Rosebud Productions 12 Eider Close |
|
| current production | past productions | |
| phone | ffôn | 02920 300955 |
| e-mail address | e-bost | mark.jenkins12@ntlworld.com |
| director cyfarwyddwr |
Mark Jenkins |
| artistic
policy polisi artistig |
The past record and the current project. "Rosebud: The Lives of Orson Welles" is a project born out of the remarkable prior, and continuing, international success of a previous collaboration between partners Mark Jenkins, the author, and Josh Richards, the director. That solo show is "Playing Burton", based on the life of international Welsh superstar, Richard Burton. It is published by Parthian Books, 2001 (ISBN 1-902638-09-3) with Josh Richards, in performance, on the front cover. "Playing Burton" has been performed in each of the last eleven years, since its launch in London in 1992 and was touring the UK, Australia and the USA with three separate private companies, directors and actors in 2003. This is the second year running that the Burton show has been playing simultaneously on three continents. The tours continue into 2004. Accompanying appendices list excerpts from the numerous reviews, plaudits and acclaim which Playing Burton has received internationally, most notably, from American Pullitzer Prize-winning literary legend, Norman Mailer, who described it as "virtuoso writing, rich and lyrical" Playing Burton took Edinburgh by storm in 1994 and again in 1997, with Josh Richards in the leading role. It has played in Sydney Royal Opera House (2002), Brisbane, London, Oxford, Wellington, Auckland, Hamilton, Budapest and Jerusalem. With Brian Mallon in the leading role, it has just completed a ten week run at the Irish Repertory Theatre, off Sixth Avenue in New York City, ahead of a coast-to-coast tour of the United States. In 2001, actor Ray Henwood won New Zealand's highest acting award for his role as Burton (The Chapman-Tripp Award - Equivalent of an Olivier Award) All actors seem to excel in this role, irrespective of where it is played. Proof of the reputation of Playing Burton is demonstrated by the fact that the follow-up project Rosebud: The Lives of Orson Welles, has already been accepted for a month long run at the most prestigious Edinburgh venue - The Nokia Assembly Rooms National Theatre of the Fringe. This had been achieved against the most intense competition, even before the forwarding of the new, completed script - on the basis of the past records of Josh Richards and Mark Jenkins. The Birth of the Project. A follow-up solo show to Playing Burton, with the same potential for international audiences, has been mooted often, but only in 2002 did the right candidate for dramatic treatment present itself. After a charity performance of Playing Burton at the RSC's Swan Theatre in Stratford on Avon in 2002, the current two partners got together and the idea of an Orson Welles solo show was born. Both Josh Richards and Christian McKay were, at the time, members of the Royal Shakespeare Company and thirty year old rising star, Christian McKay bore a remarkable resemblance to the young Orson Welles. Welles is a figure of historic international stature in film, television, radio and theatre - an ideal subject for dramatic treatment. Author Mark Jenkins immediately began researching the project and, after a number of drafts, a script was finalised by September 2003. Copies are available for scrutiny. It is a mature work by a very experienced writer, who is also a Visiting Lecturer in Scriptwriting on the University of Glamorgan's MA degree. The twentieth anniversary of Welles' death and the ninetieth anniversary of his birth are due in 2005. Mounting interest in a retrospective assessment of Welles' career is already evident with the National Film Theatre's autumn 2003 season of Welles' work in all media and the publication of mayor new biographical works. We are confident that the time is absolutely right for touring an Orson Welles theatre show of the highest order. |
| brief history hanes cryno |
Rosebud Productions consists of a unique team. A writer (Mark Jenkins) with a track record of producing an international hit solo show; a director (Josh Richards) with practical, personal experience of how to successfully devise and stage such a show, and a rising young, talented actor, (Christian McKay) who has already won the recognition of his peers as a consummate performer at the highest leve |
Want to advertise here? Contact adverts@theatre-wales.co.uk for
more details