15/02/13…..Terence Rattigan’s The Deep Blue Sea coming to Thame

THE DEEP BLUE SEA by Terence Rattigan – performed by Thame Players at The Players Theatre, Nelson Street, Thame, from Tuesday, March 5, to Saturday, March 9, 2013.

The Deep Blue Sea is considered by many to be Rattigan?s finest work. The play was first performed in London in March 1952, when it was praised by critics and audiences as evidence that Rattigan’s view of life was growing deeper and more complex. It also won praise for actress Peggy Ashcroft, who co-starred with Kenneth More in the first production.

In creating the play, Rattigan was inspired by the suicide of a young actor with whom he had previously had a relationship. Peggy Ashcroft said of the part: “I feel I’m walking around the stage naked.” Her comment served to indicate how emotionally revealing the play is. Yvonne Maxwell, the Director for Thame Players’ production, commented: “It?s a play about love and sexual repression against the backdrop of austerity Britain.”

The play revolves around the relationship between Hester Collyer and her lover Freddy Page. Freddy was a Spitfire pilot in World War II. He came out of that a war hero and worked as a test pilot, but lost his nerve and hit the bottle. Before we join the play, Hester has left her husband and is living with Freddy, pretending to be his wife. We join them at the nadir of their relationship.

The Deep Blue Sea will be performed at The Players Theatre at 7.45pm each evening between Tuesday 5th and Saturday 9th March. Tickets cost