An imaginative re-telling of a classic Chekhov story
Stuck in a thankless job in a small town, Dr Ragin finds himself in the company of a young inmate in the asylum known as Ward No. 6. Their conversations lead him to reject the definitions of madness and sanity he has taken for granted, and to question his role in keeping the patients locked up. Betrayed by his friend, he ends up imprisoned himself – trapped in an ‘enchanted circle’ formed by his former patients’ rituals and superstitions.
By turns comic, tragic and absurd, DogOrange’s punchy, vivid style brings the cast of bizarre and stylised characters to life. Director Matthew Parker has embraced a style of storytelling that owes much to absurdism & theatre of cruelty and which blurs the boundaries between comedy and tragedy. The play expands and complements the original story, giving life to the inmates of the Ward as they re-enact the downfall of Dr Ragin.
Ward No.6 was orignally adapted and directed for the stage at Drama Studio London by Matthew Parker, before transferring to Edinburgh in the Summer of 2009. Ward No.6 was performed at C Cubed on the Royal Mile, from 6th – 31st August 2009.
The Stage Acting Excellence Awards
We were delighted to find out during the run that the production was being nominated for Best Ensemble in The Stage Acting Excellence Awards. It was a huge honour to receive a nomination on the strength of the whole cast and production, as well as a fantastic opportunity to attend the award ceremony, although we did turn up having just stepped offstage and still scrubbing white make-up off!
Edinburgh Cast:
- Marushka, Sergeyitch & Daryushka: Charlotte Blake
- Gromov & Hobotov: Ben Galpin
- Petya, Averyanitch & Nikita: Michael Linsey
- Ragin: Harry Lobek
Edinburgh Creatives:
- Director: Matthew Parker
- Producer: Jane Mayfield
- Technician: Sharon Willems
View photos of Ward No.6 in the Photos section.
