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FICT1on. l'I fERENC IARINTHY.

◊lflE QUE!lORS 1HEATRE COMPANY

lRE QUEg-QRS lRFATRE C(:)MPANY

First performance: 24th January 1981

After his production of the Hungarian play Catsplay, by Istvan Orkeny, at the Ouestors in 1972, Spencer Butler approached the agent in Budapest for more such plays in translation. He was sent just twenty-eight. He read them all and selected four. Of these he considered Fact and Fiction one of the best, and he proposed it for inclusion in the Ouestors season.

The translation was slightly re-worked by the actors and the director during rehearsal, but only to make the language fall more naturally upon the ear; the essence of the play was not - deliberately - altered. The Cultural Attache at the Hungarian Embassy provided background information about the situation and about the pronunciation of Hungarian names in the text.

Fact and Fiction was written six years ago. It was produced in Budapest where it ran for three years. It helped to make the name of Ferenc Karinthy known to Hungary ..... and now to the fresh woods and pastures new of West Ealing.

FACT AND FICTION

by Ferenc Karinthy Translated by Dr. Belajthy Belane

CAST

THE BOY .. . .. . .. . ... .. ... . ... IAN PINKERTON

THE GIRL . .. . . . . .. .. . .. . .... ALISON POLLARD

There are two acts, with an interval of fifteen minutes. Act 11 takes place a few days or so after Act I.

The play takes place in a villa on the Gellert Hill, which is in the centre of Budapest.

It is 1956.

We do not know if it is day or night.

Directed by SPENCER BUTLER

Designed by NIGEL COWELL

Stage Managers . . . ... ... ............ JOHN CLAYTON ANDREW MUIR

Assistant Stage Manager ..... . ..... . .. BRON BECKFORD Wardrobe . ....... .... .. .. . .. . .. ... LINDSAY UDELL Properties . ..... .. . . .. . . . . . .... .. BARBARA SEXON Lighting designed by .... .. ...... . ..... ALAN N. SMITH Lighting operator ... .. . . . .. . . . . . . . PHI LIPPA FORSTER Sound designed by . ..... ... ..... . . . ... ALAN N. SMITH Sound operators . ... .. ... . . .... . .. . ..... PHIL PAGE

MARK HATCH

We are grateful to Sapphire Carpets for the use of several items of furniture.

All other furniture from Questors property department.

The director would like to thank Mr. Gyula Braun, Cultural Attache of the Embassy of the Hungarian People's Republic, London, for his help in mounting the production.

The

OPEN DISCUSSION

on this play and its production will be held in the Bernard Shaw Room on

and will be led by

TUESDAY, 3rd FEBRUARY at 7.45 p.m.

CHARLES MAROWITZ

one of the most controversial figures working in the theatre today. Charles Marowitz, who, incidentally, directed a production of Death of a Salesman for The Questors in 1962, was founder and for 11 years director of the Open Space Theatre, where he was responsible for many original and striking productions, some of them fairly described as outrageous. His re-vamped versions of Shakespeare, such as Hamlet, Macbeth and Othello, have been played throughout the world and he is at present preparing a production of Measure for Measure for the National Theatre of Norway. His books include The Method as Means, The Act of Being, The Theatre at Work and Confessions of a Counterfeit Critic (not least of his accomplishments in the theatre has been as a drama critic).

You can be sure of an interesting and stimulating evening.

Come along on TUESDAY, 3rd FEBRUARY at 7.45 p.m.

in the Bernard Shaw Room

All are welcome Admission is free

Fact? or Fiction?

I've been in seven or eight places, I don't know, wherever I could get shelter.

*******

Why did they pile up so many things here?

It is supposed to be the most bomb-proof room ... and they used to give such parties here.

What is your name?

Kati.

Or Zsuzsi.

Maybe.

Or Ulrika?

If that suits you.

*******

*******

I served as a soldier in the South just before the evacuat­ion of the region.

*******

We used to have a season ticket to the Opera every year. The whole family ... ..

*******

Bombers. They are aiming for the rock.

Where is it?

Not far away.

And what if they hit us?

Forget about it .... .

COMING IN THE MAIN THEATRE

THE AMAZING DANCING BEAR by Barry L. H illman

February 17 - 21

This impressive new play which won £500 in the Bristol Old V ic/ Harris Trust Playwriting Competition, receives its World Premiere in the Main Theatre. It is the ninety-first full-length play to be premiered at The Ouestors.

In our opinion this play is not suitable for children.

OTHELLO by William Shakespeare

March 7 - 21

IN THE STUDIO

MARY BARNES by David Edgar

February 12 - 15

The Ouestors Student Company in the Stanislavsky Room

FIND ME by Olwen Wymark

and

CONVERSATION PIECES a programme of short plays by Alan Ayckbourn, Harold Pinter and Jean Tardieu

February 22 - March 6 (NOT March 2)

Printed and published by The Questers Ltd. Theatre Manager : Ben O'Mahony