Our Country's Good

Year
2003 - 2004

Creatives
Director: Hans Jansen

Assistant Director: Jan Geerling

Production Manager: Harrie de Vries

Writer
Timberlake Wertenbaker

Synopsis
On the 18th of January, 1788 the first fleet of British prion ships, under the command of Arthur Phillip, arrive at Botany Bay in New South Wales, Australia. At a time of extremely low supplies and low hopes, with the future of the colony in question, 2nd Lieutenant Ralph Clark decides to stage a production of George Farquhar's comedy "The Rrecruiting Officer". With only two copies of the text, a cast of partly illiterate convicts, opposition from sadistic officers, and a leading lady about to be hanged, the production is in trouble from the start...

Based on an historical incident and on Thomas Kenneally's novel The Playmaker, Timberlake Wertenbaker's inspirational play shows us the redemptive, transcendental power of theatre with great elegance and passion.

First performed at the Royal Court in 1988, Our Country's Good was awarded the Laurence Olivier/BBC Award for Best New Play and the New York Drama Critics' Circle Award for Best New Foreign Play and was nominated for six Tonies.

Cast
Youri Dechesne: 2nd Lt. Ralph Clarke, RM

Annelies de Jong: Liz Morden

Rob Koopman: John Arscott / Capt. Jemmy Campbell, RM

Cornelis Krottje: Ketch Freeman / Maj. Robbie Ross, RM

Rebecca Parent: Duckling Smith / Capt. Watkin Tench

Henriëtte Poelman: Mary Brenham / Rev. Johnson

Albert Sein: Robert Sideway / Capt. David Collins, RM

Deciana Speckmann: John Wisehammer / Capt. Arthur Phillip, RN, Governor-in-chief of New-South Wales

Sarah van Steenderen: Dabby Bryant / 2nd Lt. William Faddy, RM

Jeroen Vandommele: Lt. Will Dawes, RM

Mark de Vries: Anon. Convict / Midshipman Harry Brewer

Swaeske de Vries: Black Caesar / Lt. George Johnston, RM

Martha Wielinga: Liz Morden

Crew
Elger Abbink

Saskia Jonker

Jeroen Vandommele

Manuel Vásquez Ortega

Martha Wielinga

Performances
April 15th 2004: Universiteitstheater

April 16th 2004: Universiteitstheater

April 17th 2004: Universiteitstheater

April 19th 2004: Universiteitstheater

April 20th 2004: Universiteitstheater

Sponsors
Athena's Boekhandel Groningen

Café De Keyzer

Café Seizoen

Café Wolthoorn & Co

Eringa Kledingverhuur Opende

www.8weekly.nl

Special Thanks
The people of the UT-office

The "portiers" of the Harmony-building

The NNT

Jochem Koole

The Groningen University English Student Society NUTS

Rob Drummond (STAG Glasgow) and Sheila Heery (for speech-coaching ROSS and FREEMAN, respectively)

Trivia

 * Our Country's Good was advertised in the UT program, 8weekly and using flyers and posters.