Closer

Presented by - Nonentities (A)

Location - Studio

Standard Ticket Prices

Curtain Up 7.30pm

The cast of Closer

Ben Toye and Gina Biggs

PRESS RELEASE

A Close Look At Relationships Gets Closer

‘Closer’, the second play by Patrick Marber, concerns the very intimate matter of relationships between the sexes, so what better place to stage it than in the intimate Studio at the Rose Theatre in Kidderminster.

This play is a brilliant exploration of what can be the brutal anatomy of modern romance. We witness a quartet of strangers meeting, falling in love, and becoming caught up in a web of sexual desire and betrayal. The four characters are acutely observed as they each pursue their relentless search for intimacy and their constant failure to find it.

This production promises to be a ‘tour de force’. When acting in the confines of The Studio there is no place to hide and the audience can expect to see some strong performances by the cast. A restriction on the script means it has limited availability for amateur performances, so it is indeed a privilege for the ‘Nonentites’ to be able to stage this major piece of work

Closer won the ‘Evening Standard’, ‘Olivier’ and ‘Time Out’ awards for the best new play in 1997, and was later made into a film featuring Clive Owen, Jude Law, Julia Roberts and Juliette Binoche.

Director’s Notes

Alice says “All I want is to be loved…. it’s a big want” which sets the scene for the rest of the play. All of the characters love and want to be loved but they never manage it in balance with the partner they are with. They find moments of happiness, but these are transient. They are always looking for something else or something different. Perhaps, as Larry says, they “don’t understand compromise” or as Alice says “you should lower your expectations”.

One of the most interesting aspects of rehearsals has been working out the back stories for the characters. Trying to understand them and decide when they are telling the truth and when they are lying if it is for convenience or because they just believe that interpretation of reality at that moment. As we have rehearsed my sympathies have meandered between characters. They are all characters who are lovable, but not always likeable. Sometimes they have no intention of hurting each other, but they do it just the same. Sometimes they hurt only because they have been hurt. Sometimes they lie because.

Sometimes some of the overtly sexual segments of the play, its uncompromising language and the aggressive moments seemed harsh and hard, particularly when played within the close confines of the studio. But these are the realities of relationships under pressure and the play has its lighter moments to help us keep a balanced perspective.

I knew right from the start that I wanted to play this production in the round and using minimal set, props and technicals. The focus should be on the relationships and the interactions between characters. Having the production in the round means that each audience member will see a different production, see the characters from different angles. Sometimes a character’s emotions and expressions will be excluded from your view, sometimes they will be revealed in close up. If this leaves you intrigued, then you will have to come again another night, sit in a different seat and see it all from a different perspective.

Closer has been a great play to be involved in and I hope that you enjoy the performance as much as we have enjoyed working on it.

A brilliant exploration into the brutal anatomy of modern romance, where a quartet of strangers meet, fall in love, and become caught up in a web of sexual desire and betrayal. Patrick Marber’s second play is acutely observed, capturing a relentless search for intimacy and the constant failure to find it. With a limited availability for amateur performance, it is indeed a privilege for the society to present this major piece of work.

Closer won the Evening Standard, Olivier and Time Out awards for the best new play in 1997.

Contains strong language.