Roger Parsley

Thoroughly enjoyed directing “Duet For One” for the Maddermarket Theatre here in Norwich – splendid, hard-working cast, super script, and a change to be directing someone else’s work rather than one of my own!
Several things in the pipeline (as usual!) including directing for the Sewell Barn Theatre here in Norwich next year (one of mine…which one? Not allowed to say, yet!)
A possibility that one of my adaptations may be turned into a musical (a German composer is interested – watch this space for further details….”Brideshead” might be seen in the States….several companies have indicated interest in “Maurice”….”My Beautiful Laundrette” is to run in San Francisco later this year …..the musical version of MBL may be on the way…we’re still looking for Asian composers!….Andy (Graham) and I are planning a tour in the U.K. starting Sept 2014 – Title and other details to be announced!…..

Had a 7-hour (!) Technical yesterday for my own production of “MAURICE”, which has its Amateur Premiere here in Norwich at the Sewell Barn Theatre ( opens Thursday!) Here’s hoping for a rather smoother couple of runs before we hit the Dress on Wednesday! I had an enquiry about that title from Australia – possible tour down under? Watch this space, as they say!!……. Good win for the Canaries at the weekend in the F.A. Cup – not dreaming of Wembley quite yet, though! Hope a new striker may be on the way…..Domestically things are also busy – Carole and I are moving furniture out and in tomorrow, meanwhile I’m nailing clocks to walls (not your subtle DIY, but that’s not my style!)

We start on the Sewell Barn Theatre (Norwich) production of “MAURICE” tonight – the amateur premiere. (Show dates  10th-19th January 2013) We’ll be doing some “in rehearsal” photo’s for the theatre foyer, and then we’ll get down to exploring the text. Meanwhile, preparations are well advanced for another “show”…..Carole and I get married in eight days’ time – very exciting! Looking forward to a very happy day, with all my four sons in attendance – three guitars, a song specially composed for the occasion, lovely venue, and we have special permission for a photo shoot in Norwich Cathedral by Osbert Parsley’s tomb (“The Singing Man” of the 16th Century – basically what we would now call a choirmaster – whose music and settings of psalms are still used today.)

2013 looks exciting, with several productions of my stuff planned, and I’ll be directing “Duet for One” by Tom Kempinski (a favourite of mine) for the Maddermarket Theatre (perfs April/May 2013)

Just heard from Ed Decker (who directed the highly-successful U.S. premiere production of “Maurice”) that he plans to mount a production of Andy and I’s stage version of Hanif Kureishi’s “MY BEAUTIFUL LAUNDRETTE” at the New Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco next year (November/December) Excited by that!

Here in the U.K., the Amateur premiere of “MAURICE” begins rehearsals on 15th November (run from 10th -19th January 2013 – me directing) while the planning for a professional U.K. tour of the same title (to begin in September, 2013) is in progress. Several other of my titles are being considered for production – of these, more anon!

I’s Auditions Day on Sunday (9th Sept) for the Amateur premiere of “MAURICE” (run in January, 2013)  which I will be directing for the Sewell Barn Theatre, in Norwich. (The theatre is based in the barn where Anna Sewell’s aunt once kept a black stallion. The writer conceived the classic “Black Beauty” as a result of visits there.) I’m looking forward to getting started on rehearsals in November – we’ve already got the  setting ideas in outline, and the adrenaline is flowing!

Much further afield, the Toronto run of “A ROOM WITH A VIEW” began with a preview last night – I’m looking forward to reviews!

I’m still waiting for the details of proposed runs of “BRAVE NEW WORLD”  (Birmingham, U.K.) “BRIDESHEAD REVISITED” (U.S.A.) “EAST OF EDEN” (Edinburgh and U.S.A.) “HOWARDS END” (Birmingham, U.K.) while the U.K. tour of “MAURICE” is still on track for next September (including, we hope, a London run!)

My football team has made a reasonably encouraging start(apart from the first away game where we were totally outplayed!) under their new manager, but the next few weeks will hopefully show that we are making progress!

Focus lately has been on my son Tom’s wedding, which takes place this week (27th July) but I have had a few other things to focus on, including the early design work for the production of “MAURICE” here in Norwich (Jan, 2013)
Further afield, there are several of my pieces “on the go”, including the U.S. premiere of “ANIMAL FARM” (Actors Playhouse production) and a Birmingham (U.K.) production of the same piece, while we’re still awaiting Estate permission for a run of “BRIDESHEAD REVISITED” in California. There is a proposed tour (starting at the Edinburgh Festival) of “East Of Eden” (and other possibilities for this title)…
“HOWARDS END” may have a U.S. outing soon, and there are numerous proposals for the touring/production of “MAURICE” in the U.K. and beyond……”MY BEAUTIFUL LAUNDRETTE” is also attracting interest from various companies in the U.K., U.S., and India – more news soon!
Andy and I are still waiting for proposals for our new (gay) version of “Sons And Lovers” – “PAUL” – and “A ROOM WITH A VIEW” will have its Canadian debut in Vancouver in September this year.
All in all, an exciting time to come, work – wise, and with the Premier Football season just around the corner, there’s an intriguing year ahead!

Off this p.m. to meet with the A.D.’s of a local Amateur Theatre company to discuss the World Amateur premiere of “Maurice” – the run will be in Norwich, in January, 2013. Other things in the pipeline, planned, talked about, or being considered, include the U.S. premiere of my “take” on Animal Farm, an amateur run of Howards End, a Canadian production of A Room With A View, a Birmingham (U.K.) run of Brave New World, and a run of Howards End in the U.S.A., and there’s a possibility that Helen Tennison (whose company is currently touring Sense And Sensibility to great acclaim, will be taking another title of mine (or mine and Andy’s! ) on the road in 2013….More news anon….

“Sons And Lovers” finished its run at the Sewell Barn Theatre yesterday, with a matinee and the final evening performance. The comments afterwards were very flattering – and the cast and I had a great little party to wind down the week…..I’ve been asked to direct the amateur premiere of one of my adaptations (with A G) for the Barn next year – we are seeking permission at the moment, but the initial response from the agent was encouraging! Meanwhile, up at Stoke the Canaries lost narrowly, but I’m hoping that the boys will be safe from relegation in about four matches’ time. Meanwhile, I’m hoping for good reviews for The New Conservatory Theatre’s production of “Maurice” in San Fransisco…..

Two theatres in the U.K. and one in the U.S. are showing my work this week! In San Francisco, the New Conservatory Theatre begin the previews of their U.S. Premiere presentation of “MAURICE”, (written with Andy Graham) while Helen Tennison’s excellent production of “Sense And Sensibility” for the Rosemary Branch Theatre (another Roger/Andy script) begins a southern counties tour at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre in Guildford on Thursday (23rd) Meanwhile, here in Norwich we had a technical day for “Sons And Lovers” yesterday. That play also opens on Thursday, at the Sewell Barn Theatre. Today, I shall be in the studios of Radio Norfolk – which are in the iconic Norwich landmark building The Forum – to do an interview alongside two of the cast, about the Lawrence adaptation and my production of it. I have an excellent, hard-working group of actors, backed by a team of committed and skilled technicians. So, a great week in prospect. The best of luck to all three companies!!

Trained down to London on Saturday last, with Tom and his fiancee Joey. Met up with Richard, and all went to see an excellent production of “Sense And Sensibility” at the Rosemary Branch – a little pub theatre with bags of character (and some very good food, too!) There were some very strong characterisations in the production, but we thought two of the performances were extra special – we were fascinated by James Burton’s Edward Ferrars, and Emma Fenney’s Elinor was, we thought, outstanding. Helen Tennison, the director, has done a great job with it, and I will certainly go and see something else at that theatre when the chance arises. After its run at the Rosemary Branch, the play tours for a couple of months – and I’m sure it will be successful wherever it’s seen!
I am today due to do a telephone interview with Caitlin Gaudet of the Decker Theatre in San Francisco, where “MAURICE” is due to play from 24th Feb. I wish the company well with it!
On the soccer front, the Canaries did us proud yet again with a great win at West Brom. in the FA Cup……and WHAT a debut for our local-born ‘keeper, Jed Steer! Look forward to seeing the 5th Round home tie with Leicester City…..
I’m now in rehearsal for a production of “Sons And Lovers”, here in Norwich, and we seem to be getting there with some interesting characterisations developing…….Perfs begin 23rd Feb