MRS. BAKER'S COMPANY

A TALE OF ROGUES and VAGABONDS

Written and performed by Alison Neil

Directed by David Collison

Mrs Sarah Baker shone brightly as a theatre manager at the beginning of the 1800s. Starting as a child in her family's troupe at the famous Sadlers Wells pleasure gardens, she never learnt to read, but she could dance on a rope. Her family toured the country, classed as 'rogues and vagabonds' who could be run out of town or imprisoned at the whim of a local magistrate or mayor.

Sarah Baker formed her own company. Cheerfully optimistic, she fought to gain respectability. Her story reveals a precarious world of make-believe and slapstick, providing a touch of magic wherever the wagons stopped and the show began.

Alison Neil provides another inspiring and rivetting tale, and as Mrs Baker herself would say, it shows what you can do with just three things: good health, hard work, good luck and some very good friends... She couldn't add up, either.

TO DOWNLOAD A jpeg: CLICK ON IMAGE AND DRAG TO DESKTOP

NOTES:

High quality theatre lasting just over ONE HOUR without interval. A relaxed Q&A can follow after a short break, if required.

Performance space: 3m x 3m (preferably more)

Set-up 2.5 hours (preferably more) Get-out: 1 hour 15mins after audience leaves.

SUITABLE for libraries, museums, art gallery spaces, W.I.s, clubs and societies as well as village halls, small theatres and arts centres.

TO MAKE A FULL EVENING'S ENTERTAINMENT at no extra cost we recommend:
- the show
- interval
- relaxed Question and Answer session with Alison (Usually 20-30 minutes)

The show also works well if followed by a tea or supper

"It is a fantastic show and I hope that it has a great run for many years to come!"

ORGANISER, BACKWELL PLAYHOUSE

"Just to say how much we enjoyed the show last night. A fantastic performance as always. It is really interesting to uncover the history of someone completely unknown before, so thank you for that."

"thanks again for a superb evening Saturday."

AUDIENCE MEMBERS, YORKLEY COMMUNITY CENTRE

"We really enjoyed the performance. Alison is a really clever writer but also capable of not only writing a captivating story but of performing it too. It was a complete eye-opener; I had never thought about theatre/public entertainment at that point in history. So good to have Alison's references to the American war of Independence and then Napoleon, plus the abolition of slavery. Sarah Baker was a bright and brilliant woman, well done to Alison for telling her story."

AUDIENCE MEMBER, BACKWELL PLAYHOUSE

"Congratulations on your performance which was much appreciated as usual."

ORGANISER, USK CASTLE FRIENDS