Volpone - the Fox - Graham Collier

(M, middle-aged). The play's title character is its protagonist, though an inconsistent one. He is first an instrument and then a victim of Jonson's satire of money-obsessed society. He is an instrument of it because it is through his ingenuity and cleverness that the legacy hunters are duped and he seems to share in Jonson's satiric interpretation of the events. But the satire eventually turns back on him, when he becomes a victim of Mosca's fox-trap. The reason he is ensnared by Mosca is that he cannot resist one final gloat at his dupes, oblivious to the fact that in doing so, he too is caught. This lack of rational forethought and commitment to his own sensual impulses, is characteristic of Volpone. He is a creature of passion, an imaginative hedonist continually looking to find and attain new forms of pleasure, whatever the consequences may be. This dynamic in his character shapes our reaction to him throughout the play. At times, this hedonism seems fun, engaging, entertaining, and even morally valuable, but his attempted seduction of Celia reveals a darker side to his hedonism.

Mosca - the Fly - Alex Hill

(M, any age). The true mastermind – ingenious, cunning, two-timing, quick-thinking, lacking in scruples, deceptive. His most important deception is the one he effects on Volpone (and the audience), hiding his true nature and intentions from both. Initially he appears to be a clinging, servile parasite, who only exists for Volpone and through Volpone. But he changes; his confidence grows and he stabs Volpone in the back. Do we like him? Tricky. He and Volpone are being deceitful, but being deceitful to the three greedy carrion, but then he turns on Volpone which should be applauded, but it’s for personal gain. Perhaps the largest part in the play, he has a lot of the comedy and a hidden darker side.

Voltore - Neil James

(M/F, middle-aged.). Intended (and probably preferred) as being a man, but nothing about the character to prevent Voltore being female (although I’ll need to re-write a couple of lines). OK, there were no female lawyers in 17th century Venice, but if we are to allow licence for two of the judges to be female then by default Voltore could also be female. Astute, persuasive, oily and able to throw a fit on the floor when he pretends to be possessed by a demon. He is perhaps the least unpleasant of all the legacy hunters, for he is the least crass and the least obsessed with seeing Volpone die. Intellectually superior and a somewhat preferential status as he ‘leads’ the other legacy hunters.

Corvino - Paul Foster

(M, middle-aged) ‘an arrogant, snivelling, limp-membered shit’. An extremely vicious and dishonourable character, Corvino is Celia's jealous husband. We definitely don’t like him. Controlling, cruel, greedy and impotent. Often the butt of Mosca’s jokes. He is more concerned with financial gain than with Celia’s faithfulness, seeing her, in essence, as a piece of property, and willing to go out onto the streets and declare himself cuckolded if it means he gains the inheritance.

Corbaccio - Linda Russell

(F, older). ‘a face that sours milk’! In Jonson’s original, a man but ‘re-imagined’ as an aging widow who is extremely ill herself and is much more likely to die before Volpone even has a chance to bequeath her his wealth. Single-mindedly intent on growing rich to the extent of disinheriting her son and willing to provide poison to finish off Volpone (though unwilling to administer it). Delights in Volpone’s apparent demise. A pitiful character but we don’t pity her. Heartless and blinded by greed in falling for Mosca’s ruse that her son was intending to kill her. Some comic moments largely to do with her weak old bladder.

Celia - Maddison Heywood

(F, younger than Corvino). ‘unbelievably fair’, ‘her face is a wonder’. Virtuous, true, honourable, pious and loyal – it is only with great reluctance and out of a sense of obedience to Corvino that she agrees to sleep with Volpone though the idea is abhorrent to her. Her willingness to subject herself to Corvino's harsh diktats and abuse may make her seem weak, but she has an inner moral sense in that she refuses Volpone against her husband's express wishes. One lovely comic scene when Corvino orders her to do everything backwards (oo-er).

Bonario - Josh Coombes

(M, comparable age to Celia and to being Corbaccio’s son). Bonario is an upright chap, the knight in shining armour who remains loyal to his mother even when she perjures against him in court. He heroically rescues Celia from Volpone and represents bravery and honour, qualities which the other characters clearly lack. Somewhat arrogant on first meeting Mosca, but then shows concern about offending him.

Sir Politic Would-be (also Commandadori) - Keith Bollands

(M, middle to old aged) An English knight residing in Venice. Sir P was the central role in the now-deleted sub-plot, but remains in the play to introduce a couple of scenes. Gullible, self-opinionated, hen-pecked, we sympathise with him – not least for having lived with Lady P for 43 years. The victim of a misunderstanding which he deals with by saying it’s all his fault and running away. Can double as one of the commandadori.

Lady Politic Would-be - Sarah Slater

(F, a bit younger than Sir P) She is extremely vain and talkative, larger than life, loud and always wanting to be the centre of attention. Buxom and dominating Sir P. Somewhat immoral – partly because she falsely accuses the innocent Celia of being the courtesan she saw with Sir P and partly because of a deal she’s offering with handcuffs and a dog-collar! (OK, so that last bit wasn’t in the original.)

Peregrine (also Commandadori) - Nick Lund

(M, young/middle-aged). An English gent travelling round Italy and looking to learn from Sir P about all things Italian. Astute and sees Sir P’s folly and ignorance. Again, he was a significant part of the deleted sub-plot, but is important for a great scene when Lady P mistakes him for the courtesan and he starts to drop his trousers to prove he is a man whilst Lady P tries to keep them up to prevent ‘her’ displaying her front bottom. Can double as one of the commandadori.

Androgyno - Amy Horn

(M/F, any age) An hermaphrodite who is the under-servant. A small part with a dozen or so lines, the underdog who we sympathise with when Mosca sacks him/her. Appears briefly throughout the play.

Avocatori 1 - Gillian Smithies

(Avocs 1 & 2 M/F, Avoc 3 M. Age – old enough to have the gravitas of being a senior judge) The three judges represent the law and are Johnson’s dig at how easily the law is swayed. Although initially duped by the silver-tongued Voltore they do preside over the right outcome (though this is hardly anything to do with them). Only in Act 2 and essentially three very sedentary roles. Avocs 1 & 2 are serious and severe whilst Avoc 3 is doddery and more interested in going for a nap.

Notario - Ian Thomas

(M/F, any age). The clerk of the Court – a small role only appearing in the Act 2 court scenes.

Avocatori 2 - Nancy Lund

(Avocs 1 & 2 M/F, Avoc 3 M. Age – old enough to have the gravitas of being a senior judge) The three judges represent the law and are Johnson’s dig at how easily the law is swayed. Although initially duped by the silver-tongued Voltore they do preside over the right outcome (though this is hardly anything to do with them). Only in Act 2 and essentially three very sedentary roles. Avocs 1 & 2 are serious and severe whilst Avoc 3 is doddery and more interested in going for a nap.

Avocatori 3 - Graham Botterill

(Avocs 1 & 2 M/F, Avoc 3 M. Age – old enough to have the gravitas of being a senior judge) The three judges represent the law and are Johnson’s dig at how easily the law is swayed. Although initially duped by the silver-tongued Voltore they do preside over the right outcome (though this is hardly anything to do with them). Only in Act 2 and essentially three very sedentary roles. Avocs 1 & 2 are serious and severe whilst Avoc 3 is doddery and more interested in going for a nap.

Director - Tony Frier

Stage Manager and Properties - Clare Pinnock

Assistant Stage Manager - Liz Thomas

Deputy Stage Manager and Wardrobe - Anna Foster

Wardrobe - Judith Dolley

Lighting - Nigel Greenaway

Sound - Ian Santry

Continuity - Kay Frier

Set Design and Construction - John Godliman

Assistant Scenic Artist - Linda Mardell