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PRESS RELEASE
ARISTIDES – THE OUTCAST
HERO
Written and Produced by Alice de Sousa;
Directed by Bruce Jamieson;
Presented by Galleon Theatre Company Ltd.
DATES: 27th January– 22nd February 2009
Tues-Sat @ 7.30pm - Sun @ 4pm
PRESS NIGHT- Thursday, 29th January 2009 @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £12, £10 (concs)
Box Office: 020 8858 9256;
boxoffice@galleontheatre.co.uk
VENUE: GREENWICH PLAYHOUSE,
Greenwich Station Forecourt, 189 Greenwich High
Road LONDON SE10 8JA
Galleon Theatre Company is delighted to announce
that, with the support of the Calouste Gulbenkian
Foundation, its first production of 2009 will be the
World Première of ‘Aristides – the Outcast Hero’.
“Under artistic director Alice de Sousa, the Greenwich Playhouse is surely London’s leading
exponent of Portuguese culture” – Time Out
In support of national events marking the Memorial of the
Holocaust, Galleon Theatre Company present the World
Première of Alice de Sousa’s new play. Aristides – the
Outcast Hero which celebrates the true story of Aristides
de Sousa Mendes, who disobeyed his government and
issued 30,000 transit visas to refugees seeking to escape
the Nazis. Aristides de Sousa Mendes’ humanitarian and
selfless actions represent the most significant life saving
effort undertaken by one individual during WWII.
Posthumously, his altruism has been recognised world
wide but in Britain his story remains largely unknown.
In spring 1940, a multitude of desperate people fleeing the
advancing German armies poured into Bordeaux. In their
thousands they queued outside the Portuguese Consulate
hoping to be granted visas allowing them to cross
Franco’s Spain (recently torn apart by civil war) to neutral
Portugal and from there to the free world.
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The Portuguese Consul, Aristides de Sousa Mendes agonised over the insuperable
dilemma: whether to obey his government’s orders and refuse to grant visas or to answer
the screaming voice of his own conscience and save as many as possible. Disregarding
professional and personal consequences which were to tragically punish him for the rest of
his life; he disobeyed and issued visas, regardless of religion, race or political creed, and
to anyone that needed them. It is not known precisely how many Aristides saved but it is
thought that some 30,000 visas were granted; some of these were issued to families and
so each visa could provide escape for several generations.
The Holocaust is believed to have killed some 15 million people. The vast majority of these
were Jewish. Other victims included some 1.5 million children; disabled people; Gypsies,
homosexuals, those of African descent, Christian pastors and Catholic priests, Jehovah's
Witnesses, Russian prisoners of war, trade unionists, and any other individuals who were
considered to be racially inferior or degenerate were murdered by the Nazi regime. The
thousands queuing, in the suffocating heat, outside the Portuguese Consulate in Bordeaux
would undoubtedly have faced a similar and appalling destiny.
Galleon Theatre Company’s lovingly created and thought provoking production seeks to
celebrate an ordinary man, who did extraordinary things. If we should measure the quality
of an individual by the values they uphold, then Aristides de Sousa Mendes must surely be
one of the greatest of men.
The company presenting Aristides – the Oucast Hero exceeds thirty theatre
practitioners and is led by:
􀂾 The Director: BRUCE JAMIESON
Aristides - the Outcast Hero, is directed by Bruce Jamieson who has
previously directed over thirty Galleon acclaimed theatre productions which
include Hamlet; Pygmalion; Cousin Basílio; Shadows on the Sun; The
Importance of Being Earnest; 3 Sisters; The White Devil; ‘Tis Pity She’s a
Whore; The Maias ; Inês de Castro; King Lear; Absent Friends; A Doll’s
House; The Heiress of the Cane Fields; The Seagull; The Crime of The Old
Village; Thankfully there is Moonlight!; Hedda Gabler; and The Merchant of
Venice. As an actor, he has played leading roles in some sixty stage plays;
and his television and film credits include the recently released feature film
The Oxford Murders (with John Hurt & Elijah Wood); Murphy’s Law (Tiger
Aspect); Monarch of the Glen (Ecosse); Ali G-Inda House (Universal);
Roughnecks (BBC); In Suspicious Circumstances (Granada); Crime Solver
(BBC); and Spongebob (BBC).
􀂾 The Writer & Producer: ALICE DE SOUSA
Aristides - the Outcast Hero, is written by award winning Alice de Sousa
who has written many critically acclaimed stage and screen scripts;
produced over seventy theatre productions; as an actress, played leading
roles in some thirty plays; and won in 2005 the American Biographical
Institute’s awards - ‘Great Women of the 21st Century’ and ‘Woman of the
Year 2005’. (These awards exclusively recognise worldwide the impact on
society of the work of 1000 prolific women). In 2007, she was short listed for
the Portuguese Government’s illustrious award ‘Prémio de Talento 2006’, in
recognition of her internationally celebrated writing and theatrical
productions of Portuguese literature.
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Galleon’s cast of thirteen actors is led by MICHAEL HUCKS in the title role (Aristides de Sousa
Mendes) has appeared in numerous West End productions, national tours and on television in
popular programmes such as Eastenders, London’s Burning, ‘Allo ‘Allo, Only Fools & Horses; and
by veteran actor BARRY DAVIS (playing Rabbi Chaim Kruger) who has extensively worked in
theatre, television and Hollywood films such as Schindler’s List, The Pianist, The Man Who Cried,
The Merchant of Venice, Kingdom of Heaven. Other cast include: OWEN G. BEVAN (José); SUE
BROBERG – (Angelina); JANET COULSON (Fernanda); SUZANNE GOLDBERG (The Woman);
CHRIS MANNING-PERRY (Davenport/Oulmont); DANIEL MOORE (Synek & Degenfeld);
ROBERT PAUL (Seabra); HANNAH-JANE PAWSEY (Joana); ANNA RUBEN (Andrée Cibial);
RICHARD UNWIN (Barman/Villand/Laporte); and making his professional debut PAUL
LAWRENCE-THOMAS (Pedro Nuno).
The dazzling and very experienced design team, who collectively have designed hundreds of
theatre productions includes J.WILLIAM DAVIS (Scenery/properties); ROBERT GOOCH
(Lighting/Sound); and FIONA PARKER (Costumes).
Galleon Theatre Company has been staging an internationally acclaimed and
diverse repertoire of work since 1989. Productions directed by Bruce Jamieson and
written/adapted by Alice de Sousa include:
􀂾 Inês de Castro by Alice de Sousa
“Jamieson’s robustly confident production is undeniably slick.” - Evening Standard
“is the nearest new play to challenge the classical mould that I have seen in ages. It is a really
glorious night out.” - indielondon.co.uk
“This studio-sized venue has been put on the cultural map with productions of epic quality. And it's
the word epic that springs to mind with artistic director Alice de Sousa's searing drama of doomed
romance, Inês de Castro.” - South London Press
􀂾 Cousin Basílio novel by Eça de Queirós;
adapted for the stage by Alice de Sousa
"Alice de Sousa has performed an important role in bringing Queirós' work into the 21st century
spotlight ... an intriguing wake-up call to a Portuguese literary gem" – Evening Standard
"Director Bruce Jamieson orchestrates some brilliantly sharp social comedy.” - South London Press
“Alice de Sousa’s adaptation is impish and thoroughly enjoyable" – Time Out
􀂾 The Maias novel by Eça de Queirós; adapted for the stage by Alice de Sousa
"The Maias, is further proof of the niche the Greenwich Playhouse is carving out for itself as an
enjoyably ambitious venue that is a solid producer of classics”. Evening Standard
"This excellent play turned into an evening that was never to be forgotten and must be ranked at
least as first rate... The job that Alice de Sousa has done is monumental” – Indielondon.co.uk
􀂾 Thankfully there is Moonlight! by Sttau Monteiro,
adapted by Alice de Sousa
“a powerful play, written out of anger and despair.” – Time Out
“This gripping story is a true gem.” – News Shopper
“In an eloquent and taut English translation by Alice de Sousa, directed by Bruce Jamieson,
Thankfully there is Moonlight! marks a welcome return to the satisfying quality that has established
Galleon’s reputation as exponent of wrongly neglected classics. – The Stage
“Thankfully there is Moonlight! is powerful story of human faith, courage and loyalty, and it is really
worth seeing.” – The Wharf
􀂾 For interviews or images please contact Alice de Sousa, the producer, on 0208
310 7276; 07957 548010 or by email alice@galleontheatre.co.uk
􀂾 For further information please consult our website www.galleontheatre.co.uk