After four sell-out previews in Brighton, Arundel and Hove earlier this year, local author Rose Collis takes her new one-woman play Wanting the Moon to the award-winning London venue Bread & Roses for six performances in September.
Written and performed by Rose Collis, and directed by Keith Drinkel, the Arts Council-funded play focuses on the remarkable life and career of Clemence Dane, eminent author, artist, playwright, journalist and Oscar-winning screenwriter.
Asked by her great friend Noel Coward to revive her acting career and play the famous role he once created for her: the eccentric medium ‘Madame Arcati’ in Blithe Spirit, she observes, “I have enough ghosts around me nowadays without playing someone who makes a living from conjuring them up…”
As she prepares to answer him, she reflects on their long personal and professional relationship − as well as memorable episodes from her chequered career, including penning the controversial early 20th century lesbian novel Regiment of Women, her war experiences, and her adventures in Hollywood with Greta Garbo, Marlene Dietrich… and The Marx Brothers.
And, as she ‘summons up’ these ghosts from her past, she contemplates her own imminent future in the other world: “Perhaps I’ll come back and haunt you all. But I promise not to do it when Madame Arcati is summoning up the spirits.”
Event: Wanting the Moon written & performed by Rose Collis, directed by Keith Drinkel.
Where: Bread & Roses Theatre, 68 Clapham Manor, St, London SW4 6DZ
When: September 18-20, 22-24 (no performance Sep 21)
Time: 7.30pm
Cost: Tickets £10/£8.
To book tickets online, click here:
For more information about Rose Collis, click here:
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