Overview
Bill Bryden's Cottesloe Company, which flourished at Peter Hall's
National Theatre, was the English theatre's only true ensemble of the
last thirty or so years. Impossible Plays tells the story of the company
and the many actors and musicians connected to it. Co-written by Keith
Dewhurst, author of eight plays for the group, and Jack Shepherd, a
founder-actor, it explains the ideas behind the company's work and how
the work was staged, and provides an idiosyncratic, lively and deeply
personal take on the company. Beginning with
a Royal Court Theatre Sunday night performance in 1970, the story of
one company's aim to create a popular theatre form includes such
milestone productions as The Mystery cycle of plays and Lark Rise to
Candleford. With photographs by John Haynes, Michael Mayhew and Nobby
Clark, Impossible Plays is a glorious and timely tribute to one of
theatre's most innovative companies.