Alan Ayckbourn's futuristic black comedy "Henceforward..." promises to entertain theatre-goers16/10/2013
![]() About The Play What's the most important thing for composer Jerome: a great new work, or his family? It's sometime in the near future. Composer Jerome has been suffering a creative block. His only company is his beloved music, the ultra-modern recording devices that surround him, and a malfunctioning humanoid robot, NAN 300F. Jerome has been unable to work since his wife, Corinna, left with their daughter Geain, four years ago. Desperate to see Geain again and hoping she'll release the flood-gates, he engages a young actress, Zoë, to pretend to be his fiancée. He wants to deceive his ex- wife into believing he's a fit person to be allowed to spend time with Geain. But, owing to his obsession with recording every intimate moment, Zoë quits. Can Jerome now re- programme robot Nan to sound and look like perfect Zoë? And what is most important to Jerome - writing the perfect piece of music on the subject of love - or being back with his family? Life or Art? Plus - which is better - a robot or a human being? Much of the ‘futuristic’ technology in the play has come to pass – cellphones, videophones and GPSs. As a result we have set the production in 2013 and updated any obsolete references. ‘Henceforward...’ is not presented very often, as it is technically rather challenging – with more than 30 sound and video clips which need to have been recorded in advance and played on cue. For further information, email Wendy Goddard or contact 083 414 7003. “This brilliant play offers an ultimately bleak vision of men, machines and society. But the exhilarating Ayckbournian paradox is that the darker it gets the funnier it becomes” Comments are closed.
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