Habeus Corpus

Habeas Corpus is a fast-paced play from 1973.

A satirical farce by the acclaimed British playwright Alan Bennett. Set in the early 1970s in the seaside town of Brighton, the play is a "black comedy" that centres on the mid-life crises of the Wicksteed family and their various sexual obsessions.

The Title - Latin for "you shall have the body" - is a pun on the legal writ and the characters' frantic pursuit of physical gratification.

The play follows the various inhabitants and visitors of the Wicksteed household over the course of a single, chaotic day.

Dr. Arthur Wicksteed is a cynical GP who has lost interest in his wife, Muriel, and spends his time chasing a young, attractive patient named Felicity Rumpers.

Meanwhile, Muriel is equally starved for affection and finds herself pursued by an old flame, Sir Percy Shorter, who is now a high-ranking (and very short) medical official.

As is tradition in farce, the second act is a whirlwind of mistaken identities, dropped trousers, and slamming doors.

A traveling salesman (who Connie believes is there to fit her breast prosthesis) is mistaken for a high-society suitor. Secrets are revealed, and the characters are forced to confront the aging, decaying reality of the "bodies" they are so obsessed with.

The show was performed by the Little Theatre, Donnington, Shropshire
from 21st to 23rd September 2023

Photos courtesy of Lucy Stevens (Photography), Vicki Stevens and Society members.

Production Team:

Director - Brian Hughes
Stage Manager - Jessie May Bracken
Assistant Stage Manager - Vicki-Louise Stevens
Lighting and Sound - CJ Allen and Tom Milligan
Set Creation and Build - Ian Clarke and Simon Whitehouse
Props - Gina Ryder
Prompt - 
Photography - Lucy Stevens photography
Design & Print - Plus 2 Media - 07977 481186 (james@plus2media.co.uk)

Cast:

Arthur Wicksteed, a General Practitioner – Simon Philips

Muriel Wicksteed, his wife – Lauraine Howles

Dennis Wicksteed, their son – George Price

Constance (Connie) Wicksteed, the doctor's sister – Amanda Nicolle

Mrs Swabb, a cleaning lady – Carol Mulhew

Canon Throbbing, a celibate – John Briton

Lady Rumpers, a white settler – Kay Briton

Felicity Rumpers, her daughter – Heather Foster

Mr Shanks, a sales representative – Dave Whyte

Sir Percy Shorter, a leading light in the medical profession – Andy Reed

Mr Purdue, a sick man – Lynne James