened after a sell-out run at Chichester, at the Harold Pinter Theatre, London, on 24 April 2012 for three-months. [2]

A radio version was produced for BBC Radio 4, broadcast on 1 September 2012. It was also directed by Jeremy Herrin, produced by Catherine Bailey, and performed by the original cast members. [3]

Roles

RolePremiere Cast, 14 September 2011
Minerva Theatre, Chichester
London Premiere Cast, 24 April 2012
London, Harold Pinter Theatre
John Blakemore Alex Lawther
Rev. Eric Dewley Nicholas Farrell
Belinda Duffield Anna Chancellor
Basil Spear Andrew Woodall
Jeremy Duffield Jonathan Bailey
Colin J.T JenkinsBradley Hall
Tommy GunterJack ElliotTom Spink
Roger SpruleLiam Morton

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References

  1. Shenton, Mark (16 September 2011). "South Downs/The Browning Version". The Stage .
  2. Dowell, Ben (25 April 2012). "South Downs/The Browning Version". The Stage . London. Retrieved 25 May 2012.
  3. "South Downs, Saturday Drama - BBC Radio 4". BBC.

Reviews and awards

2011, Chichester, Minerva Theatre

2012, London, The Harold Pinter Theatre