An early screwball comedy, written by Shakespeare’s contemporary Francis Beaumont, The Knight Of The Burning Pestle is set to bring as much laughter to Shakespeare’s Globe’s new indoor theatre the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse as the venue’s first production, The Duchess Of Malfi, brought horror.
With its tale of a play being gatecrashed by a grocer’s apprentice who wants to be a knight, Beaumont’s comedy is one of English theatre’s first pastiches, poking fun at chivalric romance. Who better to star in it than Pauline McLynn, the actress who is still best known for her outstanding giggle-inducing work as Mrs Doyle in TV comedy Father Ted.
The production begins previews later this month. But before audiences lay eyes on the production proper, we can give you a taste of what McLynn and fellow cast members including Phil Daniels, Alex Waldmann and Paul Rider have been up to in the rehearsal room.