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When screen and stage writer Christopher Neame saw a professional production
of Blithe Spirit in the Luberon a couple of years back, he became convinced that
there was great potential for English theatre in Provence. 'They did an
extremely good job on that play,' says Neame, although he considers the
producers might have been a touch optimistic in thinking he could help them with
their publicity because Noël Coward was his godfather. He laughs, 'Christopher
Who?, the journalists most likely asked.'
Yet the seed had been sown for Neame, who lives in the Vaucluse, and as soon as
he heard the Luberon set-up had no immediate production plans, he started
mapping out the concept for a new theatre group. It seemed to him there were two
different audiences – the long-term Provençal residents and the seasonal
visitors.Although the two may well have some common ground, he felt that product choice and performance dates had to be focused for either one and, however tempting, the ultimately impossible task of catering for both had to be avoided. In the end, the sensible choice was pretty self-evident. 'Naturally holidaymakers are here to soak up the sun and wine and satisfy their appetites,' observes Neame, 'not sit in a theatre.'
So residents it was - and out of season.
Enter Veronica Grange, an English stage director and performer long established
in and around Provence. Hearing of Christopher's plans, she suggested he write a
series of sketches – and that's how the trilogy Three Weeks in May was born.Set in an apartment building overlooking the old port at Cannes, each story has a cast of two with Catriona MacColl playing the women opposite Craig Bowles.
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Jointly presented by What Larks and the Association Franco – Britainnique, Three Weeks in May makes its debut in Carpentras at la Chapelle des Pénitents Blanc on Friday 26 February at 16.00h and 19.00h.
For further information see http://www.WhatLarks.eu
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