Beryl (Modern Plays)

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If she was a man, everybody would know about her," said actor Maxine Peake, who has written Beryl, a four-hander which will open at the West Yorkshire Playhouse at the end of this month. (An eight-wheeler, really, because all of the characters are on bikes.) The play began life on the radio with Peake in the main role. She had been given Burton's biography as a gift from her art director boyfriend, Pawlo.

Burton received limited fame in Britain, but was revered in continental Europe. According to the foreword to her memoirs, a Frenchman once wrote: "If Beryl Burton had been French, Joan of Arc would have to take second place."Peake, who has received acclaim for her roles in the BBC's Silk and The Village, does not share the UCI's view that women should feel grateful this year to be allowed to race just one stage of the Tour – a circuit around Paris after the men have finished. It's a concession made only after the organisers came under pressure from women including Britain's Chrissie Wellington, multiple winner of the World Iron Man triathlon event. And you need that encouragement, especially for women. We can feel a bit self-conscious sometimes and a bit judged. Cycling can seem very male-dominated and sometimes women might not feel completely comfortable, or feel it’s too competitive.” Maxine Peake to star as Nico in play about the singer's 'dark side' ". The Independent. 8 March 2019. Archived from the original on 12 May 2022 . Retrieved 8 March 2019.

Written by actress Maxine Peake, Beryl tells the remarkable true story of unsung champion cyclist Beryl Burton. This inspirational tour-de-force is fuelled by rhubarb, northern charm and fierce determination. Clapp, Susannah (12 July 2015). "The Skriker review – extraordinarily prescient". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 23 December 2015 . Retrieved 23 December 2015. Peake stars as Miss Fozzard in the 2020 BBC remake of Talking Heads, recreating a role originally played by Patricia Routledge. [39] [40] Personal life [ edit ] Peake's writing is full of funny and caring moments, which are all realised by the cast with dedication ... it is impossible to puncture the play's warmth” – BroadwayWorld UKa b c Mitchison, Amanda (15 May 2010). "Maxine Peake: The Misfit". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 7 June 2014 . Retrieved 4 June 2014. A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE - Royal Exchange Theatre". Archived from the original on 10 August 2016 . Retrieved 21 June 2016. Maxine’s play is very much about Beryl competing against herself. Suffering with health problems in childhood and then discovering she had a heart arrhythmia and told that sport would not be possible for her. Heward, Emily (5 March 2015). "MIF15: Maxine Peake to face one of 'most challenging' roles yet in The Skriker". Manchester Evening News. Archived from the original on 14 April 2015 . Retrieved 8 April 2015. In January 2016 Peake featured in the Climate Coalition's short film I Wish For You as Mia, with Jeremy Irons starring as her grandfather, to highlight the urgency of combating climate change. [44] Jeremy Corbyn and Maxine Peake walking together in the procession through the village at the Tolpuddle Martyrs' Festival and Rally 2016

Elizabeth Twells's credits include The Importance of Being Ernest for Octagon Theatre Bolton, Death of a Salesman and My White Best Friend for Royal Exchange Theatre Manchester and Holes for Nottingham Playhouse. Peake joined the Octagon Youth Theatre in Bolton at the age of 13, before a period at the youth theatre of the Royal Exchange in Manchester. She later did a two-year performing arts course at the Salford College of Technology. [5] During this time she appeared in productions with two leading amateur theatre companies in Bolton: The Marco Players and The Phoenix Theatre Company. Peake was a member of the Communist Party of Britain Salford branch in her youth. [6] In her teens, Peake played for Wigan Ladies rugby league team. [7]

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Hope has started to grow': Maxine Peake on Corbyn, people power and Peterloo's radical legacy". TheGuardian.com. 17 October 2018.