In Clay
By Jack Miles and Rebecca Simmonds
Directed by Grace Taylor
Upstairs at the Gatehouse
March - April 2024
Based on a true story, this “poignant reflection on ambition, regrets & self-fulfilment” (Fringebiscuit) is told from a quaint Parisian kitchen in the late 1930s. Marie-Berthe Cazin, a ceramist in her early 40s, eagerly awaits the arrival of her closest childhood friend and now celebrated artist, Henrietta Tirman. As Marie prepares for the evening ahead, she reflects on the great joys and sorrows of a life devoted to making art.
Shortlisted for an Offies OffFest Award, the Stiles & Drewe MTI Mentorship Award and the Best New Song Prize 2023 in the last year alone.
Upstairs at the Gatehouse 2024
13th March - 7th April, 2024
Starring Rosalind Ford as Marie-Berthe Cazin
and Eleanor Walsh as alternate Marie-Berthe Cazin
Book & Lyrics - Rebecca Simmonds
Music & Lyrics - Jack Miles
Director - Grace Taylor
Music Supervision & Orchestrations - Matt Herbert
Set & Costume Design - Rachael Ryan
Lighting Design - Chris McDonnell
Sound Design - Florence Hand
Photography of Rosalind Ford - Felix Mosse
Photography of Eleanor Walsh - David Madden
Nominated for 6 OFF-WEST END AWARDS
BEST LEAD PERFORMANCE IN A MUSICAL Rosalind Ford BEST SET DESIGN Rachael Ryan BEST LIGHTING DESIGN Chris McDonnell
BEST MUSICAL DIRECTOR Matt Herbert BEST DIRECTOR (MUSICALS) Grace Taylor BEST MUSICAL PRODUCTION In Clay
"[Rosalind Ford's] performance, coupled with Taylor's brilliant direction, infuses the storytelling with heart and authenticity."
ADVENTURES IN THEATRELAND
"Directed by Grace Taylor, In Clay communicates the joy an artist can find in the hard slog of creation so well it is genuinely inspiring. It can be just as difficult – if not more difficult – to make a genuinely good small-scale musical..."
MUSICAL THEATRE REVIEW
"...paired perfectly with Grace Taylor’s intimate and captivating staging."
WEST END BEST FRIEND
"Grace Taylor’s direction allows for plenty of action in the relatively intimate space of Upstairs at the Gatehouse."
ALL THAT DAZZLES
"Actor/singer Rosalind Ford carries the show and she’s flawless, but it is the triumph of a collaboration of creatives: director Grace Taylor, writer Rebecca Simmonds, composer Jack Miles and Matt Herbert’s on-stage four-piece band."
MORNING STAR
"For a 90-minute experience with no interval, no set change or costume changes, and only one actor, Taylor’s directorial choices go from strength to strength, captivating audiences from the very beginning."
SEEN ANYTHING LATELY
The Vaults 2023
25-28th of January 2023
After sell-out workshop performances at The Other Palace and Wimbledon Theatre Studio in October 2022.
Starring Rosalind Ford
Director - Grace Taylor
Music Director/Orchestrator - Matt Herbert
Associate Director - Amber Sinclair-Case
Associate Music Director - Rachel Murphy
Lighting Designer - Tom Turner
Design - Sorcha Corcoran
Stage Management - Tamsin Harper Jenkins
Sound - Peter Dunn
Photography - Joseph Madden
"...with Grace Taylor's direction adding flare that eases you and transports your worries away..."
THE STAGEY PLACE
"Grace Taylor’s direction uses the cosy setting of the Cage to create familiarity when telling a personal tale."
THERE OUGHT TO BE CLOWNS
****
"Director Grace Taylor uses the intimacy of the story to great effect by keeping all the action small, compact and ultimately personal. Everything hangs on memories not showy theatrics. It is almost like you are there in her kitchen yourself as a welcome observer. "
THEATRE AND TONIC
****
"Grace Taylors direction makes the use of the limited space in “The Cage” at The Vaults to ensure Marie-Berthe has plenty to use..."
ALL THAT DAZZLES
"Like the pots that Marie-Berthe creates, In Clay is perfectly formed and expertly polished."
THE REVIEW HUB
