Keepers of the Flame


Keepers of the Flame, a new play by Sean O'Brien. Live Theatre, in association with the Royal Shakespeare Company, 4th to 30th November, 2003. Box Office, 01912321232

(Part of the RSC Newcastle Season - 4th November to 6th December 2003)

Richard Jameson was an extreme right-wing English poet of the 1930s. A member of the British Fascist Party, he narrowly escaped execution in World War Two. Jameson is now and old widower living in the ruins of a great house on the Northumberland coast, writing his memoirs and awaiting death. But enemies past and present are closing in...a grim, exciting tale of love, death, art and politics.

Keepers of the Flame

Publicity Announcement from Live Theatre:

Hello from Live Theatre!

As the summer makes a final curtain bow, autumn has arrived at Live with a wide range of theatre, comedy and music to keep you entertained over the coming months.

Alan Howard performs at Live Theatre

We are really pleased to be able to announce that Alan Howard, one of the country's finest and longest serving actors is to play the lead role in our main autumn production, Keepers of the Flame written by Sean O'Brien. Alan has been an actor for over 45 years and has appeared in over 30 productions with the RSC. His most recent TV appearance was during the August bank holiday in the BBC's adaptation of PD James' Death By Holy Orders. Also appearing in this new play, which is being co-produced by the Royal Shakespeare Company, will be actors well known to many of you; Trevor Fox - too many Live credits to mention! - but recently, Double Lives, ne1 and Bones, Deka Walmsley, last seen in 2002 in both Bones and NOIR and Donald McBride who also has a long association with Live, last seen in Tales From The Backyard and The Last Post . Also appearing will be David Rintoul who is currently starring in the new ITV drama Sweet Medicine.


Keepers of the Flame

Presented by Live Theatre & the RSC
Written by Sean O'Brien
Directed by Max Roberts

When you bargain with the devil there's a high price to pay.

In pre-war Britain the spectre of a chilling national 'idealism' is rising and people are taking sides. A young poet, Richard Jameson, falls in love and is caught up in a powerful struggle which will cost him everything - fame, freedom, happiness and poetry itself. Fifty years on, Jameson is haunted by the past. In the seclusion of his remote outpost, guilt by association and the memories of a betrayal too terrible to name flood back as he waits for absolution or death.

Keepers of the Flame is a nightmarish tale of love, power, treason and secret history.

Sean O'Brien is an award winning poet, playwright and critic. He was a writer in residence at Live in 2001/2 and has written two plays for the company, Laughter When We're Dead (2000) and From The Underworld (part of Double Lives - 2002). He has twice won the Forward Prize for Best Poetry Collection. In 2002 he adapted Aristophanes' The Birds for The National Theatre.

Tuesday 4 - Sunday 30 November
No performances on Mondays and Tuesdays (except Tuesday 4 November)
All evening performances at 8pm
Matinees on Thursday 13 & Saturday 22 November at 2pm
Sunday performances are Pay What You Like and start at 4pm
Tickets are not available for PWYL until 24 hours before the performance
Signed performances tbc

Tickets: £12/8 concs Tuesday - Thursday and both matinees £14/10 concs Friday & Saturday evenings
Pay What You Like on Sunday 9, 16, 23 & 30 November

The RSC and Theatre Royal Newcastle are presenting six other productions in the city as part of the 2003 season.


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