Cast

Synopsis

The play concerns Judge Adam, Skipton’s sole agent of Justice, who is far from happy to be visited by the Investigating Magistrate, Walter Clegg, seeking out signs of malpractice. The trial that Walter oversees seems uncomplicated at first; the formidable Martha is suing her daughter’s fiancé for breaking her jug. The plot thickens and as family grievances are unearthed the identity of a mysterious man becomes crucial to the case.

Directors Notes

I saw The Cracked Pot’ performed some years ago at both The West Yorkshire Playhouse and The Viaduct at Dean Clough. I still remember how excited and enthralled I was on both occasions. This play is set in Skipton in 1810, spoken in good Yorkshire tongue with, I’m afraid, the odd profanity. It is a play written by a poet, which shows, as he revels in his use of words. Northern Broadsides were the ideal company write it for, and with. Seldom will you see classic theatre performed in such an open, understandable, inclusive and brilliant way. If you haven’t already, I recommend you make every effort to see their work. From the moment I saw it I was sure it would be a perfect play for Bingley and, being a stubborn sort, I finally got my way. However, at the time I didn’t expect to get the job of director. For my first, and who knows, my last production at Bingley I wanted to create an evening of entertainment and involvement from the minute you walk into the building. Whether I achieve this remains to be seen; however, with the help of a fantastic cast and a wonderfully committed backstage crew I hope that we won’t disappoint. Hopefully, you too will leave the theatre as excited as I did all those years ago.