Sometimes you go to a show expecting it to be about a certain thing and it’s not. When this happens, it can be either irritating or an eye opener, and fortunately Macready! Dickens’ Theatrical Friend at the Jack Studio Theatre, which was not really about Charles Dickens, proved to be the latter.
Written and performed by Mark Stratford, Macready! Dickens’ Theatrical Friend is the life story of the great Victorian actor-manager William Charles Macready. Born into a theatrical family – his father, William Macready the Elder was an Irish actor manager – the one thing young William did not want to be, was an actor. In fact, his father sent him and his brother to Rugby School so that they would be gentlemen. The plan being his brother would go as an officer in the army whilst William would become a barrister. However, life rarely turns out the way you expect it, and the law’s loss was theatre’s gain when William had to leave Rugby and follow in his father’s footsteps, running his first company at the age of sixteen beginning an illustrious career that spanned five decades and 4 monarchs. And yes, he did meet and become good friends with Charles Dickens.
Stratford tells Macready’s story using a variety of methods. Part narration and part first person – which leads to him having some interesting conversations with himself – and part impersonation of the others Macready meets on his life travels. And he tells it exceptionally well. Macready is a fascinating character to begin with but in Starford’s hands he is elevated to something higher, a colossus of the theatrical arts whose influence is felt today. From your allocated seat – Macready introduced numbered seating – through to Stratford’s performance, no doubt perfected by numerous detailed rehearsals – a concept you can thank Macready for, the show is a real homage to the work of William. It’s obvious from the quality of the performance that Stratford has done his research and has a lot of affection for Macready. The set is very basic, a few chairs and a small table but it works well with Stratford weaving around, and at times standing on, the chairs as we saw the actor’s life.
Like, I’m guessing, many of the audience, I had not even heard of Macready before I went into the Jack, but eighty minutes later I left with real knowledge of this theatrical behemoth and a longing to know more.
Macready! Dickens’ Theatrical Friend is a wonderful example of a fascinating subject beautifully brought to life by an amazing writer/actor, and whilst I don’t agree with his statement “I wish I were anything rather than an actor, except a critic: let me be unhappy rather than vile,” the more I learnt of William Charles Macready, the more I loved him. Fringe theatre at its absolute finest.
Review by Terry Eastham
A universal tale of love, devotion, ambition and sacrifice, this remarkable true story captures the sheer joy, graft and tribulations of a life lived in theatre. It is a tribute to a theatrical pioneer.
With passion, humour and an array of characters, Stratford takes us on a journey through the fascinating world of Victorian theatre and the extraordinary, yet conflicted life of Macready, from his first tentative steps on stage in a tatty country theatre to his final ever performance at the mighty Drury Lane!
Written and performed by Mark Stratford
Produced by Stratford Productions
MACREADY! DICKENS’ THEATRICAL FRIEND
Jack Studio Theatre, 410 Brockley Road, London SE4 2DH
Tuesday 11 to Saturday 15 February 2025
