Beyond Reasonable Doubt
Written by Jeffrey Archer
Directed by Ian Macdonald
20 – 25 February 1995
Jeffrey Archer’s first stage play. In the Central Criminal Court, the Old Bailey, Sir David Metcalfe, distinguished QC and Chairman of the Bar Council, is conducting the most important defense of his career – his own. Accused of the willful murder of his terminally ill wife, Sir David finds himself locked in legal combat with his old rival, Sir Anthony Blair Booth QC, prosecuting counsel. After a tense and gripping courtroom scene, Act I ends just as we are about to hear the jury’s verdict. Act II takes us back in time to the fateful night of Lady Metcalf’s death and before, and the play ends with a surprising twist.
Cast
Court Usher – Eric White
Clerk of the Court – Fiona McGahren
Mr Justice Tredwell – Mike Rand
Anthony Blair-Booth QC – Roger Butler
Detective Chief Inspector Travers – Barrie Richardson
Sir David Metcalfe – Colin Bailey
Prison Officer – Bob Gritton
Mrs Rogers – Shelley Peters
Dr Weeden – Clive Spinks
Lionel Hamilton
Mr Cole (Junior Counsel for the Crown) – Ian Humphreys
Robert Pierson (Junior Counsel with Sir David) – Tim Treloar
Stenographer – Marcia Stephens
Lady Metcalfe – Jean Spinks
Crew
Stage Managers – Colin Burring, Eric White
Assistant Stage Manager – Betty Bailey
Lighting – Alan Hunt
Properties – Pauline Ellard
Wardrobe – Marjorie Sawyer
Sound – Tom Bramall
Set Design and Construction – Colin Burring
Set builders – Bob Gritton, Eric White, Len Huntley, Bill Brookes, Matt Stevens
Set decorators – Sam Cove, Polly Owen, Joanne Dunham