Pygmalion (1976)

Intro

A play by George Bernard Shaw, performed at the Nottingham Playhouse (12 February - 30 March 1976).

Overview

Cockney flower-seller Eliza Doolittle is taught by a phonetics professor, Henry Higgins, to assume the accent of a member of the aristocracy. Can she disguise her poor background and fool others into believing she belongs to the social elite?

Through Eliza's transformation, Pygmalion explores class division and what it means to be considered a lady.

Cast

William Russell ... Henry Higgins

Zoë Wanamaker ... Eliza Doolittle

Malcolm Storry ... Alfred Doolittle, Eliza`s father

Ralph Michael ... Colonel Pickering

Ursula Smith ... Mrs Smith, Higgins`s housekeeper

Crew

Director: Richard Eyre
Set Designer: Douglas Heap
Costume Designer: David Collis
Lighting Designer: Geoffrey Mersereau
Production Photographer: Gerald Murray

Notes

This production of Pygmalion was presented by the Nottingham Playhouse Company. Zoë was invited to join the company by Richard Eyre, when he became artistic director of its theatre. They had previously enjoyed working together in Edinburgh (on plays such as The Cherry Orchard). She speaks warmly of the 'Intelligent, funny, sensitive, encouraging and enthusiastic' director (see 'Zoe Wanamaker: Nottingham Playhouse Made Me' interview).

The 1975-6 season at Nottingham was a formative period in her career; Zoe has praised the 'fantastic range of plays' in which she was given the opportunity to perform, during her nine months as a member of the company (see 'Zoe Wanamaker: Nottingham Playhouse Made Me' interview). In addition to Pygmalion, she appeared in The Widowing of Mrs Holroyd, The Beggar's Opera, Jug, A Streetcar Named Desire, The Servant of Two Masters, and Trumpets & Drums.

Press coverage

'The excitements of Richard Eyre's production largely spring - I may say, leap - from the Eliza of Zoe Wanamaker', enthused Charles Lewsen, writing for The Times.

Merchandise

Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw