Previews

The Red Rose Chain has become hugely popular throughout Suffolk and further afield for their innovative and challenging productions on stage and screen.

Jimmy Grimes and Joanna Carrick

In the summer of 2000, they established 'Theatre In The Forest' which continues to grow in strength and popularity. This year's performance of Hamlet in Rendlesham Forest was no exception (read the reviews on the right).

About the Ebony Box

Their new production, The Ebony Box, is the latest piece from Creative Director, Joanna Carrick. It focuses on the life and times of the anti-slavery campaigner Thomas Clarkson. The Ebony Box refers to a wooden chest which held produce from Africa. Clarkson used this to display the continent's potential for trade.

Joanna explained that Clarkson provided a hugely interesting and engaging subject on which to build a piece of theatre.

"Ebony Box is a totally original work which gives an adaptation of his book about the abolition of the slave trade. On reading more into his work I discovered that he was an amazing guy with a totally unique ability to empathise with people," she said.

Thomas Clarkson

Thomas Clarkson's journey into an understanding of Africa and the slave trade came as a result of entering an essay competition. The title was 'Is it right to make slaves of others against their will?' and it was written in Latin.

A local hero

The Red Rose Chain's actor and designer, Jimmy Grimes, will be taking on the role of Clarkson.

"Clarkson is a really fascinating chracter. His initial interest in the subject was this essay and winning the first prize, but he got to a point where the subject of the slave trade played on his mind," he said.

Jimmy Grimes and Milly Jupp in rehearsal

Joanna's production sees three actors (Jimmy Grimes, Milly Jupp and Josh Golding) take on over 30 characters between them. They follow Clarkson on his journey from first questioning the morality of the slave trade to his attempted murder at the hands of slave traders.

"Clarkson never actually went to Africa but imagined it, empathised with it and lived and breathed it all his life, so in the piece we wanted to create a part to represent Africa and Milly plays that character," said Joanna.

This is Milly's first production with the company and you can hear her discussing the production with Luke Deal by using the link below.

Message in a witch bottle

This production sees the company returning to St Mary's-on-the-Quay, a fitting church venue which provides the appropriate historical setting. It brings the company close to the Ipswich waterfront where their new home, the Witch Bottle Theatre, is being built.

The group with 'The Ebony Box'

The theatre will be completely independent and the company is ensuring that it retains an independent and unique feel, much like its interesting name.

"When they were excavating the site they found a witch bottle, which is a weird superstitous thing which people used to keep in their door frame. They were supposed to keep away evil spirits. We also like the way the name gets the imagination going straight away," Joanna said.

The production opens on Wednesday 7 November with tickets available on 01473 288886 or in person at the Red Rose Chain offices at 1, Fore Hamlet, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP3 8AA.