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Much Ado About Nothing

In February 2002 John Marwick directed the first Shakespeare production to be held in Muritai School yard. Much Ado About Nothing was presented with a little bit of a 'tango twist'. The play was part of the Wellington Fringe Festival that year. The Cast DON PEDRO Laurie Atkinson DON JOHN Chris Morey CLAUDIO Dan Caddy BENEDICK Ashley Bloomfield LEONATA Sandra Gillespie ANTONIO Jerry Duckor CONRADE John Marwick BORACHIO Reuben Hardie FRIAR FRANCIS Trevor Rose DOGBERRY Trevor Rose VERGES Jerry Duckor HERO Holly Robinson BEATRICE Rowan Macrae MARGARET Yvonne Bishop URSULA Anne Manchester Publicity 2002 Teasing, Treachery and the Tango For the first time Eastbourne will

Beauties, Barmaids and Battleaxes

For Bard in the Yard for 2003 John Marwick and Jerry Duckor devised a production featuring a collection of scenes chosen for the way they portray Shakespeare's women.

Two Gentlemen of Verona

Our Bard in the Yard production was Two Gentlemen of Verona directed by Trevor Rose. We toured this production for one performance at Emerald Glen Homestead (Raumati South) and to Stratford (in Taranaki).

The Merchant of Venice

After failing to cast a full-scale performance of this play for Bard in the Yard the Troupe agreed to John Marwick’s proposal to present a two-night run of a staged reading in early April inside the school hall.  Unusually, the performance was presented in cabaret style using raised rostra on the floor of the hall while the audience sat at tables.  Florence Mcfarlane and Fran Baldock, as Salanio and Salarino (or was it the other way round!) sang brief jazz classics between scenes to Bill Wollerman’s piano accompaniment. The production was very well-received. Jerry Duckor was outstanding as Shylock. CAST Salanio Fran Baldock Jessica Amber Baldock Bassanio

Man of the Moment

In November 2006 Barry Mawer directed Man of the Moment by Alan Ayckbourn. The set included a swimming pool! The play was well received by reviewers. Directed by Barry Mawer Vic Parks - Michael McDonald Trudy - Anne Manchester Cindy - Tessa/Molly McFarlane Sharon - Sarah-Rose Burke Ruy - Peter Hughson Marta - Janis Caddy Kenny Collins - Will Clanachan Jill Rillington - Holly Robinson Douglas Beechey - Don Quiring Ashley Barnes - Barry Mawer Shadow Cast: Ashley Bloomfield David Gledhill Bev Barclay Elspeth Harris Ian Freeguard Ed Hickey Carol Thompson Reviews

At The Bay

In July 2023 Troupe members, under the direction of Anne Manchester, helped create a short film. Click here to see this film Publicity 2023 Katherine Mansfield’s greatest story, At the Bay, is celebrated in a short photographic tribute, combining historical images and selected episodes from the story. The film is a new production by local photographer Simon Hoyle and includes actors from Eastbourne’s Butterfly Creek Theatre Group. Directed and narrated by Anne Manchester, it also draws on many contemporary images of the setting for At the Bay, chosen by local historian Alison Carew. The production is accompanied by music for cello and piano composed by