Culture clash
Pickering actress Elizabeth Boag returns to the Yorkshire stage in Torben Betts’ acclaimed play Invincible.
The actress, who was born in Beverley and grew up in Pickering, is having a ball playing Dawn, a feisty, glamorous Northern lass, in the play which explores the North-South divide.
“The play has been well received wherever we have been,” said Elizabeth, who is well known to Scarborough audiences after her roles in a number of Alan Ayckbourn’s plays. She is pictured with actor Graeme Brookes.
“Invincible is a brilliant piece and I am lucky to be part of it,” said Elizabeth, who has lived in London for 15 years and knows first hand about the North-South divide.
Actress Elizabeth Boag is coming home – and a warm welcome awaits her as she is one of the cast of Invincible which has garnered great reviews since it hit the road.
By Torben Betts, the play explores the north-south class and culture divide with Elizabeth playing northerner Dawn who is married toAlan, played by Graham Brookes.
“It will make you laugh, make you cry and, hopefully, make you think,” she said.
She is a familiar face to Stephen Joseph audiences. She has worked on Alan Ayckbourn’s s plays in Scarborough, around the UK and in New York. They include Arrivals and Departures, Farcicals, Roundelay, Confusions and Hero’s Welcome.
Alan cast her in Arrivals after seeing her in a play at the Esk Valley Theatre in Glaisdale. Elizabeth grew up going to the Stephen Joseph Theatre. She was born in Beverley, grew up in Pickering and went to Lady Lumley’s in the town and Kirkham Henry School of Performing Arts in Malton. Her family still live locally.
“Torben’s writing is like Alan’s only he is more overtly political,” she said. “It’s great for any actress to do a Torben or Alan play – you just say the words, the writing is that good,” she said.
The first half of the play sees Oliver and Emily, played by Alastair Whatley, Emily Bowker, newly arrived from the south throw a party for their new neighbours. The second half shows their relationships slowly unravel.
“Dawn is a northerner born and bred, she lives in the town where the play is set. She is fiesty and very glamorous,” said Elizabeth, whose character has been compared to one-time Corrie resident Elsie Tanner.
“You see her being polite and friendly and when the cracks start to appear it is quite moving,” she said.
Invincible is at the Stephen Joseph Theatre from Wednesday until Saturday February 25. Wednesday, Friday and Saturday at 7.30pm. Thursday at 1.30pm and 7pm plus Saturday at 2.30pm.