Project Type: Theatre

The Welkin by Lucy Kirkwood

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Marie Cooper’s Captivating Portrayal of Sarah Hollis in “The Welkin”

Marie Cooper performing as Sarah Hollis in Lucy Kirkwood’s The Welkin at Sewell Barn Theatre, Norwich, Oct 2022 and July 2023

Sarah Hollis: A Challenging and Rewarding Role

In Lucy Kirkwood’s “The Welkin” at Sewell Barn Theatre, Norwich, Marie Cooper delivered a captivating performance as Sarah Hollis, one of the twelve matrons. Originally scheduled for October 2022, the production faced unforeseen challenges with a Covid outbreak, leading to its cancellation after only two nights. But the show must go on, and in July 2023, with determination and talent, Marie and the cast returned to the stage with a remarkable display.

The Character of Sarah Hollis

Playing Sarah Hollis was no easy feat. As a mute character for 20 years, Marie had to convey emotions and communicate without words. Through nuanced facial expressions, body language, and eye contact, she skillfully brought Sarah’s character to life. Even when not at the centre of the action, Marie stayed engaged and attentive, maintaining the essence of Sarah throughout the performance.

Challenges and Triumphs

The action scenes were especially thrilling and demanding. Drawing on her martial arts background, Marie initially struggled to suppress her instinct to react physically during rehearsals. However, with Jo’s unwavering patience and guidance and support from Sabrina’s excellent stage combat experience, Marie successfully adapted and mastered the art of embodying Sarah Hollis authentically.

Behind the Scenes: Directors and Production

Originally directed by Jez Pike, the ensemble cast worked diligently to develop their relationships and portray their characters convincingly. When the show was revived in 2023, Sabrina Poole and John Holden took the reins, building upon the solid foundation laid by the original team. The result was a phenomenal piece of theatre that captivated audiences.

Experience the Magic of “The Welkin”

We are excited to share with you a heartfelt review from one of the show’s attendees, reflecting the profound impact of this extraordinary theatrical experience. Discover the essence of the performance and the collective talent that brought Lucy Kirkwood’s masterpiece to life.

Click below to watch the video review on Facebook:

Watch Audience Review on Facebook

Note: The video contains an audience review that beautifully captures the essence of “The Welkin” as a whole, showcasing the collective brilliance of the cast and crew.

Photographs by Reflective Arts

Sean Owen of Reflective Arts captured mesmerizing snapshots during the dress rehearsal for “The Welkin” in October 2022. The following gallery includes photographs of Marie as Sarah Hollis and a heartwarming shot of the entire cast after the rehearsal.

The Sewell Barn Review Board

Chalk board showing reviews from the audience of The Wekin at Sewell Barn Theatre

Cast of The Welkin

Elizabeth Luke	Jo Parker Sessions
Sally Poppy	Emma Smith
Mary Middleton	Diane Webb
Peg Carter	Sabrina Poole
Ann Lavender	Holly Harrington-Ball
Kitty Givens	Katie Smith
Emma Jenkins	Karen Bates
Judith Brewer	Alison Utting
Sarah Hollis	Marie Cooper
Helen Ludlow	Helen Wells
Charlotte Cary	Ginny Porteous
Sarah Smith	Jan Farrer
Hannah Rusted	Eva Wright
Mr Coombes	Ray Tempesta
Frederick Poppy	Bradley Clarke
Dr Willis	David Newham

Murder in Neighbourhood Watch by Stewart Burke

Norfolk Actor Marie Cooper playing Ann Wingate in Murder in Neighbourhood Watch

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Marie Cooper performing as Ann Wingate in Stewart Burke’s ‘Murder in Neighbour Watch’ at Great Hall Theatre at the Assembly House in Norwich, Oct – Nov 2019

Ann gave up her career as a travel courier to become the dutiful headmaster’s wife to her husband, Andrew. Ann felt stifled to have settled in the village of West Lynstead, near Worthing, with its coffee mornings full of gossips and people in and out of each others’ houses.

She returns from three months away on holiday in New Zealand visiting her parents, to find that village life has been turned upside down by a murder in local woodland.

Photography – Norwich Photo

Feedback following the performances was positive. There were some funny moments at the start of the play and the cast worked incredibly well to bring the characters to life.

Audiences seemed to enjoy it, discussing who they thought had committed the murder during the interval. I did not enjoy the play, in and of itself, but I did like pushing myself out of my comfort zone in terms of line-learning once again and the challenge of the emotions that Ann is put through when she returns home.

Norfolk actor Marie Cooper playing Ann Wingate in Murder in Neighbourhood Watch. Ann having a drink with Sandra — Trust Sandra!

Norfolk actor Marie Cooper playing Ann Wingate in Murder in Neighbourhood Watch. Listening to Andrew — Trust Sandra!

Someone Waiting by Emlyn Williams

Reading Time: 4 minutes

Marie Cooper performing Hilda, the maid with an interesting past, in ‘Someone Waiting’ at Great Hall Theatre. 22 January to 26th January 2019

I managed to tick quite a few things off of my acting bucket list during this production in a small, but challenging and fun role. One of which included slapping one of my fellow actors. It turned out to be surprisingly effective. The audience oooooh’d and gasped when Hilda struck Mr Nedlow across the face. I was very pleased with this as we had practised it a number of times. Hilda’s slap managed to shock the audience, despite my not making any contact with Mr Nedlow’s face at all.

I also had to perform drunk. What I mean is, I acted drunk whilst on stage, I didn’t actually get drunk to perform. I got some nice comments from fellow actors saying that Hilda was nicely drunk and that it wasn’t overly done, which I am very pleased about. Acting drunk is a tricky thing to do convincingly, whilst still trying to enunciate so that the audience can hear.

An in-depth review of the play was written by Rob Fradley-Wilde and published on Facebook and in the Great Hall Theatre Company newsletter.

“the maid Hilda was able to go to her death with style, in Marie Cooper’s vivacious and feisty example of the mid-twentieth-century servant class. “

Andrew Cliffe of Norwich Photo photographed the following images during the dress rehearsal of Someone Waiting.

Cast

Hilda Marie Cooper
Mrs Danecourt Glenda Gardiner
John Nedlow Chris Higgins
Vera Nedlow Samantha Elmhurst
Martin Steven Logsdon
Walter Fenn Kevin Ford
Miss Lennie Rachel Miller

onClick=”ga(‘send’, ‘event’, ‘Someone Waiting’, ‘Video’, ‘Viewed’, ‘0’);”

Marie Cooper Actor performing as Hilda, serving tea in Someone Waiting — Hilda serving tea to Mr Nedlow and his secretary, Miss Lennie.

Marie Cooper actor performing drunk as Hilda in Someone Waiting — Hilda serving tea to Mr Nedlow and his secretary, Miss Lennie.

The photos below were taken by members of the cast

Marie Cooper with the women of the Someone Waitingcast for Someone Waiting — Women of the Someone Waiting cast

Marie Cooper actor with curlers in, getting hair ready for stage — Women of the Someone Waiting cast

Handbagged by Moira Buffini

Marie Cooper peforming as Margaret Thatcher

Reading Time: 4 minutes

Sewell Barn Theatre, Norwich

Marie Cooper perfomed as the younger Margaret Thatcher, ‘Mags’, in Handbagged, performed at Sewell Barn Theatre in Norwich, 11 October to 20 October 2018

The fantastic photographs for Handbagged were taken during the dress rehearsal by Sean Owen of Reflective Arts

The bad thing (and good thing – I hate seeing and/or hearing myself) about theatre is that you never get to see the play. Especially for Handbagged, as our entire cast were on the stage for almost the entire duration of the play…and yes, this was a worry if nature called.

This was my absolute favourite role so far by miles, one of my proudest achievements and most challenging, as it was the first time I’d attempted to portray someone who actually existed. The play also the most lines I had had to learn at that time as well as the most time I had needed to be on stage for. Both Mrs Thatchers and the Queens are on the stage for all but a few minutes of the play. I have written further reflections about the show on my blog which also includes reviews of Handbagged.

The pressure was on as I didn’t have much time to prepare. The person who was originally cast dropped out just before rehearsals began, so I didn’t have anywhere near as much time to prepare as I would have done had I got the role just after auditions. It was a race against time to research and learn lines, whilst simultaneously rehearsing. Thankfully I had, that very morning, completed and handed in the last course work of my MA so I knew I would have the time to invest into the role.

Mrs Thatcher was most definitely not someone I shared the politics of. Yet it was a little disturbing (and helpful) during my research, to find that the ‘Milk Snatcher’ and I did, surprisingly, have some things in common, other than being female. We both studied for a degree in Chemistry and contained the resilience and perservance to stand up and fight for what we want and believe in, to not let anyone stand in our way of what we aim to acheive.

Norwich Actor Marie Cooper portraying Margaret Thatcher — First meeting with the Queen

Directed by Clare Williamson

Cast:

Alexandra Evans – Mrs T
Marie Cooper – Mags
Mandy Kiley – Liz
Gill Tichbourne – Q

Kevin Olreich
Denis Thatcher, Peter Carrington, Gerry Adams, Ronald Reagan,
Michael Heseltine, Arthur Scargill, Rupert Murdoch, Geoffrey Howe
and Prince Phillip.

Will Harragan
Palace Footman, Kenneth Kaunda, Nancy Reagan, Enoch Powell,
Michael Shea, Neil Kinnock, Kenneth Clarke, and a Protester.

Spirit of the Place with the Jenny Lind Arts Project

Marie Cooper Actor performing as the Spirit of the Place in Norwich

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Marie Cooper performing as the ‘The Spirit of the Place’ in promenade street theatre with the Jenny Lind Arts Project and Slow Theatre Company, 2018

Slow Theatre Company, Norwich

8 – 9 June 2018

From Workshop to Playwriting

It all escalated quite fast. One evening I turned up for a free scriptwriting workshop being run by the Jenny Lind Arts Project and Danny O’Hara with the Slow Theatre Company. I thought it would be a great help to learn some new creative writing techniques and generate some ideas to kickstart my creative coursework.

It turned out that writers could submit a piece of their work to be part of the project’s performance in June 2018. The next thing I knew, my “Abandoned Places” script, with Megan and Josh, was included as part of the theatrical promenade piece. I performed as Saha, the ‘Spirit of the Place’ too. It felt odd, but exhilarating, seeing the words that I had written being performed. I had put my toes tentatively onto the edge of the path to becoming a playwright.

It was an immensely ambitious and unique piece of community theatre, a promenade piece composed entirely of local writer’s work which was then beautifully sewn together with the words of playwright Danusia Iwaszko, who created the Spirit of the Place as a guide, leading the audience around the stage, following the walkways, green areas and stairwells that make up the community space. There were many people working incredibly hard to bring the show together, both performing and behind the scenes,. It would not have been the same if even just one person had not been there.

I grew up, an artistic child, in an area of Norwich that was in the top 10% of the most deprived areas of the country. For poor families, this meant that opportunities to get involved in the arts were next to zero outside of the school curriculum. So, the opening up of provision of the arts for everyone, no matter what their background or income, is something very close to my heart. The work that the Jenny Lind Project does, bringing the arts into local communities is invaluable.

And I Saw my World From my Home

The short film, ‘And I saw my world from my Home’, is a collaboration between the Jenny Lind Arts Project, BBC Voices and the Suffolk Square community. The footage is composed of clips that we filmed around the area. The poetry and readings are by the local community. The poem I am reading between 2:09 and 2:58 is by writer and poet, Salah El Nagar. Other contributors to the movie include Cate Oliver and me.

It was a privilege to be part of the project. I have some wonderful new people in my life. People who I might never have even met if I’d not gone along to a little community scriptwriting workshop a few months ago. My life has been enriched for taking part. I hope the community feels the positive effects of the project long into the future.Wall of Feedback for Spirit of the Place