Our Friends In The North
5th May 1982
The Pit Theatre, RSC
Our Friends in the North opened the Royal Shakespeare’s Company Pit Theatre at the Barbican on 5th May 1982 and played in repertoire there until the 23rd November.
The play was later adapted for television by Peter Flannery and was screened by BBC2 as a nine episode series in early 1996. For further details of the TV series click here.
Awards
Olivier Awards Nomination – Play of the Year
Our Friends in the North at the RSC Pit
Our Friends in the North
| Written by | Peter Flannery |
Creative Team
| Director | John Caird |
| Designs by | Ultz |
| Lighting by | Leo Leibovici |
| Sound by | John A Leonard |
| Fights by | Nels Henum |
| Company Voice Work by | Cicely Berry |
| Stage Manager | Titus Grant |
| Deputy Stage Manager | Vikki Heywood |
| Assistant Stage Manager | Anne Milner |
Cast
| Newcastle | |
| Roy Johnson, a Policeman | George Raistrick |
| Bede Connor, Chairman of the Council | Bert Parnaby |
| Austin Donohue, Leader of the Labour Group and Businessman | Jim Broadbent |
| John Edwards, Builder | Andrew Jarvis |
| Eddie Wells, a Local Councillor | Fred Pearson |
| Billy Hutchinson | James Garbutt |
| Florrie, his Wife | Gillian Webb |
| Nicky, their son | Peter Chelsom |
| Geordie Hurst | David Whitaker |
| Tosker Cox | Anthony O’Donnell |
| Mary, his Wife | Jane Carr |
| London | |
| The Met | |
| Sir Edward Jones, Commissioner | Bert Parnaby |
| Alan Whitaker, a Deputy Assistant Commissioner | Fred Pearson |
| Harold Chapple, an Inspector, later Head of C.I.D. | Andrew Jarvis |
| Ronald Conrad, a Detective | Roger Allam |
| Weir, a Detective | Jim Broadbent |
| Black, a Detective | Peter Chelsom |
| Dennis Cockburn, a Detective Chief Superintendent | Peter Ellis |
| Sir William Sampson, the New Commissioner | James Garbutt |
| Soho | |
| Benny Barratt | Anthony O’Donnell |
| Charlie | George Raistrick |
| Jimmy Roadhouse | Joseph Marcell |
| Waster | Christopher Hurst |
| Rusty | Julia Hills |
| Debbie | Jane Carr |
| Westminster | |
| Mrs. Kelly, a Cabinet Minister | Gillian Webb |
| Claude Seabrook, later Home Secretary | Bert Parnaby |
| Walter Sykes, a Senior Civil Servant | Peter Ellis |
| The City | |
| John Bourne, an Oil Executive | Roger Allam |
| Rhodesia | |
| The Minister | James Garbutt |
| Henny, his Wife | Gillian Webb |
| Lance, his Son | Christopher Hurst |
| Joseph, his Chauffeur | Joseph Marcell |
| Kruger, a Mercenary Leader | Roger Allam |
| Other parts played by members of the company. | |
| In the second part of the run, the parts played by Peter Chelsom were played by Philip Walsh. | |
Production
| Costumes made by | RST Production Wardrobe |
| Costume Supervisor | Allan Watkins |
| Assistant Costume Supervisor | Sandria G Reese |
| Set by | RST Scenic Workshops |
| Painting by | RST Scenic Paintshop |
| Properties made by | RST Property Shop |
| Wigs and Make-up by | RST Wig Department |
| Bicycle provided by | Raleigh Cycles (Nottingham) |
| Telephones provided by | British Telecom (Coventry) |
| Advice on Penal Reform | Madge Elliot |
| Beer provided by | Jim Merriton, Scottish and Newcastle Breweries |
| Glasses provided by | Mr.Jackson, Jacksons Clear Glass |
| Ten Shilling Notes provided by | Chris Stoker, Stanley Gibbons |
| Help and Advice from | Warwickshire Constabulary |