Returning to The Barn soon....
The Ellen Terry Theatre Present:
Falstaff
Or the TRUE and VALLIANT deeds of SIR JOHN FASTOLF.
Adapted from the acclaimed novel by Mr Robert Nye.
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 Nyecleverly 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