20-Apr-2006

Cheery cast of four brings Sutton Hoo history to life.

With a production that has been touring and selling out throughout East Anglia since February, Eastern Angles already know they tapped into a treasure of a play. Telling the story of the people who discovered the Anglo-Saxon burial site at Sutton Hoo, this is a rare chance to delve into the lives of the people – rather than the archaeological detail. A cast of four play the key roles of landowner Edith Pretty, amateur archaeologist Basil Brown, Ipswich Museum curator Guy Maynard, professional archaeologist Charles Philips and Ipswich Museum boss, Reid Moir.

Greg Wagland, who plays both Philips and Moir, manages to cleverly switch from pretentious small town museum boss to bossy but well-intentioned archaeologist. He is joined by Lisa Armytage, who skilfully brings Mrs Pretty back to life and takes us on her personal journey. Patrick Knox plays Suffolk man Basil Brown – who is played with great gentleness and honesty in a way that brings out local eccentricities without mocking them. Roger Butcher is the perfect Guy Maynard – a curator who is much put-upon and desperate to please.

The decision to revive the Sutton Hoo Mob after its first outing in 1994 was brought about by public demand – such is the affection for this comedy penned by local playwright Peppy Barlow. Community halls, theatre and schools will all have hosted this production by the time it comes to an end with performances at its spiritual home in Sutton Hoo.

There are no great surprises with this production, but neither really should there be, the audience knew what to expect and they got what they wanted. This isn’t a rip-roaring comedy, it is a cheery look at the lives of people from the past whose work still lives on and is the subject of much Suffolk pride today and probably for a very long time to come.

Helen Johns

27-Feb-2006

Eastern Angles has revived Peppy Barlow's 1994 account of the finding of the Sutton Hoo treasure in 1939.  As part of its spring tour, this engaging piece will be central to the Upstix Pride of Place Festival which Eastern Angles is hosting in Ipswich and Woodbridge from 30 March to 2 April.

On a very simple set, two two-tiered platforms, curved to suggest the outline of the Saxon ship's hull, four performers recreate the goings-on which led to the greatest archeological find of its kind being donated to the nation just as war was threatening the coast of East Anglia.   Using music of the period (a la Dennis Potter) to counterpoint the events and characters, we meet Mrs Edith May Pretty, owner of the farm with the enigmatic mounds, Charles Phillips of the British Museum, Guy Maynard of the Ipswich Museum and the self-taught local archeologist from Rickinghall, Basil Brown, who was responsible for finding the ship and paid 32/6d a week for his efforts.

Framed by the coroner's inquest to determine whether the finds were treasure trove or not, the play's gentle exploration of ordinary people caught up in extraordinary events, makes for a very entertaining evening.

Lysa Armitage catches movingly the woman at the centre of circumstances.   Greg Wagland is excellent as the man of vision suddenly having to come to terms with local problems.   Roger Butcher is excellent too as the diplomatic Guy Maynard.   At the centre of it all, quietly wielding his trowel and getting on with the job he knew he had to do, Patrick Knox plays Basil Brown with subdued good humour and steely determination.

Hugh Homan, The Stage