French Farce in French Château
Château Farci is based on a true story stranger than fiction. Though there are drama and tragedy, the goal is comic entertainment throughout. You can be the judge.
Imagine a crumbling château in rural France. Alice, the owner, and her partner Jake, an old soldier, moved in twenty years ago. The couple’s relationship has broken down, but Jake refuses to move out. He is holed up in a corner of the chateau known as his bunker. Monty, an old friend, tries to keep the peace. A local Gendarme, Jacqueline the maid, various offspring and Pongo the dog contribute to the confusion. The plot is part farce, part tragedy, part whodunit.
David Shirreff is a journalist-turned-playwright. After a career with papers such as Euromoney, The Wall Street Journal and The Economist he began writing for the stage in 2009. Four satirical musicals and two serious plays followed – variously performed at fringe theatres in London, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Braemar, Duns, Kilmington (Wiltshire), Berlin and Frankfurt. Château Farci is David’s first full-length comedy.
The play includes three songs composed by Frederick Appleby,
Kenneth Michaels has directed many plays including two recently at the White Bear: Extinction Rebellion by Brad Sutherland and The Dedication by Claire Novello.
The majority of the cast are members of Actors & Writers London, including Ianthe Bathurst, Gregory Cox, Amanda Holt, Nirjay Mahindru and Harry Saks. Those recruited from outside include Natasha Percival and Christopher Tomkins.
White Bear, Kennington, 138 Kennington Park Road, London SE11 4DJ
Performances from Tuesday 4th March to Saturday 15th (7.30pm), Saturday matinees (2.30pm) Running time 90min plus 15min interval
Tickets: £17/£13 (concessions) available online HERE
