The Caucasian Chalk Circle

Louise Gold starred as Grushe, a Brechtian heroine, at Edinburgh Royal Lyceum 12 October - 4 November 1995

Cast

The Governor's Son - Rab Christie

Grushe - Louise Gold

Arkadi the narrator/ Azdak the Judge - Peter Kelly

The Governor's Wife - Michael Percival-Maxwell (in drag)

Other parts played by:

David Baker, Sean Baker, Eric Barlow, Jimmy Chisholm, Max Gold, Russell Hunter, Louise Ironside, Tom McGovern, Jayne McKenna, Matthew Pidgeon & Ann Louise Ross

Production Team

 Author - Bertolt Brecht

Translator - John Holmstrom

Director - Gerard Murphy

Décor - Will Hargreaves

Lighting - Brian Harris

Music - Stephen Warbeck

Musical Director - James Bryce

Assistant Director - Steven Gale

It is perhaps appropriate that an agit-prop play such as this, had among both its cast and production team, a number of people who come from a background involving Political Satire and Agitation Propaganda, and/or went on to be involved with such. For example: Sean Baker, Louise Gold, Max Gold, and Stephen Warbeck, among others. Indeed Louise Gold and Max Gold, at least, had also at one time or another been roped into appearing with the politically motivated semi-professional Fall Out group.

Just prior to this production opening, many of the cast had been in a production of Our Country's Good, also at The Edinburgh Lyceum. As with that production the critics remarked upon how well the company worked together as an ensemble, this may or may not have been helped by the fact that the cast included at least one pair of real-life siblings.

Stephen Warbeck went on to provide the music for an RSC production of The Cherry Orchard. He also went on to write the score for The Villain's Opera.

Critics Comments

“Gerald Murphy directs a jaunty revival of The Caucasian Chalk Circle which is chiefly remarkable for its company spirit”....”This should be the model for theatre throughout Britain; and you see the benefits in the easy interplaying among a strong cast that includes Louise Gold as the servant Grusche.” Michael Billington, THE GUARDIAN, 25 October 1995.

  "Louise Gold played Grusha with a straight directness" Thorn Dibdin THE STAGE

 "Grushe, played by a strong and dignified Louise Gold" Ann Donald, SUNDAY EXPRESS (SCOTLAND), 22 October 1995

"There is some fine acting, notably Louise Gold as the noble peasant heroine figure Grushe" Colin Donald, THE SCOTSMAN, 16 October 1995

  "Louise Gold seems at first to be as uneasy about how to play her as Grushe is to play herself. But Gold displays growing authority as Grushe faces up to her mixed fortunes in the mountains" Richard Loup-Nolan, THE INDEPENDENT, 14 October 1995

 "Louise Gold's characterisation as Grushe - is deliberately flat and unemotional. It's an intriguing, difficult and very accomplished portrayal" Sara Villiers, THE HERALD, 20 October 1995

Links about The Caucasian Chalk Circle

Muppet Central/Tibby's Bowl Interview with Louise Gold http://www.muppetcentral.com/articles/interviews/gold.shtml This interview mentions Louise's work at The Edinburgh Lyceum, although the two shows are not named, she is evidently referring to Our Country's Good and The Caucasian Chalk Circle.

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