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Thurs 26 Oct - Sat 18 Nov 06
An Octagon Theatre Production
What The Butler Saw.

by Joe Orton

directed by Mark Babych

designed by Hannah Clark

 

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What The Butler Saw image.  Photo: Joel Chester Fildes.'A performance of comic brilliance... hilariously executed manic mayhem'

The Stage

  

'Martin Hyder is utterly compelling as the hapless Dr Prentice, whose brilliant comic timing brings about uproarious laughter... A tour de farce of a production'
The Bolton News

  

When less-than-reputable clinical psychiatrist Dr Prentice is caught in a compromising position with his new secretary, he makes a misguided attempt to cover up his indiscretion. How much harm could it really do?

   

But Dr Prentice hasn’t counted on the arrival of Dr Rance, a domineering government mental health commissioner who becomes bent on discovering the roots of Prentice’s bizarre behaviour.

  

Desperately attempting to cover his tracks, Prentice ropes in a collection of unwitting co-conspirators, including his sharp-witted wife, a bewildered policeman and a sex-crazed hotel porter. But as the fates continue to conspire against the hapless doctor, the panic and
pandemonium in the clinic reaches apoplectic proportions, and the more he tries to prove his sanity, the more insane he appears. Can anyone avoid the straight-jacket?

   

What The Butler Saw twists and turns its way through a hilarious chain of incredible mishaps, misunderstandings and misdiagnoses as the mismatched occupants of the clinic slowly lose their inhibitions, their clothing and their marbles!

   

Orton’s comic tour-de-force brings together taught, witty dialogue and brilliantly observed characters with outrageous situations, creating one of the greatest farces in British history.

What The Butler Saw production image.  Photo: Ian Tilton.                   What The Butler Saw production image.  Photo: Ian Tilton.                    What The Butler Saw production image.  Photo: Ian Tilton.

   

Cast   Creative Team  
Katherine Dow Blyton Mrs Prentice Mark Babych Director
Chris Grahamson Nicholas Beckett Hannah Clark Designer
Martin Hyder Dr Prentice James Farncombe Lighting Designer
Knight Mantell Dr Rance Andy Smith Sound Designer
Karen Paullada Geraldine Barclay Kate Waters Fight Director
Ged Simmons Sergeant Match Helen Redcliffe ASM on the Book

 



What The Butler Saw

 
Archive Performance Dates: Thurs 26 Oct - Sat 18 Nov 06