C NOVA STUDIO 2 31 July – 26 August (excluding 12 August) time 21:50 (1hr) Ticket prices £8.50 – £10.50 / Concessions £6.50- £7.50
A Bearded Theatre Production: The State versus John Hayes: Written & performed by Lucy Roslyn
Director: Richard Warren; Lighting Designer: Tracy Mathewson; Musical Director: Joe Bennett
Bearded Theatre Company make their Edinburgh Fringe Festival debut with the world première of Lucy Roslyn’s The State Versus John Hayes. The production opens at Studio 2 C Nova on 31 July and runs until 26 August.
A charismatic female killer and her powerful male alter ego, John Hayes. A one woman show.
Huntsville Prison, Texas, 1959. Elyese Dukie is on Death Row for the murder of two people. On what may be her last night she reveals what she won’t tell the court or the string of psychiatrists they’ve sent to diagnose her. Seductress, or psychopath? Murderer, or victim? Electric chair or psychiatric hospital? Elyese Dukie, or John Hayes?
A striking psychological thriller laced with dark humour, raw pain and real poignancy. The State Versus John Hayes is based on extensive research into real-life female American killers, and their lives on Death Row.
The State Versus John Hayes is Lucy Roslyn’s first piece of writing for the theatre. Inspired by a quote from Daphne du Maurier’s novel Rebecca: “It doesn’t make for sanity, does it, living with the devil?” Roslyn set out to explore the idea of a seductive psychopath. What makes them tick and what makes them so attractive? A fascinating exploration into the psychological forces that collide to make one woman kill.
Lucy Roslyn is 2008 Graduate of Drama Studio London. Recent credits include: Mr Happiness and The Water Engine (Old Vic Tunnels); Money Vs Happiness (Nu:write Festival Zagreb and Battersea Art Centre); Jonny and The Baptists (playing Alto Saxophone), and Blind Eye, the world’s first interactive 3D advert, nominated for three Creative Circle Awards.
Bearded Theatre Company is a collaboration between Lucy Roslyn, Jamie Firth, Victoria Turton Blyth and Richard Warren. It is dedicated to the writing and devising of new work for theatre. Supporting The State Versus John Hayes at Edinburgh will be its first established venture. It is currently in development on the next play.
John graduated from Telford College in 2010 with an HNC in Practical Journalism and since then he worked for the North Edinburgh News, The Southern Reporter, the Irish News Review and The Edinburgh Reporter. In addition he has been published in the Edinburgh Evening News and the Hibernian FC Programme.
An incredible piece of writing perfectly executed by a very talented actress. I was lucky enough to meet Lucy after the show and she was so gracious, friendly and humble that it only increased my admiration for her talent. If you get a chance to see anything she does GO! I wish her all the best with her future career.
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