THE WOMAN IN BLACK
by Stephen Mallatratt and Dame Susan Hill
The most chilling night that you can have in a theatre!
London’s second longest running play, THE WOMAN IN BLACK, comes to the Jericho Arts Centre in Vancouver for a limited engagement beginning February 18, 2023.
With Vancouver favourite Bernard Cuffling directing and starring, THE WOMAN IN BLACK is more than just a play, it’s an experience…and one that attendees won’t soon forget.
When aging solicitor Arthur Kipps (Bernard Cuffling) engages a young actor (Aidan Wright) to bring his eerie experiences at Eel Marsh House to life, neither he nor his dramatic collaborator expect the haunting to move into the theatre and curse them both. As ghostly sounds swirl, the audience will struggle to trust their eyes as this show conjures the very essence of “The Woman” herself.
THE WOMAN IN BLACK is a theatre-goer’s favourite all over the world. More than 10 million people have seen this haunting masterpiece in the West End of London alone. Based on the novel by Dame Susan Hill, and developed first for the pub, then for the stage, by Stephen Mallatratt, THE WOMAN IN BLACK has also seen life as a movie with Daniel Radcliffe and has returned to New York City for up close and personal presentations at the McKittrick Hotel. With the original production closing in London this year, the Vancouver presentation by CLASSical ACT Collective – with the generous support of Famous Artists Limited – will be the only production on Earth for audiences to enjoy!
The shadowy figure of “The Woman in Black” can be seen around town in the lead up to this staging. Her appearances will be fleeting, but for those who are lucky, she will be found on neighbourhood streets, in the woods, on the beach, and even within a cemetery. Those who dare to gaze upon her can enter an online contest for free tickets. If you miss her appearances around town, fear not…she will make her presence known at the gripping, edge-of-your-seat production of THE WOMAN IN BLACK from February 18 through March 5.
For contest details and to purchase tickets, please visit https://womaninblackvancouver.com.
Director: Bernard Cuffling
Cast:
Bernard Cuffling stars as older Arthur Kipps and others. A star performer with a treasury of voices and characters, Bernard has been a part of Vancouver’s theatre scene for almost 50 years. He has worked in most leading theatres in Western Canada, holds the record for most appearances at the Arts Club Theatre, and has received three Jessie Richardson Awards. Favourite roles include: Polonius in Hamlet at the Stanley Theatre, Doctor in The Imaginary Invalid and Teddy in The Faith Healer at the Arts Club Theatre, Freddie in The Playhouse production of Noises Off, Clov in Endgame at the BC Tel Theatre and David Bliss in Hay Fever. He has played Lafew in Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival’s staging of All’s Well That Ends Well and appeared in The Cripple of Inishman at the Belfry. With a star on Granville Street as part of the BC Entertainment Hall of Fame, Bernard has numerous film & television credits and has also directed several theatre productions. A Londoner by birth and a Vancouverite by choice, this is his sixth outing in THE WOMAN IN BLACK, a show he both loves and fears.
Aidan Wright co-stars as “The Actor”. Aidan is an alum of the UBC Acting Program. Since then, he has been doing theatre in many productions with Geekenders, United Players, Rusty Cage Theatre Labs, and Peninsula Productions. He has also branched off and been a part of the Tightrope Improv Theatre ensemble and started his improv theatre company, Richmond Improv Theatre Society. As well as theatre, you can catch Aidan playing live music on his own under the pseudonym, Ruedi Roy Wright, or with his band, The Sweet Hours. Aidan is very excited to be able to get back on the stage and do this incredible show. He would like to thank his family and friends who have continued to support and lift his artistic endeavours.
Production and Creative Teams:
Production Companies: CLASSical ACT Collective,
with the generous support of Famous Artists Limited
Producer: Bill Allman – Famous Artists Limited
Production Manager & Set Designer: Glenn MacDonald
Stage Manager: Stephen Courtenay
Assistant Stage Manager: Angeles Paz Latapi
Wardrobe Co-ordinator: Catherine Rose
Lighting Designer: Brad Trenaman
Publicist: Kathleen Gibbs – Famous Artists Limited
Graphics Designer: Michael McCray – Mike’s Creative Stuff
THE WOMAN IN BLACK is presented by special licensing arrangement with The Agency (London) Ltd.
Venue:
Jericho Arts Centre, 1675 Discovery Street, Vancouver
Pay parking and street parking available.
Show Dates and Times:
Limited Engagement – Saturday, February 18 to Sunday, March 5, 2023
Evening Performances – 7:30 pm:
Saturday, February 18 (Opening Night)
Wednesday – Saturday, February 22 through February 25
Wednesday – Saturday, March 1 through March 4
Matinee Performances – 2:00 pm:
Sunday, February 26
Sunday, March 5 (Closing Performance)
*No matinee performance on Sunday, February 19
THE WOMAN IN BLACK will run for approximately 2 hours with one intermission.
Ticket Information:
General Admission: $35.00 (plus $3.61 Eventbrite fee); Seniors (65+) and Concession: $25.00 (plus $2.96 Eventbrite fee). Tickets can be purchased online at https://womaninblackvancouver.com and/or at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-woman-in-black-vancouver-production-tickets-510289157607.
CLASSical ACT Collective Famous Artists Limited
Media release and images provided by Kathleen Gibbs, Famous Artists Limited.
