• The Caucasian Chalk Circle

The Caucasian Chalk Circle
Wed 19 August to Sat 22 August 1992

4 performances
Hampton Court Theatre, United Kingdom

The Prologue - Establishing a frame for the play proper: revised and updated for our production, a group of squatters is meeting to decide the ownership of the burnt out shell of their squat and to what use it should now be put, to remain a squat or to become a Community Centre.

Act I - The story of the chalk circle is then presented as both an entertainment, a fairy tale and as an illustration of "old wisdom". After the fall of the paramount prince, all the governors of Grusinia are executed, including Georgi Abashvili. His wife escapes, leaving behind their child, whom the new rulers are seeking. But Grusha, the maid, takes the child and after many dangers reaches safety in the mountains where she cares for the child as if it were her own. Here she is forced - for protection and respectability - to marry a dying peasant. Then Simon, the soldier to whom she is engaged, returns from the wars and hears her claim the child as her own

Act 2 - In parallel to this story and told in flashback the plot is centred on the figure of Azdak, the former village scribe who has been appointed judge. When the earlier overthrow is reversed, and the Governor's wife returns, the case for the ownership of the child is eventually heard by Azdak. A variation of the judgement of Solomon is used to decide the case: the child is placed in a chalk circle.


The Caucasian Chalk Circle
by Bertolt Brecht
Translated by James and Tania Stern and W H Auden

Written when Brecht was living in exile in lthe United States during World War II, THE CAUCASIAN CHALK CIRCLE is one of his most frequently performed plays. For the story, Brecht borrowed from an ancient Chinese tale -- echoed in the biblical account of the judgment of King Solomon -- in which two women claim the same child, but he subverted it into a parable advocating the idea that resources should go to those best able to make use sof them. Thanks to the rascally judge Azdak, natural -- though not biological -- justice is rendered, and lthe peasant Grusha, rather lthan the mother, gets to keep the child she loves.

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Cast
Role Name
AzdakMartin Freeman
Grusha VachnadzeAnneke Sando
Natella AbashviliChristine Osborne
Mikha LoladzeFiona McMahon
ShauvaMiles Hawkins
YussupSimon Josolyne
JoePeter Gardiner
NarratorLynn Howes
Sophie Wilson
LodovicaAnnabella Marabita
CorporalBenjamin Davies
Yussup's MotherCath Messum (Hardy)
ShalvaElanor Lewis-Holmes
Michael, the childBetsy-Lara Holmes
Sandro ObolodzeAmanda Franklin
Niko MikadzeKate Miller
Georgi AbashviliRobbie Frater
Poor Old Peasant WomanRosanne Kenny
The NurseEmma Donaghy
Rider from the capitalJoe Moss
AnikoKataline Igo-Kemenes
Nephew to Fat PrinceJohn Addley
Arsen KazbekiDavid Hannigan
AnikoFiona McMahon
Simon ChachavaPeter Gardiner
JuliaSophie Wilson
ArchitectAnnabella Marabita
Kate Miller
LavrentiRobbie Frater
Fat PrinceDavid Hannigan
Fat Prince's PetSophie Wilson
Council RepMartin Freeman
Kitchen MaidAnneke Sando
Rich LadyChristine Osborne
Council AssistantFiona McMahon
StablemanMiles Hawkins
InnkeeperSimon Josolyne
Fugitive (The Grand Duke)Peter Gardiner
Frightened WomanLynn Howes
Drunk GuestBenjamin Davies
Friend of Frightened WomanCath Messum (Hardy)
InvalidElanor Lewis-Holmes
The BlackmailerAmanda Franklin
Illo ShuboladzeKate Miller
PatientEmma Donaghy
CookKataline Igo-Kemenes
MonkJohn Addley
Elder LadyFiona McMahon
DoctorChristine Osborne
Old WomanKataline Igo-Kemenes
Lodovica's Mother-in-lawFiona McMahon
Servant at InnDaisy Hughes
ServantAmanda Franklin
Rosanne Kenny
Joe Moss
MerchantAmanda Franklin
Emma Donaghy
Joe Moss
PeasantMiles Hawkins
Benjamin Davies
Kate Miller
GuestMartin Freeman
Peter Gardiner
Lynn Howes
Annabella Marabita
Elanor Lewis-Holmes
Amanda Franklin
Emma Donaghy
Kataline Igo-Kemenes
Daisy Hughes
IronshirtMartin Freeman
Simon Josolyne
Benjamin Davies
Robbie Frater
John Addley
GuardMiles Hawkins
Crew
Role Name
DIRECTORDavid Lewsey
Rick de Kerckhove
MUSICAL DIRECTORPeter Cook
STAGE MANAGERAlex Brunsden (Beauchamp)
ASSISTANT SMDamon Mccollin-Moore
Robyn Jessica Dummer
LIGHTINGChris Donovan
WARDROBEChristine Osborne
WARDROBE ASSISTANTEileen Baker
SET DESIGNERChristine Osborne
SET CONSTRUCTIONJean Goodwin
Christine Osborne
Benjamin Davies
Robbie Frater
Miles Hawkins
John Addley
Peter Gardiner
David Johns
Giles Porter
Martin Freeman
Alex Saunders
Laura Capellaro
PHOTOGRAPHYDennis Baker
OPENING SCENE ADAPTATIONDamon Mccollin-Moore
MASKS & MASK ACTINGFrancis Watson
PRE-PRODUCTION ASSISTANCERuss Svensen
David Johns
Susanne Brinker
BOX OFFICEBiddy Osborne

Supporting Material
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