Revival Of Little Known Play By Chiswick Writer

Patrick Hamilton's The Governess plays at Richmond Theatre

Chiswick playwright Patrick Hamilton is enjoying something of a revival. Hot on the heels of the Tabard’s revival of The Duke in Darkness comes the Richmond Theatre’s offering from 10 to 15 June of the touring production of The Governess prior to going to the West End.

The play stars Jenny Seagrove, Peter Bowles and Colin Buchanan .

Patrick Hamilton’s little known thriller was unearthed by leading theatre critic turned playwright Nicholas de Jongh who brought it to the attention of Bill Kenwright via the British Library. The Governess features Detective Rough, a character later made famous by the author’s best known play Gaslight, as he tackles the case of a missing infant following the arrival of ‘The Governess’.

Hamilton ( 1904-1962) was a writer and playwright who was well regarded by Graham Greene and JB Priestly and was best known for his plays Rope and Gaslight, the latter became a Hollywood movie. He spent much of his childhood living in Chiswick.

The sinister Governess Fry, having taken a position in the Drew household, manipulates and deceives all around her. And when the Drew’s infant vanishes, the house is thrown into turmoil.

Peter Bowles, best known for To The Manor Born, Only When I Laugh and The Irish RM plays Detective Inspector Rough. He was most recently seen on stage in Sheridan’s The Rivals at the Theatre Royal Haymarket opposite Penelope Keith and at the same theatre in Hay Fever alongside Dame Judi Dench.

Jenny Seagrove is known to millions of television viewers alongside Martin Shaw as barrister Jo Mills in BBC TV’s Judge John Deed - the Bafta award winning legal drama which ran for a record 6 years. Jenny starred as Emma Harte in the Emmy Nominated hit series A Woman of Substance.

Colin Buchanan is best known for his role as Pascoe to Warren Clarke’s Dalziel in the long running BBC series Dalziel & Pascoe. He has starred in many well-known series including; A Touch of Frost and All Quiet on the Preston Front. His West End credits include Art and La Ronde.

The cast for The Governess also includes Carolyn Backhouse, Libby Gore, Lydia Orange, Robert Rees, Matthew Rixon and Mary Ryder. Directed by Roy Marsden, Designed by Simon Scullion, Lighting Design by Douglas Kuhrt, Sound Design by Martin Hodgson.

June 4, 2013