Developing the Script
The Kangaroo & The Tulip Tree • Dean’s Court, Wimborne (1999)
A series of dramatic stories revealed during the Sculpture exhibition, ‘The Pleasure of Influence’ by Tim Harrisson and Judith Frost, in the grounds of Deans Court.
About the production
This production was again based on research undertaken by the theatre group – this time on the great plant collectors of the seventeenth century, especially Royal Gardener, John Tradescant, as well as contemporary attitudes to gardening.
And on the cusp of the new millennium the theatre group felt Janus, god of beginnings and endings, needed reawakening to question the directions we might take.
The production was created in partnership with East Dorset Heritage Trust.
Photos
8 photos
Video
The play in performance at Dean’s Court, Wimborne, including informal footage of the cast and audience and the cast warm-up.
Programme
4 photos
Research
Notes on Research into the Sculptors Elizabeth Frink and Nicola Hicks
Works of both sculptors were included in the exhibition.
READ WCT’s research notes which include key facts about the sculptors and details of their relationship.
Wimborne Community Theatre never starts with a script! This is gradually put together in workshops and improvisations.
In the early workshops for The Kangaroo and The Tulip Tree the group experimented with words and phrases suggested by the environment of Dean’s Court. When edited, many of these found their way into the final script of the play.
The group brought found objects – a flower, a stone, a feather – from the site and formed a circle. Random words describing the objects and the feelings they invoked were recorded and later edited into the versions used in the final production.
READ the words and phrases generated by the group in rehearsals and the final version used in the production
A Letter of Appreciation from Lady Jane Hanham, Owner of Dean’s Court
28th October 1999
Dear Tuppy and all ACE members,
We cannot thank you enough for sending us The Kangaroo and the Tulip Tree video. I
had been about to write and ask you if we could have a copy of the two songs’ words –
and now we have them.
Thank you all very much. We loved the play, and seeing it again without the rain was a
joy. We have now been able to enjoy it all, including the mobile audience with our
family in it, and continue to be very impressed at the way in which you absorbed our
little bite of history in one Sunday morning around the kitchen table.
The video will be part of our archive so we hope it will last for a long time into the next
century!
With kindest regards to everyone and many, many thanks.
Yours gratefully
Jane Hanham
Script
© copyright of Wimborne Community Theatre
Songs
READ the lyrics of original songs from The Kangaroo and the Tulip Tree set to music composed by Graham Moore
“Turn around – What do you see? – The Kangaroo – And the Tulip Tree..”
- RING OF HARTS
- THE KANGAROO AND THE TULIP TREE
© Graham Moore & Wimborne Community Theatre