THE world premiere of the latest play from leading British playwright Torben Betts has opened Scarborough’s Stephen Joseph Theatre's (SJT) Summer Festival.
Torben’s other plays include Invincible, which is currently touring and the recent adaptation of Get Carter, which was a huge hit for Newcastle’s Northern stage. Early in his career he was resident playwright at the SJT and went on to see his work produced nationally and internationally and gain multiple award nominations.
In The National Joke, home truths emerge and a reputation could tumble as Rupert St John-Green MP and three generations of women gather in the family garden to watch a total solar eclipse.
Torben said: “I read a book a few years ago all about the history and science of the solar eclipse, and thought it would be a great way to frame a play – it gives a reason for a family to come together and also provides an interesting theatrical device.”
The National Joke cast includes Philip Bretherton who is familiar to TV audiences as Alistair Deacon in nine series of the hit Judi Dench/Geoffrey Palmer comedy As Time Goes By. He last worked at the SJT in 2006 when he played Tom in Skylight.
Guy Burgess played Jerry Walsh in the BBC daytime soap Doctors. This year he has appeared in two plays at Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre: Satellite and The Ascending.
Cate Hamer played Lindsey in Torben’s The Swing of Things at the SJT in 2007. She has appeared on TV in Coronation Street, Doctors and Holby City.
Catherine Lamb was Helena in All’s Well That Ends Well at the Wanamaker Festival at Shakespeare’s Globe in 2013. On TV, she recently played Suzie in the Channel 4 series Cucumber.
Annabel Leventon’s career dates back to the 1960s – she was in the original London productions of both Hair and The Rocky Horror Show. On TV, she has been seen in many shows including Minder, Van Der Valk, Dempsey & Makepeace, Bergerac, A Touch of Frost, New Tricks and, most recently, Vera.
The National Joke can be seen at the Stephen Joseph Theatre until Saturday, August 20. Tickets, priced from £10 to £24.50, are available from the box office on 01723 370541 and online at sjt.uk.com
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