Lord Strange's Men: Doctor Faustus: Press

Doctor Faustus: Publicity

Heathman's Diary: Strange Troupe Takes To Elizabethan Stage: 04 March 2005

A group of Kentish Town thespians has revived the memory of a famous Elizabethan acting troupe to stage a mixture of vibrant revivals and exciting new work. Lord Strange's Men was formed last October and puts on its first production, Christopher Marlowe's Doctor Faustus, at Islington's Rosemary Branch Theatre this week.

Founder member Ralf Collie, 33, of Torriano Avenue, said the name comes from Ferdinando Stanley - also known as Lord Strange - the patron of a talented and ambitious group of 16th century players who are believed to have been the first company to employ William Shakespeare. The troupe included the noted clown Will Kempe and Edward Alleyn and was thought to be the first to stage early works by the Bard such as Titus Andronicus and the Henry VI trilogy, as well as Marlowe's The Jew of Malta. Aside from Lord Strange's rumoured poisoning in 1594, the modern day theatre company hopes to take inspiration from the tradition of its predecessor.

Mr Collie, who plays Faustus in the production, said: 'I found them inspirational because they were the top troupe of their day, making a name for themselves performing populist new writing as it was then. They were small scale but going places. There is a tendency for Elizabethan and Jacobean plays to be approached with awe as great literature but that's not how they were originally intended - they were popular, entertaining plays and we hope our productions will be too.'

Mr Collie formed the group with fellow actor Gordon Ridout, also of Torriano Avenue, and Fortess Road resident Victoria Richardson after they met performing together. Doctor Faustus runs until March 20 2005 and tickets are available on 020 7704 6665.

© Hampstead & Highgate Express 2005 (Bridget Galton)