3. The Plays (1): Perpetua

Synopsis: Perpetua, the award-winning first play, is  a hard-wired thriller. It is set in Pensacola, Florida in 1998, but the issues it raises are ever-topical. Using imagined events but based on the 'Abortion Wars' in the US, it explores wider issues of liberty and protest, together   with the contested value of human life. When a new recruit arrives at Father D's 'Operation Freedom' HQ, he is taken under the wing of an experienced, but vulnerable volunteer, Angela. As the play unfurls this unlocks the mysterious assassination of an Abortion Provider, a year before- triggering an even more disastrous chain of events.

Cast: Five  (3 male, 2 female).   

Production History

Birmingham Repertory Theatre Studio (The Door) 15 April 1999. Directed by Jonathan Lloyd & designed by Timothy Meaker

Father David............Tyrone Huggins

Angela..................Annabelle Dowler

John Lemic.................Justin Salinger

Rosemary.................Nicola Redmond

Richard.....................David Hounslow

Nicola Redmond as Rosemary Bright	Tyrone Huggins as Father D & Annabelle Dowler as Angela	Nicola Redmond as Rosemary with David Hounslow as Richard

Fraser's View Perpetua at Birmingham Rep: This was my first ever fully professional production. When the script won the Verity Bargate Award in 1996, I naively thought this would rocket the play into production. Unfortunately, the win coincided with Soho Theatre's loss of venue whilst they waited for the present theatre in Dean Street to be carved out of a former synagogue. It took a further three years to mount the first production, Anthony Clark at Birmingham Rep coming to the rescue by programming the play in The Door, the theatre's studio space, in 1999.

Jonathan Lloyd came up from Soho to direct, and assembled an excellent cast led by Nicola Redmond and David Hounslow. Tyrone Huggins turned in a fantastic performance as Father D. My main memory from rehearsals is seeing Tyrone deliver a radically different interpretation each day, so that it was not until the dress rehearsal that we saw the complete character emerge. Quite a nail-mangling experience for a rookie writer!

Annabelle Dowler who played Angela so winningly, is now a regular in The Archers (Kirsty, for aficionados) and also took the lead (and only) role in my short play Donkey at the Hotbed Festival, 2006. Nickie was involved in workshopping  Frobisher's Gold in Colchester, turning in a highly believable performance as Elizabeth I, and is often on the telly.

Latchmere Theatre (now Theatre 503) London 18 May 2004.  Directed by Dan Milne & designed by Becs Andrews

 Father Dave............Steve Toussaint

 Angela...........Martha Howe-Douglas

 John Lemic ................Luke de Lacey

 Rosemary.......................Kitty Martin

Richard......................James Wallace

Fraser's View Perpetua at Latchmere Theatre, 2004. This revival came out of the blue, but a real privilege to be involved in  the maiden production of Kitty Martin and Dan Milne's new company, Fortune's Fool. In the tiny Latchmere Theatre in Battersea (now Theatre 503), the play felt even more claustrophobic than at Birmingham, and just as topical. Kitty herself took the part of Rosemary Bright, while Dan directed. Martha Howe-Douglas- in her first job, I think I'm right in saying- was remarkable as the damaged Angela, and Steve Toussaint joined the company as a late replacement: terrifying and terrific as Father D, the Pentecostal preacher, playing with fire.

Kitty Martin as Rosemary Bright	Martha Howe-Douglas as Angela	Luke de Lacey as John	Steve Toussaint as Father D	James Wallace as Richard

The Future There has never been a production of this play in the States- surprising, when you know that it is set in the Deep South. It would certainly take some courage to mount a production there - but someone has to be the first!

Reviews- Clipped

Fraser Grace's play won the 1996 Verity Bargate Award, and a worthy winner it proves to be...it's an enormously intelligent work that embraces a much wider sphere of moral debate...The plotting is a touch contrived in the second half, but by then this drama has got you by the throat and is squeezing hard.-Lynn Gardner, The Guardian

..a gripping play..I don't remember the last time my heart was in my mouth as much as it is here ...as the first major for this writer it marks the arrival of a significant talent. Birmingham Post

..you leave persuaded of Grace's promise...Daily Telegraph