Director Tim Baker talks about To Kill A Mockingbird at Clwyd Theatr Cymru

Feb 4 2010 by Michael Green, Flintshire Chronicle

Whenever you mention a book or a play to someone who had to study it for GCSE or A level, you will often receive a groan or moan of despair in response.

That is rarely true, however, for the thousands of people across generations who have had the good fortune to pour over Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird for their exams.

The universal themes, compelling story and richly drawn characters make it one of the best-loved novels in the English language.

That affection stretched to the widely acclaimed stage version at Clwyd Theatr Cymru in Mold, which was adapted by Christopher Sergel and directed by Tim Baker 10 years ago.

Now Baker has decided to revive that production with a new cast which will also be embarking on a tour of Welsh venues after its Mold run from February 4-27.

When asked why he decided to return to his past triumph, Baker referred to the timeless quality of the material and the fact it was “such an exciting story”.

“It was also quite a radical staging of that story in that we threw out the whole notion of sets and played out all the scenes on one dusty road.

“We also decided to have the entire company on stage the whole time which was effective when you are dealing with a story about people being divided by race and colour and yet you have the whole cast working together and collaborating on stage – it was a nice counter-point.”

Although Baker was going back to a previous work, he admitted there were new challenges and it was a very different experience.

“It inevitably varies because perspectives on race and prejudice vary and, of course, we are dealing with a different cast.”

That cast is headed by Gwyn Vaughan Jones, last seen at Clwyd as Robert Melville in Terry Hands’s production of Mary Stuart, as the noble father and lawyer Atticus Finch who puts his reputation on the line when he agrees to defend poor black man Tom Robinson, who is accused of raping a white girl.

Baker admitted he was reluctant to single out any member of the cast but couldn’t resist mentioning Amy Morgan, a remarkable young actress who takes on the pivotal role of Scout, one of Atticus’ children and the narrator of the tale.

“With the audition process, some people come in and you know straight away they are not right. With Amy, as soon as she came in we knew she was the one we were looking for,” recalled Baker.

“She just blew us all away with her freshness. And with this being a first person narrative, all the way through the eye is on her and she has to be on stage talking to the audience, so you need someone who is convincing.”

Although Baker has been occupied with the build-up to tonight’s opening at Mold, the production will live on beyond its initial run with a tour that will take in places such as Swansea, Milford Haven and Aberystwyth.

He admitted the lack of sets helps moving the play from place to place.

“But most novels tend to be multi-locational,” added the man who also brought Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations to the stage. “So you would have millions of sets to move around if you tried to do it all which would get in the way.”

Baker said he has very little involvement with the production when it goes on tour.

“One of the interesting aspects of directing is that the show tends to be at its best when I’m not there!”

For booking details for the Mold run of To Kill A Mockingbird, ring the box office on 0845 330 3565 or visit www.clwyd-theatr-cymru.co.uk.