reading

First published in 2017 by Oberon Books Ltd
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Richard Bean is hereby identified as author of this play in accordance with section 77 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. The author has asserted his moral rights.

All rights whatsoever in this play are strictly reserved and application for performance etc. should be made before commencement of rehearsal to United Agents, 12 – 26 Lexington Street, London, W1F 0LE. No performance may be given unless a licence has been obtained, and no alterations may be made in the title or the text of the play without the author’s prior written consent.

Lyrics on pages 11-12, 27-28, 40-41, 60-61, 89-90, 109 and 122 are written by Grant Olding, and are reproduced by permission of Air-Edel Associates Ltd., 18 Rodmarton Street, London W1U 8BJ.

You may not copy, store, distribute, transmit, reproduce or otherwise make available this publication (or any part of it) in any form, or binding or by any means (print, electronic, digital, optical, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise), without the prior written permission of the publisher. Any person who does any unauthorized act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

PB ISBN: 9781786820839
EPUB ISBN: 9781786820846

Cover design © Hull Truck/RSC

Printed and bound by CPI Group (UK) Ltd, Croydon, CR0 4YY.

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Contents

Acknowledgements

Characters

Prologue

Act One

Scene One

Act Two

Scene One

Scene Two

Act Three

Scene One

Act Four

Scene One

Scene Two

Act Five

Scene One

Scene Two

THE ROYAL SHAKESPEARE COMPANY

The Royal Shakespeare Company creates theatre at its best, made in Stratford-upon-Avon and shared around the world. We produce an inspirational artistic programme each year, setting Shakespeare in context, alongside the work of his contemporaries and today’s writers.

Everyone at the RSC – from actors to armourers, musicians to technicians – plays a part in creating the world you see on stage. All our productions begin life at our Stratford workshops and theatres and we bring them to the widest possible audience through our touring, residencies, live broadcasts and online activity. So wherever you experience the RSC, you experience work made in Shakespeare’s home town.

We have trained generations of the very best theatre-makers and we continue to nurture the talent of the future. We encourage everyone to enjoy a lifelong relationship with Shakespeare and live theatre. We reach 530,000 children and young people annually through our education work, transforming their experiences in the classroom, in performance and online.

NEW WORK AT THE RSC

Through an extensive programme of research and development, we resource writers, directors and actors to explore and develop new ideas for our stages, and as part of this we commission playwrights to engage with the muscularity and ambition of the classics and to set Shakespeare’s world in the context of our own.

We invite writers to spend time with us in our rehearsal rooms, with our actors and creative teams. Alongside developing new plays for all our stages, we invite playwrights to contribute dramaturgically to both our productions of Shakespeare and his contemporaries, as well as our work for, and with, young people. We believe that engaging with living writers and contemporary theatre-makers helps to establish a creative culture within the Company which both inspires new work and creates an ever more urgent sense of enquiry into the classics.

Shakespeare was a great innovator and breaker of rules, as well as a bold commentator on the times in which he lived. It is his spirit which informs new work at the RSC. Erica Whyman, Deputy Artistic Director, heads up this strand of the Company’s work alongside Pippa Hill as Literary Manager.

The RSC Acting Companies are generously supported by

THE GATSBY CHARITABLE FOUNDATION and THE KOVNER FOUNDATION.

The work of the RSC Literary Department is generously supported by

THE DRUE HEINZ TRUST.

The RSC is grateful for the significant support of its principal funder, Arts Council England, without which our work would not be possible. Around 75 per cent of the RSC’s income is self-generated from Box Office sales, sponsorship, donations, enterprise and partnerships with other organisations.

HULL TRUCK THEATRE

Hull Truck Theatre tells powerful human stories that resonate with our times.

We have been creating exciting performances for over 45 years, starting with a group of friends making theatre in the back of a truck, to a venue on Spring Street, to our purpose-built home on Ferensway.

The company began in 1972 after director Mike Bradwell placed a magazine advert reading ‘half-formed theatre company seeks other half’. Various artists responded, moved to Hull and began devising their own plays − Hull Truck Theatre was born. An anarchic spirit and a passion for telling stories were at the heart of the company from the very beginning and brought our performances to national attention.

In the 1980s John Godber took the helm. We moved to our first permanent building, a renovated church hall on Hull’s Spring Street, creating a stream of popular hits which toured to great acclaim.

In 2012 we celebrated our 40th anniversary by moving into a new home on Ferensway, and the following year Artistic Director Mark Babych joined to lead the company on the next stage of our journey.

We create exceptional drama which builds on traditions laid down by writers including Anthony Minghella and Alan Plater, as well as creating new work with artists such as Tom Wells, Tanika Gupta and Bryony Lavery. We make work with local people, programme the very best in live performance and build partnerships with others to create a vibrant and dynamic cultural hub for Hull that is inspiring, creative and welcoming.

HULL UK CITY OF CULTURE 2017

The story so far…

When in 2013 it was announced that Hull was to be UK City of Culture 2017, the city erupted with huge excitement.

It’s an award given every four years to a city that demonstrates the belief in the transformative power of culture. Here was an unprecedented opportunity to put Hull on the map and to help build a legacy, positioning it as a place to live, visit, study and invest in.

Culture Company (Hull 2017), established to deliver on that promise, set out to produce 365 days of great art and cultural events inspired by the city and told to the world. The ambition was to create a nationally significant event that celebrates the unique character of Hull, its people and heritage. It offers a programme that takes in every art form, from theatre and performance, to visual arts and literature, to music and film, which goes into every corner of the city, whilst showcasing it nationally. Working with local as well as national and international artists and cultural institutions, Hull 2017 also draws on the distinctive spirit of the city and the artists, writers, directors, musicians, revolutionaries and thinkers that have made such a significant contribution to the development of art and ideas.

The positive reaction to the programme has exceeded all expectations, with Hull now being taken seriously as a cultural destination for must-see events. This includes the sell-out The Hypocrite, the first of a jam-packed theatre programme for 2017, which has been curated to challenge and thrill new and existing audiences in the city and beyond.

The Hypocrite was co-produced by the Royal Shakespeare Company, Hull Truck Theatre and Hull UK City of Culture 2017. It was first performed at Hull Truck Theatre on 24 February 2017. The production transferred to the Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon on 31 March 2017.

SIR JOHN HOTHAM	Mark Addy
LORD MAYOR BARNARD	Martin Barrass
DRUDGE	Danielle Bird
MESSENGER/SOLDIER/LOCAL	Rachel Dale
PEREGRINE PELHAM	Neil D’Souza
CONNIE	Laura Elsworthy
KING CHARLES I/GHOST	Ben Goffe
SWEET LIPS/MME FROTTAGE/ LADY DIGBY	Danielle Henry
EXECUTIONER/CAPTAIN MOYER	Adrian Hood
CAPTAIN JACK	Asif Khan
PETERS/MESSENGER/SOLDIER	Andrew Langtree
JAMES, DUKE OF YORK	Jordan Metcalfe
FRANCES HOTHAM	Sarah Middleton
DURAND HOTHAM	Pierro Niel-Mee
PRINCE RUPERT OF THE RHEIN	Rowan Polonski
ALBERT CALVERT	Paul Popplewell
LADY SARAH HOTHAM née ANLABY	Caroline Quentin
THE RANTER	Josh Sneesby
JOHN SALTMARSH	Matt Sutton

All other parts played by members of the Company.

The Hypocrite is a recipient of an EDGERTON FOUNDATION NEW PLAYS AWARD.

Director	Phillip Breen
Designer	Max Jones
Lighting Designer	Tina MacHugh
Music and Lyrics	Grant Olding
Sound Designer	Andrea J Cox
Stunts and Movement	Annie Lees-Jones
Fight Director	Renny Krupinski
Illusionist	Chris Fisher
Text and Voice Work	Michaela Kennen
Assistant Director	Becky Hope-Palmer
Music Director	Phill Ward
RSC Casting Directors	Helena Palmer Matthew Dewsbury
Dramaturg	Pippa Hill
Production Manager	Jacqui Leigh
Transfer Production Manager	Carl Root
Costume Supervisor	Sian Thomas
Props Supervisor	Beckie May
Company Stage Manager	Paul Sawtell
Deputy Stage Manager	Bryony Rutter
Assistant Stage Manager	Amy Hawthorne
Rehearsal Musical Director	Paul Frankish
Hull Truck Theatre Producer	Rowan Rutter
RSC Producer	Kevin Fitzmaurice

MUSICIANS

Music performed live by

Guitar/mandolin/percussion/voice	Phill Ward
Double Bass	Adam Jarvis

This text may differ slightly from the play as performed.

LOVE THE RSC?

Become a Member or Patron and support our work

The RSC is a registered charity. Our aim is to stage theatre at its best, made in Stratford-upon-Avon and shared around the world with the widest possible audience and we need your support.

Become an RSC Member from £50 per year and access up to three weeks of Priority Booking, advance information, exclusive discounts and special offers, including free on-the-day seat upgrades.

Or support as a Patron from £150 per year for up to one additional week of Priority Booking, plus enjoy opportunities to discover more through special behind-the-scenes events.

For more information visit www.rsc.org.uk/support or call the RSC Membership Office on 01789 403440.

THE ROYAL SHAKESPEARE COMPANY

Patron

Her Majesty The Queen

President

His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales

Chairman

Nigel Hugill

Deputy Chair

Baroness McIntosh of Hudnall

Deputy Chair

Miranda Curtis

Artistic Director

Gregory Doran

Executive Director

Catherine Mallyon

Board

Sir William Atkinson

Miranda Curtis

Gregory Doran

Nigel Hugill

Catherine Mallyon

Baroness McIntosh of Hudnall Sandie Okoro

Patsy Rodenburg OBE

James Shapiro

Mark Smith

Ian Squires

David Tennant

Mark Thompson

The RSC was established in 1961. It is incorporated under Royal Charter and is a registered charity, number 212481.

HULL TRUCK THEATRE

Hull Truck Theatre is a creative community of people dedicated to delivering exceptional theatre for a diverse audience, including those encountering it for the first time.

As part of our Hull UK City of Culture 2017 programme we’re producing work at an unprecedented scale with some of the largest cast sizes ever to grace our stages.

We are thrilled to be working with an exceptional range of internationally renowned artists and companies, commissioning writers to produce world premières right here in Hull and working with local people to tell their own unique stories.

We see culture as a powerful regenerative tool for our city, enabling it to meet its ambitions and commitment to overcoming social and economic challenges. We are a pioneering theatre with a unique Northern Voice, locally rooted, global in outlook, inspiring artists, audiences and communities to reach their greatest potential.

Through our work with schools and with the community, we help to raise aspirations and give life-changing creative opportunities to thousands of young people, disabled groups and adults.

‘We believe that everyone has the right to enjoy and be enriched by high quality artistic work that is culturally relevant to people and place, in a positive and welcoming environment. We aim to be a thriving creative organisation that tells extraordinary human stories, offering fresh and imaginative perspectives on the world.’

Mark Babych, Artistic Director

Artistic Director

Mark Babych

Executive Director

Janthi Mills-Ward

Board

Alan Dix (Chair)

Alan Kirkman (Vice-Chair)

Sophie Buckley

Paul Clay

Steve Gallant

David Gemmell OBE

Jenni Grainger

Carol Hancock

David Hilton

Anthony Mcreavy

Cllr Helen O’Mullane

Dawn Walton

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I’d like to thank Panda Cox, Ron Fairfax, Dr Andrew Hopper and Hull History Centre for helping with the research.

The idea of the play was welcomed by Greg Doran of the RSC, and we should all be grateful when doors open, instead of being slammed in our faces.

The development of the script was not my task alone, and I’d like to thank Pippa Hill of the RSC Literary Team, Mark Babych of Hull Truck, Phil Breen, Erica Whyman, Chris Campbell and the actors for their insight and contributions.

An army marches on its stomach, so we must credit Ally and Jo in the Adelaide Street chip shop for a continuous supply of haddock and chips and mushy peas.

Characters

SIR JOHN HOTHAM

LADY SARAH HOTHAM

DURAND HOTHAM

FRANCES HOTHAM

CAPTAIN JACK HOTHAM

CONNIE

CAPTAIN MOYER

SWEET LIPS

MADEMOISELLE FROTTAGE

LADY DIGBY

JOHN SALTMARSH

LORD MAYOR BARNARD

ALBERT CALVERT

PEREGRINE PELHAM (MEMBER FOR HULL)

DUKE OF YORK

PRINCE RUPERT

KING CHARLES

THE GHOST OF MARY ASCOUGH

THE RANTER

MR. PETERS (OFFICER OF EXECUTIONS)

THE COMPANY TO PLAY – SOLDIERS, MESSENGERS, WHORES, THE MOB, MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY OF LOVE, ALDERMEN, LONDONERS ETC

SET

An open stage that can become indoor rooms, and outdoor street scenes, both London, and Hull.