FALSTAFF

The Ellen Terry Barn Theatre on tour...

Or the TRUE and VALLIANT deeds of SIR JOHN FASTOLF.

Adapted from the acclaimed novel by Mr Robert Nye.

Originally perfomed at The Barn in May 2022. Adapted by Mike Stoneham from David Weston’s original and directed by Peter Mould, Falstaff was developed at The Barn, with its first performances debuting on our stage.

We are delighted that actor Mike Stoneham — who you may also recall as ‘Frank’ in Educating Rita last year — will be taking the production on a mini‑tour to various venues across the South. The tour is being produced by The Ellen Terry Barn Theatre, and we hope it will bring a piece of The Barn to a wider audience, including those who are unable to visit us in person.

Performance dates and venues are listed below, and tickets are available via the respective venues.

2nd April: Margate - Tom Thumb Theatre

4th April: Brighton - Lantern Theatre Brighton

12th April: Newquay - Lane Theatre Newquay

17th April: Thame, Oxfordshire - The Players Theatre, Thame

5th - 6th May: Bristol - Alma Tavern

9th June: Sudbury - Quay Theatre, Sudbury, Suffolk

Considered by many to be one of Shakespeare's finest comic creations, Falstaff has been laughed at and loved by generations as the fat, vain, boastful knight who appears in Henry lV part 1, Henry lV pt 1, Henry lV pt 2, The Merry Wives of Windsor and mentioned but not seen in Henry V. But did Shakespeare base his character on the real-life medieval knight, Sir John Fastolf?

Fastolf fought in the battle of Patay, 1429, a disastrous battle for the English where his actions earned him a reputation (rightly or wrongly) for cowardice. As a professional soldier, he profited greatly from the French wars, acquiring significant amounts of French property and revenues. After his death in 1459 his fortune eventually passed to Magdalen College, Oxford, where there is now the Fastolf society, remembering him as a major benefactor.

In his 1976 novel Falstaff, Robert Nye cleverly combined the Shakespearian Falstaff that we all know with elements of Sir John Fastolf (and a smidgen of artistic licence) to create a Falstaff that we only thought we knew....

A version of this play was first performed in the 1990's by RSC actor, David Weston. His production, an adaptation of Nye's novel, toured throughout Britain. We are indebted to David, not just for his permission to adapt and perform this version, but for his generous and enthusiastic support of the project.

This version, adapted by Mike Stoneham from David Weston's original, premiered at the Ellen Terry Barn Theatre, Smallhythe in May 2022, produced by the Barn Theatre, directed by Peter Mould and performed by Mike Stoneham.

"Excellent. Very impressive". - David Weston (RSC Actor and original author of the play)

"Mike Stonehaam inhabits the soul and body of Falstaff, showing all his bravado, pathos and self pity. It's a joy to watch." - Karl Howman.

"Hilarious. All together spell-binding. - a fantastic watch" - Lucy Wheeler

We wish Mike every success with the tour and are proud that Falstaff was first performed here at The Barn.