JEANNIE by Aimée Stuart at the Finborough Theatre
VIBRANT NEW WRITING | UNIQUE REDISCOVERIES
December 2018-February 2019 Season
The first professional London production in 80 years
JEANNIE
by Aimée Stuart
Directed by Nicolette Kay.
Presented by New Shoes Theatre in association with Neil McPherson for the Finborough Theatre.
“What’s the use of romance if there’s no truth in it?”
Tuesday, 27 November – Saturday, 22 December 2018 “JEANNIE” on stage at the Finborough Theatre.
A 1930s comedy for Christmas, Jeannie by rediscovered female playwright Aimée Stuart will open at the Finborough Theatre for a four-week limited season on Tuesday, 27 November 2018.
It is 1936 in a “wee one-eyed” town in Scotland. Jeannie is a drudge for her mean controlling father, but dreams of a different life. When she receives a large inheritance, she seizes the opportunity to finally escape to the glamour and sophistication of European travel.
During her stay in Vienna, she encounters Stanley, a washing machine inventor from Yorkshire, and then a real Viennese Count. But Jeannie is no pushover. She knows her own mind, she is a stickler for the truth, and she hates scroungers…
A 1930s version of the Cinderella story, Jeannie is a charming light romantic comedy, ideal for the Christmas season, and unseen in London since 1940.
Jeannie’s author Aimée Stuart was one of the West End’s most successful female playwrights between the wars – and a fascinating character in her own right – staunchly feminist, and never afraid to tackle controversial subjects which led to some of her plays being banned by the Lord Chamberlain. The original production of Jeannie was an instant hit, transferring both to the West End and Broadway and turning Barbara Mullen who played the title role into a star overnight. It was also filmed with Michael Redgrave and Kay Hammond.
Playwright Aimée Stuart (1886-1981) was born in Glasgow. She first came to prominence when she wrote the passionate memoir, An Airman’s Wife (1918). Two further novels were published before she began to write plays with Philip Stuart including Nine Till Six (1930). Jeannie (1936) was the first play she wrote after his early death, followed by a string of further hits including the almost-openly lesbian play Love of Women (1937) and Lace On Her Petticoat (1951). Many of her plays were made into films, and she also wrote additional dialogue for a number of acclaimed films including Leslie Howard’s The Gentle Sex (1943) and The Wicked Lady (1945).
Director Nicolette Kay returns to the Finborough Theatre where she directed Seed, Love Child and Hurried Steps. She is Artistic Director of New Shoes Theatre and has directed and toured work in venues as diverse as NIDA in Sydney, Battersea Arts Centre, Lancaster Playhouse, the MAC and the Demarco Gallery, Edinburgh. Her productions and co-translations of plays written by the highly respected feminist writer Dacia Maraini have been featured in publications and anthologies worldwide. She trained as an actress at the Drama Centre London and played leading roles for the Cambridge Theatre Company, in repertory, the Gate Theatre and The Young Vic.
The press on Jeannie
“One of the easiest, sweetest of light comedies.” James Agee
“As enchanting a bit of rue and nonsense as we’ve succumbed to in many a month…. Jeannie is pure comedy of
character. And what refreshing comedy it is!” The New York Times
The press on Nicolette Kay’s production of Love Child at the Finborough Theatre
★★★★ Four Stars. “This sensitively handled, beautifully calibrated chamber piece…Highly recommended…Nicolette Kay’s gripping but measured production.” Fiona Mountford, Evening Standard
“Nicolette Kay’s production is sensitive and well paced…The performances are faultless.” Sam Marlowe, The Times
The press on Nicolette Kay’s production of Mary Stuart at BAC
“Nicolette Kay directs the often exhilarating proceedings…a production of character” Brendan O’Keeffe, The Guardian
“Excellent performances and some stunning moments of violence.” Owen Slot, The Independent
“Meticulous acting” Andrew St George, Financial Times
Tuesday, 27 November – Saturday, 22 December 2018
Tuesday to Saturday evenings at 7.30pm. Saturday and Sunday matinees at 3.00pm.
Prices until 9 December 2018– Tickets £18, £16 concessions, except Tuesday evenings £16 all seats, and Friday and Saturday evenings £18 all seats. Previews (27 and 28 November) £14 all seats.
£10 tickets for Under 30s for performances from Tuesday to Sunday of the first week when booked online only.
£14 tickets for residents of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea on Saturday, 1 December 2018 when booked online only.
Prices from 11 December 2018 – Tickets £20, £18 concessions, except Tuesday evenings £18 all seats, and Friday and Saturday evenings £20 all seats.
Finborough Theatre, 118 Finborough Road, London SW10 9ED
Book online at www.finboroughtheatre.co.uk
No booking fees on online, personal or postal bookings
Box Office 01223 357851. (Calls are free. There will be a 5% booking fee.) Lines are open Monday–Saturday 10.00am-6.00pm
Performance Length: Approximately two hours with one interval of fifteen minutes.
Jeannie is presented by special arrangement with Samuel French Ltd.