Falstaff
Adapted by Clayton Jevne from the
award winning novel by Robert Nye
Falstaff is a one-actor romp through the life of Sir John: from birth, continuing into to his eighth decade. Clayton Jevne has adapted Robert Nye’s 450-page Guardian Fiction Prize winning novel into a 60-minute journey through 15th century Britain, as we follow our hero into battles, bedrooms, and bars. Nye’s character is a finely balanced persona, combining both the comical figure of Shakespeare’s self-absorbed buffoon Falstaff, with the more subdued historic figure of Sir John Fastolf: whose extensive writings chronicled the latter part of the Hundred Years War, and from whom Shakespeare drew his inspiration. With his “warts and all,” you will get to know a bigger-than-life enigma, who appears to have seen and done it all: single-handedly winning battles, falling in and out of love and lust, hobnobbing with kings, and surviving a ghostly encounter with Joan of Arc.
This story is written for the modern ear (i.e., non-Elizabethan English), and because the show is not dependent upon prior knowledge of Shakespeare’s plays, or British history, it will appeal to anyone who is fascinated by human nature, with all its contradictions. Due to the adult themes the suggested age for attendees is 15+.
“Amazing… a very fine actor… a wonderful story teller.” CBC
“Expert pacing and animated physicality, effortlessly jumping from one character to another… the way Jevne inhabits this character solidifies this success. You can almost feel the wind in his sails.” Edmonton Journal
“Masterful… Sympathetic, without losing his bawdy edge.” Monday Magazine, Victoria
“A character we continue to love… an impressive outing.” Times Colonist, Victoria
“Masterful acting, never fell into caricature.” Coastal Spectator
“Jevne commands the stage in Falstaff, the outstanding one-man adaptation of Robert Nye’s multi-award-winning novel.” Martlet, Victoria
Photo by Giuseppe Bucolierro
Watch excerpts from the show:
Booking Falstaff
Falstaff is available for touring. “Home base” is Victoria, BC, Canada. Costs are negotiable and all enquiries are enthusiastically welcome. Please email directly: clayton@theatreinconnu.com
Photos by Bill Pope
About Clayton Jevne
Clayton has been the Artistic Director of Victoria’s (BC) Theatre Inconnu since 1978. His solo shows have been seen since 1986 in festivals across North America and in Europe. Highlights include performances at the United Solo Festival (New York City), Festival de Sinaloa (Mexico), and the Aberdeen Alternative Arts Festival (Scotland). Clayton has also been directly involved in over 130 Theatre Inconnu productions in various capacities: actor, director, designer, and general manager. For the past 15 years Clayton has taught in the University of Victoria Theatre Department. Academically he holds a BFA (acting), an MFA (directing), and a PhD (actor-training curriculum development).
Clayton Jevne acknowledges and respects the Lekwungen-speaking Peoples,
also known as the Esquimalt and Songhees Nations, on whose traditional territories
he prepares his solo creations.