Third Man Theatre Brings BOTALLACK O'CLOCK to Old Red Lion Theatre Tonight

BOTALLACK O'CLOCK is a funny, moving and thought-provoking journey into the creative mind of Roger Hilton CBE, one of the most unique voices in post-war British art. Written by Eddie Elks, the play will run at the Old Red Lion Theatre (418 St John Street, London EC1V 4NJ) from Tuesday 12th January to Saturday 6th February 2016. Press Night: Tonight 14th January, 7.30pm.

In 1965, after representing Britain at the Venice Biennale, Hilton moved to the Cornish coastal village of Botallack, where his working routine began to break down, mainly as a result of his increasing addiction to alcohol (which he had long used to creative effect). For the final two years of his life, Hilton took permanently to his bed, where he continued to work, leaning over the side of his bed to paint on sheets of paper laid on the floor. Hilton would work through the night with only his thoughts, his imaginings and a temperamental radio for company.

BOTALLACK O'CLOCK depicts a suspended hour of the night where Hilton's past and present combine with his vivid imagination and tenacious personality, giving a humorous and intriguing insight into the mind of a true artist.

Writer Eddie Elks comments, I'm incredibly excited that BOTALLACK O'CLOCK is returning to London for a proper run. Roger's thoughts and ideas, much like his paintings, are as relevant and arresting now as they were then. In a letter to his mother, whilst serving in WWII, Roger wondered whether one day his life would be made into a story. I hope he would have approved.

This isn't the first time that Elks has written a play based about an artist. It was while researching Stalag Happy, based on Sir Terry Frost, that Elks first heard the name Roger Hilton. Hilton's name kept cropping up in books, interviews and conversations, usually always connected with an entertaining, intriguing and often shocking story. Elks conceived BOTALLACK O'CLOCK through staying with Hilton's widow, Rose, and immersing himself in the Cornish countryside, reading Hilton's letters and interviews.

On its premiere in 2011, BOTALLACK O'CLOCK was shortlisted for Time Out Fringe Show of the Year and described as: dazzlingly eloquent...BOTALLACK O'CLOCK is a stunning miniature; surprising, profound and very very funny. Following its UK successes, the show transferred to New York as part of 'Brits Off Broadway'.

IF YOU GO:

BOTALLACK O'CLOCK

Tuesday 12th January - Saturday 6th February 2016
Tuesday to Saturday, 7.30pm
Saturday matinees, 2.30pm
Sunday matinees, 3pm

70 minutes

Old Red Lion Theatre, 418 St John Street, London EC1V 4NJ, www.oldredliontheatre.co.uk.

The nearest underground station is Angel (on the Bank branch of the Northern line). The nearest rail station is Kings Cross St Pancras.

Tickets are available priced £15 (£12 concessions) Previews and matinees priced £10.
Available from Old Red Lion Theatre Box Office and www.oldredliontheatre.co.uk or 0844 412 4307.

Roger Hilton - Roger Hilton CBE (1911 - 75) grew up in London and studied at the Slade, and then in Paris at l'Academie Ranson. His first one man show was at the Bloomsbury Gallery in 1936. Roger Hilton's extraordinary career began as a figurative artist, yet in the 1950s he became involved in the most important school of British abstraction, which emerged from St Ives, Cornwall. This included the artists Sir Ben Nicholson, Peter Lanyon, Sir Patrick Heron, Dame Barbara Hepworth and Sir Terry Frost. Roger's painting went in and out of figuration and abstraction during his final years in the 1970s, when his work became known for its colourful, fresh qualities alongside its humour, rudeness and the poignancy of an artist struggling with deteriorating health.

Throughout this period, Hilton's productivity increased dramatically, mainly during the night. He produced a huge body of work, using poster paint on paper, a shift from his earlier oil paintings. As well as these gouaches, he wrote many letters to his wife Rose, now published collectively in The Night Letters. These letters, consisting of instructions, orders, thoughts and requests, provide an incredible insight into Roger's character, revealing his humour, ferocity, intelligence and creativity. After his death, several offers were made to the family to dramatize Roger's story on film, one with the possibility of having John Hurt in the title role. These were all declined. Thirty five years on, the family granted Third Man Theatre permission to turn his story into a play.

Major retrospectives of Roger's work have been held at the Serpentine Gallery (1974), Hayward Gallery (1993) and Tate St Ives (2006) and his work is represented in major museum collections throughout the world.

Eddie Elks - Eddie trained at the Guildford School of Acting. Writing/Directing Credits include: Mugs' Arrows (Third Man, Bike Shed Theatre/ Old Red Lion/ National Tour), BOTALLACK O'CLOCK (Third Man Theatre, Bike Shed Theatre, 59E59 Theaters New York, National Tour), Stalag Happy (Third Man Theatre, National Tour), The One That Got Away (Third Man Theatre, St. Ives September Festival), In the Shadow of Wings - based on the WW1 Fighter Ace Cecil Lewis, commissioned by The Stahl Theatre, Oundle.

As an actor Eddie has performed in various theatre productions including: Mugs' Arrows (National Tour), A Piece of Cake (Mill at Sonning), Alfie in Alfie (Blackeyed Theatre, National Tour), Stalag Happy (Third Man, National Tour).

TV and Film includes: The Last Panthers (Warp Films/ Sky Atlantic), Game of Thrones (HBO), [3]

Crossing Lines (NBC), Vikings (History Channel/ Netflix), The Bible (History Channel/ Netflix/ Channel 5), Holby City (BBC), Voyages of Discovery (BBC), Simon and Emily (Opiate Films).

Dan Frost - Dan trained at the Guildford School of Acting. Theatre includes: Pride and Prejudice (Rosemary Branch), BOTALLACK O'CLOCK (Third Man Theatre, Bike Shed Theatre, 59E59 Theaters New York, National Tour), The One That Got Away (Third Man Theatre, St Ives September Festival), Stalag Happy (Third Man Theatre, National Tour), Frost and Ireland (Various comedy clubs), Durang Durang (Gilded Ballon), The Line Between (Third Man, Gilded Balloon 2007), Cabin Fever (Jim Sweeny Players, Gilded Balloon 2006), Othellophobia (Explosive Acts, National Tour).

Dan is also one half of the comedy double act FROST AND IRELAND.

Third Man Theatre - Formed in 2007, Third Man Theatre have performed their new writing at over 70 different theatres and performance spaces around the UK and US, receiving various awards and accolades along the way. Their aim is to produce exciting, inventive and thought-provoking theatre.

In 2009, Third Man Theatre won the SPIRIT OF THE FRINGE AWARD at the Edinburgh Festival for their WW2 comedy-drama Stalag Happy by Eddie Elks and Dan Frost, based on the true story of the artists Sir Terry Frost and Adrian Heath whilst interned in the PoW Camp Stalag 383.

In 2013, Third Man became one of the resident companies at the Bike Shed Theatre, Exeter where they regularly create and perform their work. Their last two projects have been supported by Arts Council England which has been a great step forward in the progression of the company.

And in 2014, Eddie Elks' Mugs' Arrows was named by Exeunt Theatre Magazine as one of the SHOWS OF THE YEAR 2014 and also named in their critics' list of CANON OF GREATEST PLAYS. It recently completed a highly successful UK Tour in 2015 with support from Arts Council England.

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