Bill Bryden's Cottesloe Company, which flourished at Peter Hall's National Theatre, was the English theatre's only true ensemble of the last thirty or so years. Impossible Plays tells the story of the company and the many actors and musicians connected to it. Co-written by Keith Dewhurst, author of eight plays for the group, and Jack Shepherd, a founder-actor, it explains the ideas behind the company's work and how the work was staged, and provides an idiosyncratic, lively and deeply personal take on the company. "The search was always to find a popular theatre, a form of theatre that would draw into it people from all backgrounds, not just the cultured and the educated." Beginning with a Royal Court Theatre Sunday night performance in 1970, the story of one company's aim to create a popular theatre form includes such milestone productions as The Mystery cycle of plays and Lark Rise to Candleford. With photographs by John Haynes, Michael Mayhew and Nobby Clark, Impossible Plays is a glorious and timely tribute to one of theatre's most innovative companies.

The only history of English theatre's last true ensemble responsible for such theatrical milestones as The Mysteries cycle of plays, first produced in the 1980s and revived in 2000 Written with intimate recollections from the writer and founding actor behind much of the company's work In 2005 a highly acclaimed revival of the company's most successful work - Lark Rise to Candleford - was staged in London Filled with stories about the people and productions, it is a fascinating account of a company that produced a flowering of talent in British theatre Will appeal to anyone interested in modern theatre and the history of the National Theatre

About the Author
Keith Dewhust wrote eight of the plays produced by the Cottesloe Company, including Lark Rise to Candleford. Jack Shepherd, a leading actor of his generation, was one of the founding actors of the Cottesloe Company as well as being a playwright. In 2005 his play Man Falling Down: A Mask Play was staged at the Globe Theatre, London.

Reviews
'A vivid, nuanced and intimate account of the National Theatre's only true ensemble, Bill Bryden's Cottesloe Theatre company. Playwright Keith Dewhurst and actor Jack Shepherd tell an inspiring story of the company they helped to make. Anyone who cares about popular theatre, Britishness, the alchemy of theatrical space, acting as a group process and performance as a midfield football match, needs this book.' Michael Kustow 'The Cottesloe gang were an extraordinary troupe: a company within a company that created a style of theatre that was vigorous, popular and life-enhancing. The work they did deserves permanent recognition.' Michael Billington, The Guardian 'The Bill Bryden Company produced an extraordinary cannon of highly original innovative work at a time when British theatre was stagnating... ensemble at its best... and sometimes at its not so best.' Richard Wilson 'Here playwright Keith Dewhurst and actor Jack Shepherd povide an absorbing and entertaining behind-the-scenes account of celebrated productions such as 'The Mysteries' and 'Lark Rise to Candleford', and describe in revealing fashion the company's attempts to create a genuine popular theatre.' StageWrite (Spring 2007) 'A glorious and timely tribute to one of theatre's most innovative companies.' Wrinternet Bulletin (December 2006)



Book Information
ISBN 9780413775856
Author Mr Jack Shepherd
Format Paperback
Page Count 256
Imprint Methuen Drama
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Weight(grams) 330g
Dimensions(mm) 216mm * 135mm * 19mm