While still at primary school, the intrepid Hannah Quigley sent her ‘The Magic Sweet Shop’ script off to the BBC, no doubt with dreams of all those dreams that young go-getters have. What she got back was ‘an encouraging response and lots of signed photos and stickers,’ which was still enough motivation for Hannah to never give up on her dream, writes Michael Holland.
Growing up on the Rockingham Estate before moving to the first Coin Street Housing Co-op, where an environment of the National Theatre, Old and Young Vic on her doorstep kept those early dreams alive, she says, in a rush of enthusiasm, ’I took part in performing arts workshops on Saturdays at the Southbank Centre, and by the time I was 14, my older siblings were doing Saturday catering jobs at the National Theatre so I was able to get free tickets to see shows. She stopped to take in air. ‘ I saw Robert Lepage’s “A Midsummers Night Dream”- the design was exciting with lots of mud on the Olivier stage, and Timothy Spall as Bottom was really fun!’ Okay. ‘I also saw the very compelling Antony Sher in ‘The Irresistible Rise of Arturo Ui’’ also in the same theatre.’ I tried to interject with another question but I was tacitly denied. ‘Those productions were a great introduction to theatre, as well as Machinal at the Young Vic, which I saw on a school visit.’ Any thoughts of stopping this young woman from SE1 in her tracks were pointless. ‘All of those productions really engaged and drew me into the worlds they were creating.’
Hannah had gone silent and I knew it was so all her words could sink in.
They sunk in. This was someone who had been hooked by theatre. At sixth form, Hannah studied Performing Art and Theatre Studies and it was there that she realised she was more interested in directing than acting.
After graduating from university she put herself out there getting work experience to build up her knowledge and skills in the National Theatre and the Young Vic. ‘There are so many different routes through which I could learn and navigate,’ she recalls.
Since then, Hannah has not only co-directed a Nicholas Nickleby in Hong Kong but, as she tells me, ‘had a run of “firsts” as a director, which was all amazing, as I learnt so much and was working with so many great people, from directing my first promenade theatre, directing my first tour that went into schools and first audio drama.’
And there was also an Oliver Twist national tour that Covid put an end to: ‘It was a great production that celebrated the work of Deaf and Disabled people on and off the stage, which is something that I am really passionate about,’ she remembers sadly.
But now Hannah is back in her own postcode to direct Marvin’s Binoculars at the Unicorn Theatre. I asked what got her back. ‘When I first read the script I really connected to the themes in the play, such as the grief of a young child losing a family member, as this was something my nephew had been going through himself. He also had a strong affinity with nature and the natural world which Marvin has, as well as also living in a city. So I think I generally bring a sensitivity to working with emotional themes which is really important when working with people and young audiences.’
The play tells this tale according to the press release: “Marvin loves exploring all the parks around his home in London and finding birds, bugs and animals. On his ninth birthday, he’s overjoyed – his very own pair of grown up, pro binoculars! But then something terrible happens: he loses them, and to get them back, he must face the intimidating park warden.”
And Hannah will be looking for the best for all those involved: ‘The key to my approach is ensuring that everyone who is working on this production is supported to do their best work… I am particularly excited that we have a range of accessible performances for Marvin’s Binoculars from British Sign Language interpreted, captioned, relaxed and socially distanced. Additionally, that we have considered audio description within the writing of the piece and have audio description of the characters and design available on the website… I really hope that a wide range of families and schools have the opportunity to experience this play, which is rich in its theatricality, design, characters and story. We have just had our first preview this half term and it was such a joy to have children and parents engaging with the beautiful range of themes that the piece explores.’
And after Marvin’s Binoculars? ‘I am developing an outdoor site-specific piece that connects to my local community in SE1. I want to bring stories out on to the street to surprise and connect to the creativity inside so many people.’
Unicorn Theatre 147 Tooley Street, London SE1 2HZ until July 3rd.
£6 – £12 under 18s / £12 – £18 adults (concs £3 off )
Booking: www.unicorntheatre.com – Box Office: 020 7645 0560
