’Tis Pity She’s a Whore
New Theatre 1980 was formed by Angelique Rockas for the express purpose of performing Ford`s `Tis Pity she`s a Whore` . Finding the BBC TV production rather anaemic Angelique asked David Porter Artistic Director of the Studio at the Lyric Hammersmith for director suggestions. She finally landed with Declan Donnellan , whom she paid a £200 fee. Insisted that the subplot be removed and arranged for the play to be performed in the underground theatre -Theatre Space and Half Moon
Apart from playing Annabella she also did all the Admin , put the acting adverts in the Stage and was in on some of the casting. This production proved highly successful, praised by Lindsay Anderson (see letter on company website) and was the launching pad for Cheek by Jowl. Angelique financed the New Theatre production and it has been cited in 2014 by Martin Wiggins, in his book `John Ford` in the section on ’Tis Pity She`s a Whore` as one of the major productions of this play in the 20th century <https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=vECJAwAAQBAJ&pg=PT43&lpg=PT43&dq=tis+pity+she%60s+a+whore+1980+declan+donnellan&source=bl&ots=5hDOW0heTq&sig=ACfU3U3ONq7PqTw8UQYggGEc0uqljb4IMA&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjNk8Ch3rDnAhXUnVwKHStlAbc4FBDoATAAegQIChAB#v=onepage&q=tis%20pity%20she%60s%20a%20whore%201980%20declan%20donnellan&f=true>
Cast & Crew
Cast
| Annabella | Angelique Rockas |
|---|---|
| Bonaventura, a Friar | Valentine Palmer |
| Cardinal | Nigel Leach |
| Doctor | Joris Stuyck |
| Florio | Alan Halley |
| Giovanni | Malcolm Jamieson |
| Grimaldi | Peter Searles |
| Hippolita | Ninka Scott |
| Putana | Margaret Wade |
| Soranzo | Tony Chambers |
| Vasques | Michael Irwin |
Crew | |
| Costumes | Ann Hubbard |
| Designer [Set and costumes] | Nick Ormerod |
| Director | Declan Donnellan |
| Lighting | John Schwiller |
| Producer | Angelique Rockas |
| Stage Manager | Caroline Donnellan |
Photographs
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Photo credits
Observations
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New Theatre`s 1980 production of ` Tis Pity She`s a Whore`
The Polish master- Kantor`s production at the Riverside Studios of `Wielpole , Wielopole` formed the basis of the discussion between Declan Donnellan and Angelique Rockas about what type of production New Theatre`s `Tis Pity She`s a Whore `would be.
Angelique as owner of New Theatre and producer, insisted that the subplot be removed –so that there was greater emphasis on tragic dimension, financed the production, and paid a fee of £200 to Declan Donnellan for directing. Nick Ormerod was given a further £200 for the design budget.
Tis Pity was seen by Lindsay Anderson, Steven Berkhoff and Cameron McIntosh
This was the only production that Angelique did with New Theatre , which then evolved into Internationalist Theatre.
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