Exactly four hundred years ago, in 1611, a group of scholars gathered together in the Jerusalem Chamber at Westminster Abbey to finalise their translation of the King James Version of the Bible (KJV). Subsequent centuries have seen this book become one of the most significant works of literature in the English language. To celebrate the publication of this remarkable text, Westminster Abbey has teamed up with the Bush Theatre to create a unique, intimate and highly theatrical event.
In The Beginning will see audience members taken, in intimate groups, on an extraordinary journey round the Abbey – accessing areas that are rarely open to the public and at a time when it is usually closed to visitors. Each group will be led on a journey by one of the country’s most exciting established or emerging actors. As you travel round the building, an ensemble of performers will read carefully chosen extracts from the KJV which will cast a fresh and surprising light on the Abbey itself. This one off event will be a uniquely exciting way to experience an historic place and an historic text.
Co-directed by Josie Rourke and Christopher Haydon, in conjunction with the Dean and Chapter of Westminster
Christopher studied at Cambridge University and trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama, the National Theatre Studio and with Cicely Berry at the RSC. In 2007 he was the recipient of both the inaugural Chichester Festival Theatre Heller Fellowship and the Channel Four Theatre Director’s Bursary to spend a year on attachment at the Salisbury Playhouse. He is the Associate Director of On Theatre.
As a director, theatre includes: Wittenberg (Gate Theatre), Pressure Drop (On Theatre/Wellcome Collection), A Safe Harbour for Elizabeth Bishop (Southbank Centre) Monsters (Arcola Theatre May 2009), A Number (Salisbury Playhouse): Grace (British Council/On Theatre, Theatre Du Poche, Brussels, Belgium): Notes from Underground (Arcola Theatre).
As assistant director, theatre includes Macbeth starring Patrick Stewart (Chichester Festival Theatre and West End), Twelfth Night (Chichester Festival Theatre), Othello, Touched, What the Butler Saw, Robin Hood (Salisbury Playhouse), On Religion (Soho Theatre/On Theatre), The Desire Tree (Oxford Playhouse/Tumanishvili Theatre, Tbilisi, Georgia) The Found Man (Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh).
He is also an award winning journalist and has written for The Financial Times, The Scotsman, Prospect Magazine, and The Guardian (online). He is co-editor of the books Conversations on Religion and Conversations on Truth both published by Continuum and Identity and Identification Published by Black Dog/Wellcome Collection.
Josie is the Artistic Director of the Bush Theatre.
Josie trained with directors Peter Gill, Michael Grandage, Nicholas Hytner, Phyllida Lloyd and Sam Mendes. Before coming to the Bush she worked for five years as a freelance director and was the Associate Director of Sheffield Theatres and Trainee Associate Director at the Royal Court.
At the Royal Court she directed CRAZYBLACKMUTHFUCKIN'SELF by Deobia Oparei and LOYAL WOMEN by Gary Mitchell. At Sheffield, she directed WORLD MUSIC and THE UNTHINKABLE by Steve Waters; MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, THE LONG AND THE SHORT AND THE TALL by Willis Hall and KICK FOR TOUCH by Peter Gill. She was the tour director of THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES by Eve Ensler. At the Young Vic, she directed MY DAD'S A BIRDMAN by David Almond. For the Royal Shakespeare Company she directed BELIEVE WHAT YOU WILL and KING JOHN (RSC Complete Works). She has directed the 24HOUR PLAYS at The Old Vic Theatre and in New York. For the Donmar Warehouse Josie has directed FRAME 312 by Keith Reddin, WORLD MUSIC by Steve Waters and THE CRYPTOGRAM by David Mamet. For The Bush, Josie has directed HOW TO CURSE by Ian McHugh, TINDERBOX by Lucy Kirkwood, APOLOGIA by Alexi Kaye Campbell, 2,000 FEET AWAY and LIKE A FISHBONE by Anthony Weigh. Recent work outside the Bush includes TWELFTH NIGHT and THE TAMING OF THE SHREW for Chicago Shakespeare Company and MEN SHOULD WEEP at the National Theatre. Forthcoming work includes MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING at the Wyndham’s Theatre.
Nick Payne’s theatre credits include If There Is I Haven’t Found It Yet (Bush Theatre, London, and Roundabout Theatre Company, New York; winner of the 2009 George Devine Award for Most Promising Playwright), Wanderlust (Royal Court Theatre, London), Sophocles’ Electra (Gate Theatre, London), Lay Down Your Cross (Hampstead Theatre Downstairs, London), Constellations (Royal Court Theatre, London, and Duke of York’s, London; winner of the 2012 Evening Standard Theatre Award for Best Play, nominated for 2013 Olivier Awards Best New Play), The Same Deep Water As Me (Donmar Warehouse, London; nominated for 2014 Olivier Awards Best New Comedy) and Blurred Lines (The Shed, National Theatre, London).
Television credits include The Secrets.
Film credits include The Sense of an Ending and Nora.
Radio credits include How I Learned to Drive, Ten Lessons in Love, The City is at a Standstill, The Day We Caught the Train. In 2010, Nick was the Pearson Playwright-in-Residence at the Bush Theatre. In 2012, he was the recipient of the Harold Pinter Playwright’s Award, supporting a new commission from the Royal Court Theatre.
Theatre includes: Hedda Gabler (Gate Theatre Dublin); Much Ado About Nothing, The Voysey Inheritance The Life of Galilio, Luther, The Shape of the Table, Racing Demon and, most recently, Women Beware Women (National Theatre); Gaslight, King Lear, The Provok’D Wife, Cloud Nine, Waste (all Old Vic); As You Like It (Wyndhams); As You Desire Me (Playhouse); The Sugar Syndrome, Disappeared, Search & Destroy and Weldon Rising (Royal Court); Burning Issues (Hampstead); Certain Young Men and Butterfly Kiss (Almeida); A Letter of Resignation (Savoy); Our Late Night (Ambassadors); Don Carlos (Glasgow Citizens).
Television includes: The Suspicions of Mr Whicher, Above Suspicion, Personal Affairs, Men are Wonderful, Place of Execution, Heartbeat, Lawless, Hear the Silence, Charles II, Starhunter, Ultimate Force, Dalziel & Pasco, Murder Rooms, Hearts & Bones, Harbor Lights, Gimme Gimme Gimme, Nature Boy, Kavanagh QC, Degrees of Error, Seaforth, Headhunters, Prime Suspect III, Between the Lines, Underbelly, Wish Me Luck and Hannay.
Film includes: Hypnotic, The Count of Monte Cristo and Regeneration.
Theatre for the Bush includes: 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover.
Other theatre includes: Stacy (Trafalgar Studios); On The Ceiling (Garrick); Billy Liar (ATG); Notes on Falling Leaves, Presence (Royal Court).
TV includes: Married Single Other, Massive, Miss Marple, Robin Hood, Heartbeat, The Royle Family, Brief Encounters, Two Pints of Lager & A Packet of Crisps, The Eustace Bros, Pear Shaped North Face of the Eiger, Paradise Heights, The Bill, Always & Everyone, Flint Street Nativity, Bostockis Cup.
Film includes: Powder, Telstar, The Waiting Room, Frozen, 24 Hour Party People, Al’s Lads.
