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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.
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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.