Clockwork

 

Adapted from Philip Pullman's novel

In the little German town of Glockenheim many, many years ago, in the dead of winter, 2 young men have a problem.

Glockenheim, like lots of little German towns has a great clock on the Town Hall with clockwork figures in it which come out when the hour strikes. Every young trainee clock-maker must make a new figure for the clock to show to all the town’s people on the day his apprenticeship ends. Herr Ringlemann is the best clock-maker in town and his apprentice, Karl, is just finishing his training, and so he must show his new clockwork figure. But Karl has a big problem . . . he hasn’t made one.

Meanwhile, in the bar of The White Horse Tavern the townspeople are gathered excitedly. Tomorrow the new figure is to be unveiled, and tonight the town storyteller, Fritz, is coming to the pub to tell his latest story. They hope it will be like all his other stories, full of murder and ghosts. But Fritz has a problem; he doesn’t have an ending.

As the play opens, Karl comes to the bar to drown his sorrows. But little does he know that Fritz’s story will unleash more than a few goose pimples on the back of the neck.

A collaboration between Junior and Senior Youth Theatre performed at The Forum in January 2001

CAST

Herr Wald/Palace Guard Andrew Barnes

Herr Grunne/Palace Guard Carl Lewis

Herr Burgo, The innkeeper Celia Wilding

Frau Mozart/The voice of Dr. Kalmenius/Puppeteer Charlotte Ward

Maisie Baden Chloe Wilson

Herr Ringelman, The Clockmaker Gareth Wheeler

Frau Wasser Elisha Beckman

Putzi, the pub cat/Helga the unlucky/Servant Emily Old

The Traveller/Sir Ironsoul/Puppeteer/Clocktower Bat Emma Coward

Fraulein Ruby/Princess Mariposa Emma-Louise Taylor

Herr Vogel/Prince Otto/Clocktower Bat Damian Rose

Katarina, Herr Ringelman’s Housekeeper/Royal Doctor Kate Jenkins

Karl, the Clockmaker’s Apprentice Keir Rathbone

Frau Chestnut, the chestnut seller/Puppeteer Laura Cameron

Gretl Burgo, the innkeeper’s daughter/Puppeteer Lois Clifton

Frau Schmidt, Fritz’s landlady Megan Wilson

Frau Baden/Baron Stelgratz Sarah Hillman

Fraulein Lily/Prince Florian Terran Mclean

Fritz, the Glockenheim Storyteller/Puppeteer Wayne Gregg