Julia Britton - Playwright

Production Images

Promotional Images

Postcard, Invitation & Program

Written with permission of Mr. Don Barchardy and the Christopher Isherwood Foundation, Santa Monica, California

"The quest for love is a voyage over strange waters…"

SYNOPSIS

The Lost is an exuberant looking-back at the life and time of this wicked, beautiful, precocious, self-indulgent, wildly exhibitionistic creature - gay British writer Christopher Isherwood. In 1939, on the eve of World War II, Isherwood and W.H. Auden departed England for America. During this dreary winter voyage, Isherwood relives incidents from his life. In the isolation and limbo of the ocean, he feels alienated from his life in Europe and unsure what the future in America may hold for him. He is writing a book called The Lost, which is to reflect the lives of the emotionally bankrupt folk, the lost generation which has lost its way - the victims of the Nazis, the desperate and the confused. These stories were to become the basis of the plays, musicals and films I am a Camera and Cabaret.

A NOTE ON THE PLAY

2004 was the centenary of writer Christopher Isherwood, whose famous Berlin Stories (Goodbye To Berlin and Mr. Norris Changes Trains), set the Germany of the early '30s when Hitler was rising to power, had delighted millions of readers. I was drawn to these tales because of the crystal sharp quality of the writing by which Isherwood creates his characters. In these brilliant vignettes, the everyday German comes to life in sharp focus. The readers see them as clearly and dispassionately as the folk next door. This quality seemed to me to be ideal material for the theatre. Humour, tragedy and intrigue rub shoulders in this mix of English expatriates, old established Berliners, the poor and the wealthy. I envisaged the play first of all as a one-man show, but the subsidiary characters seemed to come to life and demanded attention. So one other character, the British poet W.H. Auden was given speeches and then a kind of chorus of Isherwood's creations made the play into a full cast version. All these folk were among the lost souls whose lives were touched or radically changed by the advent of the Nazis. My interest was further stimulated by several visits to Germany when I was a schoolgirl and (later) student in Manchester. I only hope the adaptation does justice to Isherwood's vision. - Julia Britton

HISTORY

The Lost (under its original title A Singular Man), was first produced at Melbourne's historical Old Treasury Building from 25 September - 12 October, 1996. It was produced by Fly-On-The-Wall Theatre (aka Performing Arts Productions), directed by Robert Chuter, co-ordinated by Andreas Dalman featuring Jai Koutrae as Christopher Isherwood. Subsequently, it was reproduced under the new title of The Lost as part of the 1997 Hong Kong Fringe Festival.

On 31 January, 2004 - The Lost (heavily revised) as a full cast version was read at Melbourne's La Mama Theatre, produced by Fly-On-The-Wall Theatre (aka Performing Arts Productions) as part of the 2004 Midsumma Festival. It was directed by Robert Chuter, produced by Daniel Solis and lighting by Benjamin Daly with the following cast: Robert Corner as Christopher Isherwood, Robert Wallace as W.H. Auden, Paul Canlan as Geoffrey/Pressman#2/Customs Man, Don Munro as Uncle Henry, Maureen Edward as Kathleen Isherwood/Maria/Fraulein Thurau, Christopher Pender as Heinz, Kevin Dee as E.M. Forster, Dewi Jones as Repton Friend/Pressman #1/Customes Man, Justin Guy as Otto, John Turner as Clive/Francis Turville-Petre, Margaret Younger as Fraulein Nowak, Kylie Klump as Gisa/Fortune Teller, Georgia Bolton as Jean Ross and hosted by Justin Guy.

The world premiere season of The Lost produced by Fly-On-The-Wall Theatre (aka Performing Arts Productions) at The Chapel, Chapel Off Chapel, Melbourne from 13 - 24 July, 2005. It was directed by Robert Chuter, art direction by Anthony Breslin, costume design by Adrian Clarke and Robert Chuter, lighting design by Christopher Tollefson and co-ordinated by Alethea Sotiropoulos with the following cast: Robert Corner as Christopher Isherwood, Paul Canlan as W.H. Auden/Francis Turville-Petre/E.M. Forster/Clive, Don Munro as Uncle Henry/Geoffrey, Frances Hutson as Kathleen Isherwood/Fraulein Thureau, Christopher Pender as Heinz/Otto/Bubi/Repton Friend and Elizabeth Slattery as Gisa/Jean Ross.

Publicity photography by Chris Kapa
Production photography by Peter Leiss

The Lost was also read on Saturday, 02 July 2005 at Jermyn Street Theatre, London in association with Theatre 28 Ensemble as part of the 2005 London Pride Festival Fortnight. It was directed by Robert Chuter with the following cast: Andy Capie as Christopher Isherwood, Richard Gallagher as Francis Turville-Petre, Christopher Pender as Heinz/Otto/Bubi and hosted by Drayton Morley.

PERFORMANCE RIGHTS

The Lost is available in two forms - solo (under the original title of A Singular Man) and full cast versions.

The right of Julia Britton to be identified as auhor of this work has been asserted in accordance with Section 77 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. All rights whatsoever in this work, amateur or professional, are strictly reserved. Applications for permission or enquiries for any use whatsoever must be made in advance, before rehearsals commence, to: Julia Britton, 3 Tiuna Grove, Elwood, Victoria, Australia 3184 [www.juliabritton.com]. No performance may be given unless a licence has first been obtained.