The Woman in Black (1997)

In-depth details about the play and its significance to theatre in the round in Scarborough can be found at The Woman in Black section of the website here.
Author:
New Play:

Venue:
Location:
Staging:

First performance:
Opening night:
Final performance:
Stephen Mallatratt
No

Stephen Joseph Theatre
The McCarthy
End-stage

11 December 1997
17 December 1997
7 February 1998
Director:
Design:
Lighting:
Sound:
Orig. Sound Design:
Vision:

Stage Manager:
Deputy Stage Manager:
Assistant Stage Manager:
Robin Herford
Michael Holt
Robert Palfrey
Rod Mead
Jackie Staines
Lesley Meade

Richard Clayton
Harry Teale
Caroline Healey
Character
Arthur Kipps
Actor
Actor
Peter Laird
Martin Freeman

Why is this play significant?

The 10th anniversary production of The Woman in Black given special permission for production as - at the time - productions in the UK were limited to the West End; one of the reasons for this was to apparently make up for the contractual issues which meant the company had not benefitted from the enormous West End success of the play despite it having originated in Scarborough. The play was also notable for starring Martin Freeman as the Actor; Martin had performed in the inaugural season at the Stephen Joseph Theatre in 1996 and would go on to become a hugely successful star of stage and screen.

Notes

○ The Woman In Black was conceived and originally performed at the Stephen Joseph Theatre In The Round, Scarborough, in 1987. The 1997 production marked the 10th anniversary of the play.
○ It was directed by Robin Herford - who directed the original and West End productions - and also featured Lesley Meade reprising the role of the Woman In Black from the original production.
○ The play was adapted from Susan Hill's novella by Stephen Mallatratt.

Links

All research for this page by Simon Murgatroyd.