The Play Of Mata Hari (1965)

Author:
New Play:

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First performance:
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Final performance:
Mike Stott
Yes

Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre
Concert Room, Scarborough Library
Round

9 September 1965
9 September 1965
18 September 1965
Director:
Choregraphy:

Stage Manager:
George Taylor
Domy Reiter

Valerie Fletcher
Character
Mata Hari
The Narrator
Herbert
Mrs. Herbert
Indian Attendant
1st News Reporter
2nd News Reporter
3rd News Reporter
Various Lovers
1st Lady
2nd Lady
Male Colonial Gent
Gabriel Astruc, Impresario
Croatian General
Duke Pongo Pongo
Spanish Peasant
Spanish Soldier
Italian Wooing Gent
Italian Wooing Bird
Italian Wooing Bird
Italian Wooing Bird
Viennese Musician
Viennese Gent
Viennese Gent
Xavier Rousseau
Franz Namur
French Lady
French Gent
German Lady
German Gent
French Army
German Army
Von Blink, Secret Agent
A Waiter
Capt. Ladoux
Capt. Bouchardon
Col. Von Kalle
Raphael Sequitas
Baron Van der Capellen
Baroness Van der Capellen
Sister of Mercy
Actor
Dona Martyn
David Jarrett
Peter Ellis Jones
Pamela Craig
Peter King
Terence Wilton
Catherine Naish
Christine Robinson
Peter King
Pamela Craig
Joanna Tope
Terence Wilton
Peter King
Peter Ellis Jones
Peter Ellis Jones
Joanna Tope
Terence Wilton
Terence Wilton
Pamela Craig
Christine Robinson
Joanna Tope
Catherine Naish
Peter Ellis Jones
Terence Wilton
Peter Ellis Jones
David Jarrett
Joanna Tope
Terence Wilton
Pamela Craig
Peter Ellis Jones
Christine Robinson
Catherine Naish
Peter King
Peter Ellis Jones
Terence Wilton
Peter King
Peter King
David Jarrett
Peter Ellis Jones
Catherine Naish
Christine Robinson

Why is this play significant?

The play marked the professional playwriting debut of Mike Stott, who would immediately go on from Scarborough to join Peter Brooks' famed company at the Royal Shakespeare Company before forging a successful career in stage and screen.

Notes

○ There is some confusion as to where the world premiere of The Play Of Mata Hari took place. The Victoria Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent (now the New Vic), credits it as a world premiere under the title Mata Hari. However, this production's opening date is listed as 23 November 1965, more than two months subsequent to the production staged at Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre, Scarborough, where it was - in all likelihood - actually premiered.
○ This marked the professional playwriting debut of Mike Stott (1944 - 2009), a prolific writer from Rochdale who would go on to a successful writing career on stage, television and radio. Immediately after working in Scarborough, he worked with Peter Brook at the Royal Shakespeare Company. He is probably best known for his 1973 play Funny Peculiar.
○ The Play Of Mata Hari was presented without an interval.
All research for this page by Simon Murgatroyd.