DUCK VARIATIONS by David Mamet
Benchmark Theatre
theatre comedy
14+
occasional strong language
55 mins
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DUCK VARIATIONS by David Mamet
Benchmark Theatre
Darn tootin’! … A couple of old guys chew the fat ‘bout existentialism and stuff…
George and Emil sit on a park bench overlooking a lake and talk about life, death and ducks! Their spiky conversation touches on ageing, power, politics, environment, philosophy, mortality, and Sure as shootin’! … ducks!
Witty, playful, sometimes surreal, and occasionally poignant DUCK VARIATIONS is a delightfully combative hour of character led debate by Pulitzer Prize winning American playwright and provocateur, David Mamet (Oleanna, Glengarry Glen Ross, American Buffalo, Speed-the-Plow). This philosophical comedy features Exeter actors Mark Cassidy (Boo-to-a-Goose) and Mark Shorto (Cygnet Associate), and is directed by Alistair Ganley, (Artistic Director of Exeter’s Cygnet Theatre).
DUCK VARIATIONS is the first production from Benchmark. The show began as part of Cygnet Theatre’s Dream Festival in Exeter last June. We are thrilled to be bringing the DUCKS to Barnstaple.
All the ducks in a row…..!
MARK CASSIDY plays EMIL VAREC
Following Lockdown Zoom performances in nine Shakespeare plays, with Shake-Scene Shakespeare Theatre Company, Mark C is looking forward to being in front of a live audience, again.
Mark C's previous work includes: Houston Collins in "Space Cats", and Mr. Forget-Me-Not in "Magic Garden", with Boo to a Goose Theatre, as well as playing the part of Gramps, in family film - "Little Grey Fergie - The Animals' Best Friend".
MARK SHORTO plays GEORGE S ARONOVITZ
Mark is from Jersey and trained at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. He moved to London and performed in various fringe shows, also children’s and street theatre. He came to Devon to join colleagues who had formed cross-cultural Imule Theatre.
Other theatre includes White Horse in Germany, Actors of Dionysus, Orchard Theatre in Barnstaple, Drum Plymouth and Exeter's Northcott and Bike Shed. He is a Cygnet associate and has performed in three recent Cygnet productions.
ALISTAIR GANLEY – Director
Alistair is a director and drama trainer, based in Exeter. Along with founding Benchmark, he is Artistic Director of Cygnet Theatre in Exeter. His work with the Cygnet company includes Shakespeare, Ibsen, Strindberg, Modern Classics, new writing and outreach work with schools and colleges.
As Artistic Associate with Interwoven Productions, in Exeter, Alistair co-created several site responsive promenade performances in parks and residential streets around the city with local artists and communities between 2011 and 2020.
In December 2022 Alistair directed the premier of Jane Tipping’s new play “Illuminate” at Crediton Arts Centre.
