Humble Boy By Charlotte Jones

Felix Humble, bumbling Cambridge astrophysicist and cricket enthusiast, returns to the family home following the sudden death of his father. Flora, his difficult and demanding mother is determined to make a fresh start with George, a brash family friend. Secrets come tumbling out as Felix tries to come to terms with the past and what is yet to come.

Threads such as Hamlet, horticulture, black holes and beekeeping are woven into this warm and touching comedy which was first performed at the National Theatre in 2001 - winning the Critics' Circle Theatre Award for Best New Play and the People's Choice Best New Play Award.

Charlotte Jones is hailed by many as the natural successor to both Stoppard and Ayckbourn for her intelligent and richly comic scripts. Oxford Theatre Guild has a long history of performing to both audience and critical acclaim at the Playhouse.

'This is a marvellous play: harsh and forgiving: sad, very sad; funny, very, very funny...a feast.' Sunday Times

Saturday 26 March 2011

Fascinating Article

I was flicking through the BBC website at about 1am and found a wonderful article about emotional power of gardening.  Given the effect of the garden in the characters of Humble Boy - I thought it worth sharing!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-12817415

Thursday 24 March 2011

In an English Country Garden

I thought you might like to see one of the initial sketches Vince, our wonderful designer, did for the show.

Things have moved on a little since then, but it will give you a flavour of what to expect of our little piece of the Cotswolds transported to the Playhouse stage.



The Final Countdown

We only have 4 rehearsals left before Humble Boy enters the theatre...!

Excellent progress has been made in all areas of the production and I have every confidence that come Sunday 3 April, we will be ready to hit the ground running.

Some Rehearsal Photos

A tender moment between Rosie and Felix

Wednesday 16 March 2011

Wednesday 2 March 2011

Bee on the look out...

Every day from now on until the show opens, Dan, our Internet Wizard, will be tweeting about bees!

Subscribe to our Twitter feed and see what bee happening!

Wednesday 23 February 2011

Half Way!

6 weeks of rehearsals down, 6 weeks to go!

We are having a blast in the rehearsal rooms - Charlotte Jones has written an amazingly funny play and the cast are revelling in the opportunities it is giving them to create vivid characters and hilarious moments.  That is not to say that the play is without a darker side - and these sections are by turns shocking, moving and very touching.  It really is an embarrassment of riches and one that we are enjoying working on.