PHOTOGRAPH: NICHOLAS COUPE

CONTENTS - ABOUT BELT UP THEATRE

THE DIRECTORS and PATRONS

- THE BOY JAMES

THE SHOW

A QUITE INTERESTING ENDORSEMENT

ALEXANDER WRIGHT: AUTHOR

DOMINIC J ALLEN: DIRECTOR

JETHRO COMPTON: PRODUCER and ‘THE BOY’

LUCY FARRETT: ‘THE GIRL’

JAMES WILKES: ‘JAMES’

- ATRIUM

THE SHOW

JAMES WILKES: AUTHOR

JETHRO COMPTON: PRODUCER and DIRECTOR

DOMINIC ALLEN: MALCOLM KINNEAR

JAMES WILKES: PAUL

SERENA MANTEGHI: PENNY KINNEAR

LUCY FARRETT: BUTTER

ABOUT BELT UP Belt Up Theatre was founded by Dominic J Allen, Jethro Compton, James Wilkes and Alexander Wright.

We debuted in 2008, before winning the Edinburgh International Festival Award for our project 'The Red Room' that year.

We are based in York where we are now resident company here at York Theatre Royal. Belt Up is committed to producing fearless, adventurous and

playful work that places its audience at the centre of the production.

At the Theatre Royal our productions have included, The Tartuffe, The Trial, Lorca is Dead: or a brief history of surrealism, The Oresteia, A Clockwork

Orange, A Ghost Walk, Macbeth and The Beggar’s Opera.

Our Patrons are:

Dame Judi Dench

Thelma Holt CBE

THE BOY JAMES By Alexander Wright

Following critically acclaimed and sell out runs at the Edinburgh

Fringe Festival 2010 and Southwark Playhouse London, Belt Up

Theatre brings its hidden gem of new writing home to York

Theatre Royal. Alexander Wright's The Boy James tells a story of

playful innocence and cruel experience woven around the life of

Peter Pan author, J.M. Barrie. A dark but beautiful tale of one

bright eyed boys startled awakening to the harsh realities of

adulthood. Play with him, and take his hand as you lead him back

to Neverland. A truly intimate experience that allows its visitors

the password to a strictly secret world a safe haven where they

can while away their time and get in touch with inner child. But

as the tick tock of the clock goes on, you too will have to face the

inevitable voyage.

Producer/Lighting Designer: JETHRO COMPTON

Composer: Alexander Wright

Sound Designer: Gareth Prescott

Production Assistant: Matthew Williams

The boy - JETHRO COMPTON

The girl - LUCY FARRETT

James - JAMES WILKES

'Compton is riveting in his performance... will stay with you a long time

after.'

The Scotsman *****

A QUITE INTERESTING ENDORSEMENT

‘Just been knocked out by ‘The Boy James’ Belt Up’s interactive show

about J.M. Barrie… Still drying my eyes’

STEPHEN FRY

ALEXANDER WRIGHT:

AUTHOR of The Boy James

Biography as Writer/Director:

Alexander has mainly worked as a Director for Belt Up but has recently began to write for the company. The Boy James is his first original, fully produced play. It premiered as part of The House Above for Belt Up Theatre at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2010. Since then it has played at Southwark Playhouse in January 2011 and toured in February 2011. It is returning to the Edinburgh Festival this August. His adaptation of Antigone also premiered at The House Above and toured in February and May 2011. Alexander's other upcoming work as a writer includes William, a piece or storytelling for families, and Some Small Love Story, a new musical, both premiering with The Flanagan Collective at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

DOMINIC ALLEN:

DIRECTOR of The Boy James

Biography as Writer/Director:

In 2009, Dominic adapted Kafka's The Trial for Belt Up Theatre, followed by The Odyssey in 2010. He wrote an

original play for 2010, which he also directed, Lorca is Dead. Other work as writer and director includes The

Oresteia (with James Wilkes 2009) and Morbid Curiosity (2008). For Belt Up Theatre, he has directed The Boy

James (2010) and Volpone (2008). Dominic has also written a number of plays with the comedian Chris Stokes,

with whom he is currently collaborating on a potential radio sitcom.

JETHRO COMPTON:

PRODUCER of The Boy James and ‘THE BOY’

Biography as Actor:

Jethro’s most recent work as an actor includes Haemon in Antigone (2010) and Renard le Clown in The Tartuffe

(2008-2010). Jethro played the role of Ferdinand in The Tempest (2009) in Belt Up’s production at RSC Dell in

Stratford and in 2010 he was one of four who played the part of the Ghost Walker in A Ghost Walk – the part

rotated between the company directors each evening. He has also performed as a member of the ensemble in The

Trial (2009-2010), Octavia (2010-2011) the award winning Metamorphosis (2008-2010).

Jethro first performed in the Studio at York Theatre Royal was in 2007 as the role of Peter Mandelson in TONY!

The Blair Musical.

LUCY FARRETT

‘THE GIRL’

Biography as Actress:

Lucy's most recent work as an actress includes Gala Dali in Lorca is Dead (2010-2011) and Antigone in

Antigone (2011). She is an original cast member of the company, performing in the award winning

Metamorphosis (2008-2010), as Haley in The Pitchfork Disney (2008) and Elmire in The Tartuffe (2009-

2010). She has enjoyed playing several roles in the company's Shakespeare's, including Lady Macbeth in

Macbeth (2008), the Nurse in Romeo and Juliet (2008), Miranda in The Tempest (2009) and most recently

Titania in an outdoor production of A Midsummer Night's Dream in Rowntree Park (2010). Lucy's first

performance in the Studio at York Theatre Royal was in 2008 as part of the ensemble in the company's

production of A Clockwork Orange.

JAMES WILKES ‘JAMES’

Biography as Actor:

James' work as an actor includes the role of Gregor Samsa in the company's debut production of Metamorphosis

at the National Student Drama Festival in 2008 for which he was awarded the Spotlight award for best Actor.

James reprised the role of Gregor for Belt Up's revival of Metamorphosis in 2010. Other acting credits with the

company include Mosca in Volpone (2008), Titorelli/Priest in The Trial (2009), the Ghost Walker in A Ghost Walk

(2010), Salvador Dali in Lorca is Dead (2010), Jacques in The Tartuffe (2009-2010), Lady Macbeth in Macbeth

(2010-11) and Macheath in The Beggar’s Opera (2011). James can next be seen as a pirate in the York Theatre

Royal’s Peter Pan this summer.

PHOTOGRAPH: NICHOLAS COUPE

PHOTOGRAPH: NICHOLAS COUPE

ATRIUM By James Wilkes

An ageing artist invites you to join a private audience in his study as he

prepares to publish his memoirs with the assistance of a frustrated ghost

writer. At times a personal lounge cabaret, at others a zombie attack and

at others a spoiled New Year’s Eve party. Nothing ever clearly seems real

in a play in which nothing happens, perhaps at all.

James Wilkes' (The Tartuffe, The Beggar's Opera) first original play toys

with the lines between fact and fiction in meta-theatrical play within a

play within a comedy within a tragedy within a book within someone’s

imagination. Absurd comedy reigns supreme in this dream like journey

through one man’s subconscious as his own self obsession tears apart the

life around him. You are invited to be part of it, to be complicit in his

surreal flights of fancy. Bring an act to turn out in his cabaret or perhaps

perform a striptease for his delight. A hilarious dip into a profoundly

lonely mind.

Director/Producer/Lighting Designer: JETHRO COMPTON

Production Assistant: Matthew Williams

Malcolm - DOMINIC ALLEN

Paul - JAMES WILKES

Pennie - SERENA MANTEGHI

Butter - LUCY FARRETT

JAMES WILKES: AUTHOR of Atrium and ‘Paul’

Biography as Writer/Director:

James’ writing credits include Atrium which premiered at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2010. His

adaptations for Belt Up include Women of Troy (2008), The Oresteia (with Dominic J Allen, 2009),

Metamorphosis (2010) and The Tartuffe which premiered at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2008 and ran

in various forms till 2010 where it finished in a special farewell performance at the York Theatre

Royal. James also wrote Belt Up’s version of John Gay’s The Beggar’s Opera which premiered at

the York Theatre Royal in March 2011. Directing credits include Octavia and Antigone as part of

The House Above in Edinburgh 2010 as well as The Tartuffe (2008-2010).

JETHRO COMPTON: PRODUCER/DIRECTOR Biography as Producer/Director: Jethro has produced a number of shows for Belt Up over the past few years with highlights including The

Beggar’s Opera (2011), Macbeth (2010), The Tartuffe (2008-2010), The Trial (2009), Lorca is Dead (2010-

2011), Metamorphosis (2010), Odyssey (2010-2011), Octavia (2010-2011), Antigone (2010-2011) and

Quasimodo (2010-2011) which he also wrote and directed.

In 2010 Jethro started his own production company with which he produced his first independent

production; Belt Up Theatre’s Macbeth in the House of Detention London. At the start of 2011 Jethro

became an Associate Artist of Southwark Playhouse. In 2010 Jethro was awarded a bursary from Stage

One to encourage the development of his work as a commercial producer.

Jethro now works for West End and Broadway producers David Pugh and Dafydd Rogers.

DOMINIC ALLEN

‘Malcolm Kinnear’

Biography as Actor:

Dominic's most notable roles as an actor include Orgon Poquelin in Tartuffe (2008 – 2010), Josef K. in

the Trial (2009) and as the eponymous role in Macbeth (2010 – 2011). Other acting work has

included Metamorphosis, Antigone, Quasimodo and Lorca is Dead for Belt Up Theatre, as well as

appearing in productions with Stafford Festival Shakespeare, the Birmingham Stage Company and

the Flying Ducks.

SERENA MANTEGHI

‘PENNY KINNEAR’

Biography as Actress:

Serena has been a member of Belt Up Theatre's ensemble for the past three years. Her roles

include Ismene in Antigone (2010-2011) and Hermia in A Midsummer Night's Dream (2010).

Serena has also performed as a member of the ensemble in The Tempest (2009) at the RSC Dell in

Stratford, The Trial (2009-2010), Octavia (2008-2011) and Metamorphosis (2010).

Serena first performed at the York Theatre Royal in 2010 as Amorette in The Tartuffe and most

recently as Polly Peachum in The Beggar's Opera in March of this year.

LUCY FARRETT

‘BUTTER’

Biography as Actress:

Lucy's most recent work as an actress includes Gala Dali in Lorca is Dead (2010-2011) and

Antigone in Antigone (2011). She is an original cast member of the company, performing in

the award winning Metamorphosis (2008-2010), as Haley in The Pitchfork Disney (2008) and

Elmire in The Tartuffe (2009-2010). She has enjoyed playing several roles in the company's

Shakespeare's, including Lady Macbeth in Macbeth (2008), the Nurse in Romeo and Juliet

(2008), Miranda in The Tempest (2009) and most recently Titania in an outdoor production of

A Midsummer Night's Dream in Rowntree Park (2010). Lucy's first performance in the Studio

at York Theatre Royal was in 2008 as part of the ensemble in the company's production of A

Clockwork Orange.