Worthing Theatres brings to life Silas Marner

Conn Artists Theatre Company started their tour of George Eliot's Silas Marner at Worthing Theatre this month.  The home of former Artistic Director, Nick Young, the director of this play.

The acclaimed Worthing-based Conn Artists Theatre Company are bringing George Eliot’s great Victorian epic, Silas Marner, to the stage in the bicentenary year of her birth.

Silas Marner Synopsis

The play tells the story of a poor weaver wrongfully condemned and outcast from society, who becomes a doomed miser and recluse until he is forced to take in a young orphan girl.

Their mutual friendship leads to joy, love and redemption.

The acclaimed Conn Artists Theatre Company
Following on from their hit production of The Four Men.   The heart-moving action, set in the early years of the 19th century, is performed by an ensemble cast of seven actors accompanied by music and songs of the period.

Silas Marner was originally adapted for the stage by Geoffrey Beevers from George Eliot’s novel of the same name.

Originally created by Geoffrey for the Orange Tree Theatre in Richmond, this revival by Conn Artists Theatre Company is to tour the play regionally for the first time.

Supported by Arts Council England, The George Eliot Fellowship and Worthing Theatres, the production will tour 15 venues after the Connaught Theatre.

Director Nick Young, who trained as a director with the Royal Shakespeare Company says: “The stage version of Silas Marner is a wonderful opportunity for actors to create live theatre- its sounds and actions using the simplest of props to create a whole community and drama.

Masks and puppets are used to enhance the production. The great range of three-dimensional characters, and the moral dilemmas faced by many of them, offer performers enormous scope, whilst at the same time creating an ensemble company.

A Play with a Difference

This is a rather unique play and a must for George Eliot fans.  The cast work through the characters and sound effects on stage, rather than behind the scenes.

The puppets of the children are bought to life via the actors and may for some, take a few appears to get used to if not familiar with the use of puppets on stage.

The actors are remarkable and show passion in each of the characters they portray and end at the interval with all the important questions yet to play out!

Starting at the home town of Worthing, the play is moving across the country right up until mid-October, so there are still plenty of opportunities to see this play around Sussex.