Stripping down for challenging Keighley drama

6:43am Thursday 28th August 2008

A producer's passion has brought a challenging choice of play to the local stage next week.

Steven Clark fought to persuade Keighley Playhouse bosses to present the The Graduate.

The original 1960s film had a young Dustin Hoffman seduced by his suspender-wearing neighbour Mrs Robinson.

Kathleen Turner stripped completely for a theatre adaptation in the West End and Broadway earlier this decade.

Steven, one of Keighley's best actors and an imaginative director, wanted to stage Terry Johnson's play in the town.

But he initially met with opposition from fellow members choosing the seven plays for Keighley Playhouse's new season.

Steven said selecting each year's programme was a long and arduous task for the Playhouse's playreading committee.

He said: "They try to come up with up with a varied programme to suit all tastes.

"When the The Graduate was discussed the feedback was fairly negative, with regard to staging, casting and whether the play was dated or too graphic for a local community theatre.

"However, having taken all that on board, I vociferously stated my case and it was all systems go!"

Steven said that as a director it was extremely rare to find a piece of theatre classed as a "110 per cent dream ticket".

He said: "I believed in the piece, understanding the writing and having a passion for the characters.

"I undertook the task of making the 60s screenplay actually work and look fresh in the stage."

Steven said he had worked during the past few weeks with a dedicated, talented and hard-working cast of Keighley Playhouse favourites.

These include Joan Whiteley as the notorious Mrs Robinson, along with Ian Wilkinson, Mike Boothroyd and Nadine Walker.

The title role of Ben is taken by Matthew Jones, an experienced young performer whose credits include Our Day Out, Romeo and Juliet and High School Musical.

Steven said Matthew had been a joy to work with and was a real find for the Playhouse.

Playing Ben's girlfriend, Mrs Robinson's daughter, is Helen Gallagher who performed in many Keighley Amateurs pantomimes before leaving to study performing arts in Carlisle.

Barbara Ramsden, who has performed with Bingley Amateurs for more than 20 years, plays the psychiatrist.

Steven said that for The Graduate he designed a fully functional and striking set aided by modern music with a classical twist.

He added: "I have concentrated on keeping a fast-moving pace with believable characters."

The Graduate is staged from Monday to Saturday at 7.30pm.

Book at Reids bookshop, Cavendish Street, Keighley, or phone 08451 267859 or 01535 604764.

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