Born in London in 1927, Albert Bermel was a playwright, theatre critic, translator and academic who settled in the United States in 1955. He taught theatre and film at several American universities, becoming Professor of Theatre at the City University of New York, and received both a Guggenheim Fellowship in playwriting and the George Jean Nathan Award for Dramatic Criticism. His influential critical studies included Artaud’s Theatre of Cruelty and books on Molière, Shakespeare and Carlo Gozzi; he also translated numerous French plays. 

The Questors presented two of his plays in successive New Plays Festivals: The Workout in 1963 and One Leg over the Wrong Wall in 1964. Bermel died in New York in 2013.

.

THE PLAY

The destruction of the rearguard of Charlemagne's Frankish army in the pass of Roncesvalles in the Pyrenees and the death of its commander, Roland, have been famous in song and legend for nearly twelve centuries. Albert Bermel takes (some of) the historical facts and gives them a new twist and a modern interpretation in this racy, witty and gripping piece, written for performance in present day dress. 

An earlier version of the play was produced for a single, Sunday night performance at the Royal Court Theatre in 1960, with music by Thea Musgrave.

THE DIRECTOR

The television and film director Alan Clarke, who died in 1990, is best remembered for his gritty portrayal of the British working class in films like SCUM (1979) and RITA, SUE AND BOB TOO!(1987) and for his many key drama productions for BBC and ITV. 

But we remember him best for his contributions to the life of our theatre between 1962 and 1966. These were crucial years for The Questors, and Alfred Emmet recalled long and stimulating discussions with Alan about where the theatre in general, and The Questors in particular, was going or should go.

In Fond Memory of Alan Clarke (including a list of his Questors Productions)