South Downs and Browning Version

South Downs and Browning Version at Harold Pinter Theatre

Why see South Downs and Browning Version?

Anna Chancellor and Nicholas Farrell will once again lead the casts in these plays which examine life in boarding public schools. Rattigan's own Harrow School and Hare's own Lancing College provide the backdrop for two moving and resounding stories, one told through the eyes of a master and one told through the eyes of a boy. Both revolve around unexpected acts of kindness which place the harsh and at times cruel worlds of these schools into stark contrast.

South Downs is set at Lancing College in Sussex where a pin sharp young pupil is cut off from the rest of the school by virtue of his own intellect, background and questioning spirit. The school in response presents an unyielding and rigid outlook on life that leaves the boy isolated and confused. In an unlikely meeting with the mother of another pupil, her generosity of spirit and sound advice present the boy with a world of kindness and possibility.

Rattigan's The Browning Version presents the retiring Classics master Mr Crocker-Harris, tired, dried up and an abhorred tyrant over his pupils. Stuck in a broken marriage and facing the prospect of a retirement with no money, a simple act of generosity by one of Crocker-Harris’ pupils brings out the deep-rooted dignity and heartbreaking sadness that give this play its power.

Key Information

Audience

South Downs & The Browning Version is suitable for audiences aged 10 and upwards

Run Time

Two Hours and 30 minutes with one interval

Dates

Finished 21 Jul 2012

Cast

Anna Chancellor (Belinda Duffield in South Downs and Millie Crocker-Harris in The Browning Version
Nicholas Farrell (Reverend Eric Dewley in South Downs and Andrew Crocker-Harris in The Browning Version
Jonathan Bailey (Jeremy Duffield in South Downs
Andrew Woodall (Basil Spear in South Downs and Dr Frobisher in The Browning Version)
Mark Umbers (Frank Hunter in (The Browning Version)
Amanda Fairbank-Hynes (Mrs Gilbert in The Browning Version)
Bradley Hall (Colin Jenkins in South Downs)
Rob Heaps (Peter Gilbert in The Browning Version)
Liam Morton (Roger Sprule in South Downs) .

Creative

Directed by Jeremy Herrin (South Downs) and Angus Jackson (The Browning Version)
Designed by Tom Scutt
Lighting by Bruno Poet
Sound by Ian Dickinson for Autograph

 

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