Amelia Marriette
My Plays
I have an MA in Shakespeare Studies; my specialism is Shakespeare in Performance. I was a script reader for the Royal Shakespeare Company for four years. I was a founder member of Stratford Playwrights, which was based in Stratford-upon-Avon. Please take a look below at my stage work. I am the playwright on attachment for the Malvern Theatre Players, and they have produced all my work to date, But I have also had my work produced at The Other Place Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon.
Do make contact if you would like me to act as a textual consultant on your script or if you want me to adapt a classic script or commission an original piece of work.
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Nay, Remember Me!
Nay, Remember Me! is a comedy about the publishing of the First Folio of 1623. "Nay, Remember Me!" is the perfect piece for amateur and professional groups, schools and colleges. Shakespeare appears as a ghost, there is cross-dressing, one of Will's plays is destroyed during the printing process, there is a death, babies are born, someone goes blind, wives get upset! The play also pops over the Atlantic to meet Folger, the oil baron who spent a fortune on collecting First Folios and spent millions of dollars setting up the Folger Library. The action occasionally takes a peep at modern-day Stratford-upon-Avon to marvel at Shakespeare's legacy, just to keep the audience on their toes! Knowledge of Shakespeare's plays is not a prerequisite to produce the play. Lazy Bee Scripts is the publisher.
Nay, Remember Me! was first performed as part of the Royal Shakespeare Fringe in 2001 at The Other Place Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon to sell-out audiences. Nay. Remember Me! was then revived in March 2010, performed at the Coach House Theatre in Malvern, and then toured to the stunning medieval barn at Torre Abbey in Torquay, which was turned into a bespoke theatre for the occasion. This production of Nay, Remember Me! was nominated for best drama in the West Midland Region by the National Operatic and Dramatic Association and their representative, Trevor Guest, said that "Nay. Remember Me! has humour and pathos," adding that the script is exceptionally well-written." If you want to read the play for free, click here:
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Nay, Remember Me! Playwrighting Workshop
Nay, Remember Me! and the
Malvern Folio 400 Festival 2023
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Please contact me if you would like to enquire about my playwrighting workshop using Nay, Remember Me! I can come to you. I can offer a FIRST FOLIO DAY to include a talk about the First Folio, followed by my playwrighting and performing workshop. Suitable for sixth formers, amateur dramatics groups or teachers. OR I will send you a FREE Workshop pack to use on your own - just ask!
Two Short Stage Plays
"Nighthawks" and "Binding Faggots." The former was staged as a rehearsed reading in the Royal Shakespeare Company's Summerhouse, the latter at the Civic Hall in Stratford-upon-Avon."Binding Faggots" is based on a painting by Brueghel and "Nighthawks" Edward Hopper's painting of the same name.
""Nighthawks" manages to maintain many of the best qualities of the film noir tradition whilst at the same time laughing at itself by using the sort of exaggerated metaphors Philip Marlowe might have been spoken had he been on speed."
Ron Westrich, Stratford Herald, October 2002
Adaptation of "The Revenger's Tragedy"
Using the knowledge I gained whilst studying for an MA in Shakespeare Studies at the Shakespeare Institute, I was commissioned to write an actor's edition of Thomas Middleton's The Revenger's Tragedy (1606). My version was performed on a replica of the Globe Theatre at the Forum Theatre.
"The Revenger's Tragedy", performed by Malvern Theatre Players, with a script edited by Amelia Marriette, is fast-paced and lively".
Anon, Malvern Gazette, 2005.
"Binding Faggots" was also performed in May 2013 at Barber Institute, Birmingham University. The painting is part of the Barber Institute's art collection. It was performed to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Institute. It was produced and directed by Anna Conomos of Annamation Storytellers.
Adaptations of Classics for Children
In 2011, 2012, and 2013, I adapted three classic works: "Alice in Wonderland", "The Secret Garden" and "The Wind in the Willows." All adaptations were commissioned by Malvern Theatre Players and produced at the Forum Theatre in the January post-Christmas season. The large casts gave actors with experience a chance to share their knowledge and gave first-time actors opportunities to learn new skills. Members of the local community were involved: Worcester University designed and made all the costumes. Local children took on roles as extras. All were directed by Chris Bassett, and the artwork for the back-projected graphics was created by Amy Riches.​
"The Wind in the Willows" was back in July 2023 as an outdoor performance in Priory Park - Performing to full houses every night! My adaptation of "Alice in Wonderland" will be performed again in July 2024, also in Priory Park, Malvern.
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Radio Drama
Point Blank
My first play for radio, "Point Blank" was recorded at the Northcott Theatre in Exeter and broadcast on Riviera FM Radio on Wednesday, 6th June 2012. It was also broadcast on Soundart Radio, Dartington, on 11 November 2012. "Point Blank" takes place on the Western Front in France during the First World War; 1977 - the year of the Queen's Silver Jubilee - and the interwar years in England and Germany. It is based on the tragic true story of one professional soldier's utter disillusionment. This led him to save the life of one German Corporal. That German Corporal became the Chancellor of Germany. That German Corporal was Adolf Hitler.
"Point Blank" was brilliant from concept, writing and production values. It was as good as any BBC play I have heard and better than some."
Martin Foster, Founder Riviera FM Radio.
"Congratulations. An ambitious but well-crafted piece. Get it onto Radio 4!"
Richard Fowler, A listener from Halifax, via email.
TO LISTEN TO POINT BLANK as it was broadcast on Riviera FM Radio in 2012. Click on the arrow below.
Do you need to hire a Costume?
Malvern Theatre Players have the most wonderful costume hire department. Please visit their website for more information or phone 01684 569011 or email Chris Bassett chrisb_mtp@yahoo.co.uk please write COSTUME HIRE to in the subject line https://www.coachhousetheatre.co.uk/mtp-costume-props-hire/
