Director, actor and producer Alistair Whatley founded The Original Theatre Company in 2005 and has worked on all 14 of the company’s shows including Journey’s End and The Madness Of George III. He co-directs and plays J in a new adaptation of Three Men In A Boat, which tours to Darlington Civic Theatre next week

 

Is there a boat and water in the show?

It’s water-free, but we do something remarkable with the boat. There’s a boat of sorts.

Why put the book on stage?

It’s a new adaptation commissioned from Craig Gilbert. I read the book at school and Craig has always spoken to me about it making a fantastic play.

Why not use one of the previous adaptations?

The book is discursive, gently meandering down the River Thames. It’s about a journey, not about getting from A to B but about where they stop off. Previous stage versions haven’t had that narrative drive, there was something a bit gentle about them. They didn’t have the vibrancy and energy I like our productions to have.

So what’s this Three Men In A Boat like?

I wanted to keep the spirit of Jerome’s writing, but to make it live slightly more fleshy on stage and have a reason for being on stage. Our version is set in a pub a few years after the journey. Jerome is making a living from this book about the trip, and his stories can be very serious.

Are there only three men in the cast?

No, we have brought in a fourth character – Sue Appleby plays a pianist who’s been double-booked with Jerome’s talk in the pub.

In the play we have everything from the boat to the dog to the swans using whatever we find in the pub’s backroom.

What do Jerome’s fans make of it?

We were a bit nervous about Jeromians. They love the book and we wanted them to like our play and not be offended by it. The last date of our tour is a performance in his birthplace, Walsall.

Did you always intend to play J?

Midway through writing Craig, who has assisted me on writing projects in the past, said to me, ‘The more I write J the more similar to him you are’. It’s not a case of acting it, it’s a case of being myself on stage for two hours. The audience become a character in the play too. It’s really fun – zany and humorous, taking in everything from Monty Python to Morecambe and Wise.

Why did you form The Original Theatre Company?

We wanted to tour theatre as widely as possible and do shows that we thought were of really good quality. I was a little distressed by the shows we were getting at our local theatre. I wanted to put on something with a bit more passion and care.

How do you survive financially?

By hook and by crook. I have a very understanding bank manager. It’s been a challenge. We have not compromised the work we’ve done. We did a play with a cast of ten without any funding. After 13 applications we got Arts Council finance for Three Men In A Boat. But we’re doing our next project, the first touring production and re-working of Sebastian Faulks’ Birdsong, without funding.

  • Three Men In A Boat: Darlington Civic Theatre, Sept 25-29. Box Office 01325-486555 and darlingtonarts.co.uk