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Cast Announced For Seagull Rep’s ‘Hound of the Baskervilles’

This October, The Seagull Rep company, under the direction of Mark Finbow, bring Arthur Conan Doyle’s masterpiece ‘Hound of the Baskervilles’ crashing into the 21st century. With an all-female, multi-roll playing cast starring Charlotte McGuinness, Henri Merriam and Helen Vine. This theatrical treat will be touring East Anglia from 1 until 13 October, starting and ending the tour at the Seagull Theatre, Lowestoft.

When Sir Charles Baskerville is killed under mysterious circumstances Holmes sends Watson to Devon to protect the new heir of Baskerville Hall from the mythical black dog that stalks their family line. A journey that leads the good doctor to suspect the supernatural, negotiate the wilds of nature and ultimately uncover the reality of betrayal and devilish murder.

A mixed media, multi-rolling all female cast of three re-imagine this classic tale as only they can. The Seagull Rep’s production of ‘Hound of The Baskervilles’ is a vibrant theatrical experience infused with elements of physical comedy, stand-up, dynamic movement and a sophisti-pop soundtrack.

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Directed and adapted by East Anglian actor, writer and director Mark Finbow, whose passion for taking a beloved classic text and creating imaginative and playful productions has engaged audiences across the region since 2009 with notable productions including ‘A Christmas Carol’ and ‘Dracula’ with The Keeper’s Daughter Theatre Company.

Charlotte McGuinness, who studied at RADA and the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, has written, directed, produced and performed her own work, notably writing ‘Burst’ for HighTide at First LightFestival and recently performing locally in ‘Suffragette!’ and ‘The Response’.

Henri Merriam, who trained at LAMDA, recent credits include ‘Untold Tales’ (Lowestoft Marina), ‘Love Me Tinder’ and ‘Reasonable Doubt’ (INK Festival) and ‘Romeo and Juliet’ (Union Theatre).

Helen Vine is trained with the RSC and has performed on stage nationally and worked with Warner Bros, Netflix, Audible, the Discovery Channel and the BBC.

With Charlotte McGuinness hailing from Lowestoft, Henri Merriam from Suffolk and Helen Vine from Norfolk, this local company of talented actors and creatives represent the fantastic home-grown talent here in the East.

Produced by The Seagull Rep, a touring theatre company based at The Seagull Theatre in Pakefield Lowestoft, which plays host to a regular stream of local talent, regional and national touring theatre companies, with support from The Keeper’s Daughter theatre company and Arts Council England.

Karen Read, Manager of the Seagull Theatre, comments “We are thrilled to see the full version of ‘Hound of the Baskervilles’ begin its tour. It’s fitting that the journey starts and finishes here at the Seagull where the piece was born in last year’s development workshop. It’s so exciting to see Lowestoft’s only fully professional theatre company come to life, and we are so pleased at the opportunities this will give both local creative artists and their audiences to experience more thrilling theatrical productions. The Seagull has truly taken flight!”

This exciting production also embraces the suspected local origins of Conan Doyle’s inspiration for the hound itself, Norfolk’s own legend of Black Shuck. It is thought that in 1901 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle took a golfing holiday in West Runton and Cromer in Norfolk where he heard the tale of Black Shuck. The following year he published ‘The Hound of The Baskervilles’, so it’s not surprising that many have though his inspiration came from the Norfolk legend.

Mark Finbow commented “The supernatural and superstitious elements of the story are so prevalent in the novel and we’ve really pulled those elements out further for the production, exploring how and why we react in the way we do to the unknown and unearthly. And we couldn’t ignore the fact the Hound is inspired by our very own Black Shuck.”

Finbow is also working with Weird Norfolk to explore other local folk tales, inviting members of the public to share their Norfolk and Suffolk folklore stories or experiences of paranormal events as part of Weird Norfolk’s latest podcast and to input into the production. With the next event being held on Monday 23 September at 7pm at Biddy’s Tea Room, Norwich, NR2 1EL.

The production will be on the road from 1 October, touring the Seagull Theatre, Lowestoft; the Fisher Theatre, Bungay; the Corn Hall, Diss; Sheringham Little Theatre; Southwold Arts Centre; Haverhill Arts Centre; The Garage, Norwich; John Peel Centre, Stowmarket; Wells Maltings and Two Sisters Arts Centre, Felixstowe – check each website for dates, tickets and info.

Tickets for the production range from £10 – £14. Suitable for ages 7 and upwards, more information can be found at www.seagullrep.co.uk.

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