The Medici Stars- Cambridge Festival of Drama WINNER (September, 2022 & July, 2023)
Photo shows David Sear (centre back)- writer, director and last minute actor in the play, and Martin Maynard (second from left)- best individual performance.
Winners of the Cambridge Festival of Drama 2022:
* First place - Combined Actors of Cambridge, THE MEDICI STARS
* Second place - Waterbeach Theatre Company - WTC, ONE NIGHT IN TOLEDO
* Third place - BAWDS, WHITE LIES
* Best Individual Performance - Martin Maynard, Combined Actors of Cambridge, THE MEDICI STARS
* Best Technical Achievement - Tracy James (Costumes), Combined Actors of Cambridge, THE MEDICI STARS
* Best New Play - THE MEDICI STARS by David Sear, Combined Actors of Cambridge
* Best Supporting Performance - Madeleine Forrester, Huntingdon Drama Club, SWAN SONG
* Adjudicator's Award - Out of Ideas, TABLE FOR TWO
"Congratulations to all participants, and thank you to our wonderful adjudicator, Nancy Heath, and our audiences for making the 2022 festival a massive success."
What's "The Medici Stars" all about?
Galileo Galilei first met Maffeo Barberini in 1611 when he came to Rome in triumph heralding the discovery of the Medici Stars (the moons of Jupiter) which he had observed with his brilliant invention, the telescope. Maffeo, Cardinal-poet wrote a poem, Perilous Flattery, in honour of his famous and brilliant new friend. In 1616 Galileo was summoned to Rome accused of heresy by Pope Paul’s Inquisition, and he enlisted Maffeo and his famous friends to help him. Then in 1624, by a miracle, Maffeo became Pope Urban VIII. Galileo thought all his troubles were behind him.
By 1633, his friend had persecuted Galileo and then banished him to the wilderness.
In four scenes in Rome over 22 years the play shows the story of two friends who became bitter enemies, and the story of a group of men transformed by their place in history.
Who's in the cast?
Maffeo Barberini: Cardinal, poet of the age, and leader of the illustrious house of Barberini, who as Pope Urban VIII will fill Rome with bees (from the Barberini coat of arms).
Maffeo was played by Martin Maynard, who won the "Best Individual Performance" award, (and the outstanding acting trophy at the Cambridge Festival of Drama in 2021).
Galileo Galilei: Mathematician, teacher, astronomer, and writer of Dialogues, who as the world-famous Galileo discovered the moons of Jupiter, The Medici Stars.
Galileo was played by Peter Simmonds, who has played in many productions in Cambridge including Thomas Beckett in Murder in the Cathedral at the ADC Theatre and recently starred in both Supernatural Shakespeare and Tom Jones.
Niccolo Riccardi: Preacher, theologian and academic, christened by Philip II of Spain as ‘Father Monster’, who would become consultant to the Index of the Congregation (The Inquisition).
The Monster was played by Richard Sockett who has also been in many productions in Cambridge including Dunsinane at Storeys Field and Murder in the Cathedral.
Frederico Cesi: Prince of Aquasparta, scientist, naturalist and founder of the Academy of Lynx, who becomes publisher of the works of Galileo.
Cesi was to be played by Peter Dodds, who recently began acting within the drama groups of the area and has taken parts in Present Laughter at the ADC and Tom Jones, but being unwell was replaced on the night by David Sear, the play's author - he was able to play the role in the National Finals in Coventry later in the year.
Francesco Barberini: Nephew of Maffeo, who as Cardinal would become Grand Inquisitor of his uncle’s Inquisition.
Francesco was played by Sam Hunt, who has studied drama in London and returns to Cambridge for this production and as Alfred in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead at the ADC this September.