The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams (April, 2025)
THE GLASS MENAGERIE by Tennessee Williams
The Glass Menagerie really is an actor's play as each character has their own conflicts and contradictions to be brought alive as their stories unfold. They are also real people and so the focus will be on finding the humanity and humour that makes the audience connect with them. Tom Wingfield is one of the great characters in American theatre. Largely based on Tennessee Williams' own life he guides the audience through his family history and the decisions he must live with. When Jim O'Connor bursts into Act Two he becomes the main focus of attention and the cause of the greatest conflicts in the play. Alongside the overbearing mother Amanda and the fragile sister Laura, this is a set of characters that is bound to stay in the memory for a long time.
CAST
TOM WINGFIELD 20s+ (son, the narrator and main protagonist, American accent)
Full of energy, life and hope despite being burdened by the responsibility to dedicate his life to supporting his mother and sister. Directly engaging the audience, he also has great dramatic scenes as he struggles to fulfill his own dreams of travel and writing despite his mother's ingratitude and sister's dependence - until he finally abandons them and reflects on the guilt of that decision.
JIM O'CONNOR 20s+ (Enters in Act 2, unwilling 'suitor' to Laura, American accent)
Great comedic potential when Amanda reverts to 'Southern Belle' in his presence and a key sensitive scene with Laura as he tries to encourage her to be braver. He has made the decision to be confident and is, at times, his own favourite topic of conversation!
AMANDA Middle-aged, (Mother, clear Southern states accent)
Abandoned by her husband some years before, she has never come to terms with her vastly reduced circumstances and holds tightly to the illusion of her privileged past. Nice comedy opportunity as she flirts inappropriately to secure a suitor for Laura.
LAURA 20s+ (daughter, vulnerable, American accent)
A childhood illness that left her marked for life has added to her extreme social anxiety. Her mother's demands and brother's over-protectiveness only increase her vulnerability and her only consolation is the menagerie of glass animals that her father gave her before abandoning the family forever.
Production team
- Director: James Dowson
- Set Design: Sarah Deboys
- Technical Director: Michael Darvell
- Stage Manager/DSM: K-M White
- Lighting: Eric Travers
- Sound/Projection: Peter Hoyes
- Hair, Make-up & Continuity: Hannah Curtis
- Costumes: James Dowson/Tracy James
- Production Manager: Hannah Curtis
- Photography: Paul Ashley
- Poster Design: Izzy Rees
- Programme: Steve Doke
- Social Media: Lucy Woodcock
- Publicity: Alex Priestley, Hannah Curtis, James Dowson
- Front of House: Alex Priestley
- Finance: Izzy Rees
Tom Wingfield
- Amanda Wingfield: Lynne Livingstone
- Tom Wingfield: Tim Drummond
- Laura Wingfield: Asher Guy
- Jim O'Connor: Christian Bailey