Company name: Foco Novo
Founders: David Aukin, Bernard Pomerance, Roland Rees
Established: 1971
Reason: To present Bernard Pomerance’s Foco Novo 1972
Current status: Disbanded 1989 when their Arts Council funding ended
Area of Work: New Writing with a particular focus on developing Black British writing amongst others
Policy: Small and middle-scale touring and London. Playing Miners Halls through the auspices of the National Union of Minerworkers, new writing by first time writers as well as new plays by experienced writers, touring Arts Centres and Regional Theatres throughout UK, and to Mickery Theatre, Amsterdam. Also, middle to large scale tours of Brecht plays. New Black writing was encouraged. After the untimely death of Alfred Fagon, one of the key black playwrights to write for Foco Novo, an award in his name was created by his friends. Roland Rees was the Chair for many years until 2009 when Winsome Pinnock took over the Chairship. The Alfred Fagon Award is now a nationally hosted annual event, to encourage new black writers. Committed to producing new work in the belief that the writer is the catalyst for theatre. Aimed to present original work to new audiences, who did not always have the opportunity to see it, by touring throughout the UK, Europe and finally to London (playing for 3 weeks at Hampstead Theatre, Royal Court Upstairs, Tricycle Theatre or Riverside Studios), into newly opened theatre spaces. We also produced plays by Bertolt Brecht, our guide for the contemporary plays we produced, highlighting Britain in the 1970s and 1980s. We featured plays by Black writers – Mustapha Matura, Tunde Ikoli, T-Bone Wilson and Alfred Fagon. It was the policy of Fovo Novo to commission plays from writers on themes instigated by the company. For example, Bloody Poetry, about Shelley & Byron, by Howard Brenton, A Seventh Man, about migrant workers, adapted by Adrian Mitchell from the book by John Berger, and Tunde Ikoli’s adaptation of Maxim Gorki’s Lower Depths.
Structure: Management structure: an unpaid Board of theatre professionals, 2 full time members of staff – Artistic Director & Administrator. All other staff employed for single productions, e.g. Designer, Actors & Production Staff. Everyone paid same wage. For a time, it was policy for companies of actors and staff to attend Board Meetings.
Based: London
Funding: Arts Council of Great Britain, with occasional grants from Greater London Council, West Midlands Arts, Southern Arts among others
Performance venues: Foco Novo opened in a double garage in Gospel Oak, a performance area known as the Roxy, and was played, with audiences’ backs against the walls – both inside the garage, on the street and on the roof, all the action accompanied by a jazz percussionist. In contrast, Nine Days and Saltley Gates played Labour movement halls up down the country, including the coalfields of South Wales, Yorkshire, Scotland and Kent – whilst we played new plays for new audiences in new Art Centres on University campuses. All tours culminated at a London Venue.
Audiences: As various as the plays but the shows were chosen/directed at particular audiences – from miners, members of Black communities, University students, Regional audiences + the usual very mixed bag of Londoners.
More images can be found of Roland Rees’ web page.
Company work and process:
The Company generated the work by choosing a story it felt compelled to tell, and by matching the writer to the project. Then followed the work of the writer on the text with input from the director, most usually, Roland Rees, through various drafts of the play. Parallel to this, he would work closely with the designer of the project. Then, armed with the manuscript, he would cast the play, often from a loose pool of actors he was used to working with , thereby producing a company style of work. In the meantime, the Administrator and Company Production Manager would be preparing the details of the tour and co-operating with the chosen venues for the play, & the final London destination. Prior to this the tour booking took many months of the Administrator’s time. He or she had to dovetail the dates, which always proved tricky, being composed of 4-6 weeks of touring the regions, & maybe playing 2-3 venues in one week. In such circumstances the set design had to be imaginatively versatile. Rehearsals lasted 4-6 weeks, depending on the size of the project & the number of cast. Most plays included live music, specially composed, such as The Ass by Mike & Kate Westbrook, & also choreography. It was a feature of the company’s work to use jazz percussion as part of some productions eg Brecht’s Edward 11. ‘Early Days’ discussion with Bernard Pomerance, David Aukin and Roland Rees.
Personal appraisal & thoughts:
During the 17 years Foco Novo received an Arts Council Grant, we were performing in a country run by a conservative government. Our ideas & work were far from & nothing to do with their prevailing values at that time. We supported Labour’s social values which were reflected in all the work we did. Some may say we consistently bit the hand that fed us, but the plays, including co-productions, were produced for the hard-working people of Britain, to reflect their interests and intentionally toured to places that didn’t even have a theatre in their area. Touring, however difficult venues might be, was always an enriching experience for us all, actors especially, and London was the carrot or prize at the end for the Company, most of whom lived in London, even if they didn’t originate there. It was important to the whole Company that we were reviewed by the national as well as regional press.
Reviews: Most of the many reviews over 17 years are held now in the Special Collections Archive of Leeds University Library. Descriptions & listings of the shows produced can be found in Roland Rees’s book, Fringe First-pioneers of Fringe Theatre on Record, published by Oberon Books.
The Elephant Man by Bernard Pomerance, first produced in 1977 by Foco Novo on tour, at Hampstead Theatre & subsequently on the Lyttelton stage, National Theatre. The play later won Tony and Obie Awards and played a long run on Broadway. UK reviews included: ‘stunning & powerful’ Times‘ … a beautiful & compulsive play’ Times ‘a deeply moving, theatrical experience’ Sunday Express ‘A great success…an extraordinary play’ Observer Mr Puntila & his Servant Matti by Bertolt Brecht: ‘this enterprising & lively touring company have since 1972 specialised in the new & unusual’ Daily Telegraph ‘Roland Rees directs an excellent Foco Novo company with suppleness, speed & punch’ Morning Star. Sink or Swim by Tunde Ikoli: ‘ offers fringe groups a lesson or two about developing theatre for the people‘ Circuit ‘witty, pacy production, a skeletal, cunning little play’ Time Out. Withdrawal Symptons by C.P.Taylor: ‘the director Roland Rees has done a magnificent job creating this highly stimulating production’ The Scotsman ‘the admirable travelling fringe group’ The Listener. Conversations in Exile adapted from Brecht by Howard Brenton: ‘splendidly & beautifully adapted’ Birmingham Post, ‘excellent acting partnership’ City Limits ‘a truly dialectical challenge … Recommended’ Time Out ‘a rare treat’ – Bristol Evening Post
Productions:
| PRODUCTION NAME | VENUES | DATES |
|---|---|---|
| Foco Novo Writer: Bernard Pomerance Director: Roland Rees Cast: Glen Beck, Stephen Bradley, Percussion: Nigel Morris Lighting: Dick Johson Laura Esterman, Mona Hammond, Oscar James, Neil Johnston, Judy Monahan, Richard Pendrey Bernard Sterlin | The Roxy Oval House | 1972 |
| Drums in the Night Writer: Bertolt Brecht adaptation: C.P. Taylor Director: Roland Rees Cast: Irene Bradshaw, Bill Hoyland, Petra Markham, Ken Morley, Brenda Polan, Stephen Rea, Andy Smith Designer: Moshe Mussman Music: Andy Smith | Traverse Theatre Edinburgh Festival Hampstead Theatre | 1973 |
| Cock Artist Writer: Fassbinder Director: Roland Rees Designer: Norman Coates | Almost Free Theatre | 1974 |
| Death of a Black Man Writer: Alfred Fagon Director: Roland Rees Cast: Mona Hammond, Gregory Munroe, Anton Phillips Designer: Bernard Culshaw | Hampstead Theatre | 1975 |
| A Man’s A Man Writer: Bertolt Brecht adaptation: Bernard Pomerance Director: Ronald Rees Cast: Dave Brown, Jack Chissick, Alan Hulse, Terry Jackson, Stefan Kalipha, Peter Marinker, Jestyn Phillips, John Salthouse, Sheila Reid, Tricia Thorns Designer: Di Seymour Music: Dave Brown | UK tour Hampstead Theatre | 1975 |
| The Arthur Horner Show Writer: Phil Woods Director: Roland Rees Cast: Kevin Costello, Carl Davis, Pat Gerrard, Stafford Gordan, Alan Hulse, Paul Teague | UK tour | 1975 |
| The Nine Days and Saltley Gates Writer: Jon Chadwick and John Hoyland Directors: Jon Chadwick, Roland Rees Cast: Aviva Goldkorn, Stuart Golland, Ian Heywood, Alan Hulse,Terry Jackson, Stewart Preston, Mary Sheen, Robin Summers, Gareth Williams Designer: Central School of Art | UK tour Oval House ICA | 1976 |
| A Seventh Man Writer: adapted from John Berger's book by Adrian Mitchell Director: Roland Rees Cast: DaveBrown, Aviva Goldkorn, Stafford Gordon, Alan Hulse, Terry Jackson, Stefan Kalipha, Joan-Ann Maynard, Paddy O’Hagan, Stewart Preston Designer: Ralph Steadman Costumes: Sheelagh Killeen Music: Dave Brown | UK tour Hampstead Theatre | 1976 |
| Tighten Your Belt Writer: Jon Chadwick and John Hoyland Director: Jon Chadwick Cast: David Bradford, Aviva Goldkorn, Tony Gower, Sue Glanville, Carrie Lee-Baker, Maureen Sullivan, Colin Tarrant Designer: Sarah Pualley Music: John Greaves | UK tour Oval House | 1977 |
| The Elephant Man Writer: Bernard Pomerance Director: Roland Rees Cast: David Allister, Arthur Blake, Judy Bridgeland, Ken Dury, William Hoyland, David Schofield, Jenny Stoller Designer: Tanya McCallin Music: Pat Arrowsmith Lighting: Alan O’Toole | UK tour Hampstead Theatre | 1977 |
| Withdrawal Symptoms Writer: C.P.Taylor Director: Roland Rees Cast: Anne Godley, Mary Maddox, Anthony May, Anthony Milner, Anthony O’Donnel, Gordon Reid, Rowena Roberts Designer: Adrian Vaux | UK tour ICA | 1978 |
| On the Out Writer: Tunde Ikoli Director: John Chapman Cast: Michael Feast, Alan Ighon, Ade Ikoli, Hugh Kwachi, Lynn Pearson, William Murray, Roderick Smith, William Vanderpuye Designer: Caroline Beaver | UK tour Bush Theatre | 1978 |
| The Free Fall Writer: Colin Mortimer Director: Roland Rees Cast: Peter Acre, Beth Ellis, Chris Hallam, Sharman McDonald, Tim Myers, Maggie Shevlin, Peter Wright Designer: Tanya McCallin | UK tour ICA | 1978 |
| Independence Writer: Mustapha Matura Director: Roland Rees Cast: Malcolm Fredericks, Michael Howard, Mary Jones, Stefan Kalipha, Shope Shoedeinde, Ewart James Walters Designer: Adrian Vaux Lighting: Chris Ellis | UK tour Bush | 1979 |
| Landscape of Exile Writer: David Zane Mairowitz Director: Roland Rees Cast: Martin Black, Jeff Chiswick, Michelle Copsey, Carl Davis, David Hargreave, Michael Howard, Vera Jakob, Brigitte Kahn, Joseph Peters, John Phillips, Frances de la Tour Designer: Iona McLeish Lighting: John Halle | Half Moon Theatre | 1979 |
| The Guise Writer: David Mowat Director: Roland Rees Cast: Cliff Burnett, Andrew Berezowski, Carl Davis, Ken Drury, Caroline Hutchison, Neil Johnston, Tom Marshall, Michael McVey Designer: Adrian Vaux Music: Cliff Burnett Lighting: Chris Ellis | UK tour Royal Court, Theatre Upstairs | 1979 |
| Woyzeck Writer: Georg Buchner Translation: Peter Hulton Director: Neil Johnston Cast: Ken Bones, Andrew Berezowski, Jack Elliot, Nigel Harris, Karl Johnson, Jill Richards, Gwyneth Strong, John Vine Designer: Alberto Bali Lighting: Gerry Jenkinson | UK tour Lyric Studio, Hammersmith | 1980 |
| Please Shine Down On Me Writer: Olwen Wymark Director: Roland Rees Cast: Sheila Burrell, Alan Devlin, David Howey, Veronica Quilligan, Pauline Munro, James Saxon Designer: Iona McLeish Lighting: Peter O’Toole | UK tour Royal Court, Theatre Upstairs | 1980 |
| Quantrill in Lawrence Writer: Bernard Pomerance Director: Roland Rees Cast: Ron Cook, Don Fellows, Penny Fischer, Eugene Lipinski, Dan Meaden, Patrick Moore, Richard Moore, Joe Praml, Mary Ellen Ray, David Shofield, Harold Saks, Joi Staton, Dikran Tulaine Designer: Iona McLeish Lighting: Gerry Jenkinson | ICA | 1980 |
| Citizen Ilyushin Writer: Kevin Mandry Director: Roland Rees Cast: Carl Forgione, Dione Inman, Richard Kane, Maureen O’Brien, Reginald Stewart, Jenny Stoller Designer: Bernard Culshaw Lighting: Alan O’Toole | Tricycle Theatre | 1981 |
| Snap Writer: Nigel Gearing Director: Roland Rees Cast: Johnathan Burn, Lucinda Curtis, Oliver Ford Davies, Colette Hillier Designer: Adrian Vaux Costumes: Sheelagh Killeen Music: Steve A'dor Lighting: Alan O'Toole | UK tour New End Theatre | 1981 |
| Edward II Writer: Bertolt Brecht Director: Roland Rees Cast: James Castle, David Dixon, Ian Hogg, Karl Howman, John Joyce, Roderic Leigh, Billy McColl, Vincent McLaren, Beth Morris, Matthew Scurfield, Reg Stewart, Robin Summers, Dorien Thomas Designer: Adrian Vaux Lighting Gerry Jenkinson Percussion: Eddie Sayer | UK tour Hampstead Theatre | 1982 |
| Sink or Swim Writer: Tunde Ikoli Director: Roland Rees Cast: Brian Bovell, Janet Key, Trevor Laird, Pat Leach, Tony London, Mary Zuckerman Designer: David McHenry | UK tour Tricycle Theatre | 1982 |
| Conversations in Exile Writer: Bertolt Brecht adapted Howard Brenton & Four Hundred Pounds Writer: Alfred Fagon Director: Roland Rees Cast: Gordon Case, Stefan Kalipha Designer: Wallace Heim Lighting: Ace McCarron | UK tour Royal Court, Theatre Upstairs | 1982 |
| Mr Puntila and His Servant Matti Writer: Bertolt Brecht Director: Roland Rees Cast: Dallas Cavell, Kim Clifford, Craig Crosbie, Sara-Heliane Elliot, Carol Harrison, Anna Manahan, Bunny May, Penny Ryder, Barry Stanton, Robin Summers, Charles Wegner, Peter Wyatt Designer: Peter Hartwell Lighting: Andy Phillips Costume: Sheelagh Killeen | UK tour Tricycle Theatre | 1983 |
| Sleeping Policemen Writers: Tunde Ikoli and Howard Brenton Director: Roland Rees Cast: Carrie Lee-Baker, Trevor Butler, Craig Crosbie, Alfred Fagon, Mary Ellen Ray, Ella Wilder Designer: Wallace Heim Lighting: Dick Johnson | UK tour Royal Court, Theatre Upstairs | 1983 |
| Black Mas Writer: John Constable Director: Roland Rees Cast: Trevor Butler, Carol Harrison, Ian Reddington, James Snell Designer: Peter Whiteman Costume: Sheelagh Killeen Lighting: Steve Whitson | UK tour New End, Hampstead | 1984 |
| Bloody Poetry Writer: Howard Brenton Director: Roland Rees Cast: James Aubrey, Sue Burton, William Gaminara, Jane Gurnett, Valentine Pelka, Fiona Shaw Designer: Poppy Mitchell Costume: Sheelagh Killeen Lighting: Richard Moffatt | UK tour Hampstead Theatre | 1984 |
| Deathwatch Writer: Jean Genet Director: Roland Rees Cast: Sean Bean, Jimmy Chisholm, Garry Lilburne, Vicenzo Ricotta Designer: Andrea Montag Lighting: Richard Moffatt Music: Andrew Dickson | UK tour Young Vic | 1985 |
| Week In, Week Out Writer: Tunde Ikoli Director: Tim Fywell Cast: Peter Attard, Maria Charles, Harry Perscy, Debbie Roza, Cindy Shelley, Larrington Walker Designer: Bunny Christie | London tour | 1985 |
| The Ass Writer: D.H. Lawrence devised/composed, Mike & Kate Westbrook Director: Roland Rees Cast: Trevor Allan, Stephen Boxer, Lesia Melnyk, Kate Westbrook, Mike Westbrook, Peter Whyman Designer: Ariane Gastambide Choreography: Pat Garrett Lighting: Richard Moffatt | Riverside Studios | 1985 |
| The Lower Depths Writer: Tunde Ikoli from Gorky Director: Roland Rees Cast: Maria Charles, Ram John Holder, Joy Lemoine, Janet Palmer, Robin Summers, Rudolph Walker, Sylvester Williams, Colin Tarrant, Tilly Vosburgh Designer: Tanya McCallin Lighting: Richard Moffatt | UK tour Tricycle Theatre | 1986 |
| Banged Up Writer: Tunde Ikoli Director: Roland Rees Cast: Trevor Laird, Tilly Vosburgh Designer: Andrea Montag Lighting: Richard Moffatt | UK tour Young Vic | 1986 |
| Needles of Light Writer: James Pettifer Director: Roland Rees Cast: Martin Gower, Harry Landis, Richard Mayes, Stephen Oxsley, Gengiz Saner, Dorien Thomas, Hilary Townley Designer: Ariane Gastambide Choreography: Pat Garrett Lighting: Richard Moffatt Music Director: Robin Canter | UK tour Riverside Studios | 1987 |
| The Cape Orchard Writer: Michael Picardie Director: Roland Rees Cast: Norman Beaton, Claire Benedict, Pauline Black, Naomi Buch, Joseph Charles Designer: Norman Coates Lighting: Richard Moffatt | UK tour Young Vic | 1987 |
| Savannah Bay Writer: Marguerite Duras Director: Sue Todd Cast: Faith Brook, Alexandra Mathie Designer: Iona McLeish Lighting: Geraint Pughe | London tour | 1988 |
Interviewee reference: Roland Rees
Links: Roland Rees (website under construction)
Existing archive material: Leeds University Library – Special Collections
Bibliography:
Fringe First – Pioneers of Fringe Theatre on Record by Roland Rees (Oberon 1992)
Acknowledgements: We would like to thank, and are greatly indebted to, Roland Rees (co-founder) for his generous time in writing up and helping us draw together the above material to create the Foco Novo page, 2010 – 2011. Page created by Jessica Higgs. 2010