Synopsis

As part of the Abbey Theatre’s ongoing commitment to new writing,  Mark Waghorn is trying out his new one-man show Drama King in a one-off performance.

The show tells the story of William Charles Macready, one of the greatest actor-managers of the 19th Century.

With humour, drama, emotion, and an array of characters, Mark will take us on Macready’s journey from his first tentative steps on stage in a tatty country theatre to his final ever performance at the mighty Drury Lane.

The story of Macready – a First Player in the line of Burbage, Garrick, Kean and Irving – and the man to whom Charles Dickens dedicated Nicholas Nickleby is one of the most remarkable ever to come out of the theatre.

Mark performed the first half of the show as an initial try-out at last year’s Watford Fringe under the title “Macready!”.  This Stage Two sees Mark perform the full show for the first time ever.

Mark will perform the show on the Abbey Theatre Main Stage, fully rehearsed, off book, with furniture, props and costume. There will be sound and lights too (thanks to the assistance of Sim Hill and James Jenkins).

The show plays for 80 minutes straight-through and will be live-streamed only.