Russell J. Turner (McMurphy), Claire Bibby (Nurse Ratched), Thomas Renshaw (Chief Bromden), Vincent M Gaine (Harding), Tom Hartill (Billy Bibbit), John Hare (Cheswick), Sam Heydon (Scanlon), Christopher Birks (Martini), Russell Dady (Aide Williams), Ben Engel (Aide Warren), Tom Carver (Aide Turkle), Elizabeth Davidson (Nurse Flynn), Venetia Twigg (Dr Spivey), Laura Harding (Candy Starr), Alexa Jayne Waugh (Sandy) and Burtie Welland (Ruckly).

Facing a lengthy stretch at the work farm penitentiary, boisterous, brawling Randall P. McMurphy feigns mental illness and is transferred to a psychiatric hospital. There he finds a motley group of misanthropes, kept drugged, broken and subservient under the merciless regime of Nurse Ratched.

McMurphy rallies the other patients and challenges Ratched’s authority, opening their minds to the power of revolution.

This uprising soon develops into an all-out war between staff and patients, in a struggle for the freedom of the ordinary man.

Funny, shocking and profoundly moving, this play is one of the classics of American drama, and an enduring story of one individual’s struggle against the system.

In just three years, Black Ram Theatre Company has emerged as one of East Anglia's leading and critically acclaimed theatre companies. In bringing to life this seminal novel with their large repertory cast and an original score, Black Ram are delighted to present the theatrical event of the season.

Black Ram Theatre is an old school repertory theatre company based in Norwich. They specialise in revitalising
classic works, using young and up and coming actors and fresh interpretations of established theatre.

Florence Glanfield, Suffolk Free Press:

"Black Ram’s production of One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest follows the generic lives of eight stifled patients, trapped into psychosis by the tyrannical Nurse Ratched who controls the ward with regimented precision and mind-numbing accuracy. The patients, dumb with the threat of dangerous therapies and formidable group sessions live in silent opposition, until the admission of R.P McMurphy, a well meaning charlatan trying to escape the drudgery of field work. On arrival, McMurphy attempts to overthrow the routine and control of Nurse Ratched, thus revolutionising the views of the patients on the ward and offering a cure the institution never did. Whilst making invaluable friendships and influencing the lives of the other patients, relishing in the refreshed values of his new friends, McMurphy pays a hefty price for his efforts.

The night assaulted the senses, as auditorium was gradually filled with cigarette smoke and another musky smell – hinting at urine – which, when combined with dramatic music and cleverly planned lighting, enhanced the feeling of oppression the actors were successfully portraying. Due to the nature of the production and the unique, innovative angle taken by Black Ram to stage it, some scenes were extremely disturbing, as well as extremely effective. Audience members were enthralled by this, and the scarier scenes simply put everyone a little on edge, adding to the overall atmosphere, not crushing or overemphasising it. However, those with younger children or very sensitive to scenes of violence should bear these scenes in mind when thinking about seeing the performance.

Scenes of violence and oppression were mixed with those of an uplifting nature, and overall the play was funny as well as moving, with comical performances from McMurphy (Russell J. Turner) and Dale Harding (Dr Vincent M. Gaine) standing out in my mind. Interspersed with poignant monologues from Chief Bromden (Thomas Renshaw), Black Ram propelled the classic, heartrending story outstandingly throughout, offering a stark representation of institutionalism and a moving insight into mental health. Unforgettable performances were from Anthony Martini (Christopher Birks) and Billy Bibbit (Tom Hartill). Rousing a spectrum of emotions from the audience, the performance was exceptional, distinguished, and one that certainly should not be missed."

Mary Dunk, One Suffolk:

"The potent energy of caged men is reduced to a dribble under Nurse Ratched’s relentless regime in this asylum. Most inmates are supposed to be voluntary, but even the nursing staff crumble at her approach. New patient McMurphy, committed for rape, stirs and shakes the ward dynamics till, literally, the dumb speak and the deaf hear. His insouciance in Nurse Ratched’s face, while deeply funny, ups the ante in what must end in disaster. Russell J Turner’s McMurphy rivets both patients and the audience, giving full vent to the pent up anger and fear of the hapless inmates in a superb performance. His nemesis Nurse Ratched, whose killer instincts are wound up to full pitch by Claire Bibby, is driven in her need to control him, but even she has her weaknesses. She engineers McMurphy’s destruction whilst trying to appear calm and caring, using words like democracy, it’s for your benefit, from her deadly arsenal of meaningless phrases. Her meanness over TV routines and anything redolent of fun is another way to crush any vital signs from her charges.

Chief Bromden, the strikingly tall chief of a lost Indian tribe, is dismissed as a deaf mute. He doesn’t miss a trick, but encouraged by McMurphy’s attentions and chewing gum, learns to stand symbolically upright. Thomas Renshaw gives Chief’s lines a vividly poetic edge, and his final escape is the most optimistic moment of the play. Tom Harthill’s Billy Bibbit, oppressed by the joint tyranny of the Nurse and his absent mother, casts all aside for a liberating sexual encounter with Candy Starr (Laura Harding) and learns, momentarily, to be himself.

The symbolism of the lobotomised Ruckly, played by Burtie Welland, apparently crucified on the wall, dominates the action. His great achievement as a mobile basketball hoop is painful and transitory. Dale Harding, whose inflated speeches about Nurse R’s love for them all reveal the ghastly opposite, is brilliantly presented by Vincent M Gaine.

Stage adaptations of stories immortalised in film can easily come unstuck, but this powerful version leaves the audience literally in shock after the seeing electric shock therapy applied. No detail of the ghastly business is spared. Chief warns McMurphy, about a former patient, “I'm not saying they killed him. They just worked on him. The way they're working on you.” Black Ram works on us, too, in this outstanding production of a deeply unsettling drama."

Jeremy Drakes, Cambridge News:

"It’s a jolt to the system at first...making the transition from walking into the old town hall on Haverhill High Street to watching events unfold in a ward full of psychiatric patients in an American hospital. But any disbelief is soon suspended as this gripping ... sometimes hilarious, sometimes harrowing .... story is acted out by members of East Anglia’s critically-acclaimed Black Ram Theatre Company.

For anyone who’s seen the movie, Jack Nicholson’s portrayal of Randle McMurphy will be etched in the memory. For Black Ram’s production, Russell J. Turner makes the central role his own with a wiry, wily, Puckish portrayal.

Casting throughout the show is excellent. It’s very much an ensemble piece, with too many names to mention individually, but eye-catching performances include Vincent M. Gaine as the twitchy, emasculated Dale Harding, Claire Bibby as McMurphy’s cold, controlling nemesis Nurse Ratched and Venetia Twigg’s psychiatrist Dr Spivey ... a warm, sunny presence in an otherwise grim, clinical landscape.

But the last word goes to the towering presence of Chief Bromden.....recent drama school graduate Thomas Renshaw gives a performance of real power and pathos in the role which provides the show’s uplifting, in every sense, conclusion.

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest is touring until October 10, and comes to the Mumford Theatre, Cambridge on October 7. Recommended."
 

David Porter, Eastern Daily Press:

"Some straight plays from earlier periods can seem irrelevant to now. This from the Sixties is about sanity and madness and resonates well with how things are today. Set in a mental institution, it shows how people are not necessarily insane if they don't fit into the system or society. It's about being independent and free.

New inmate McMurphy (Russell Turner), an instinctive rebel feigning lunacy, comes into immediate conflict with the rule-bound rigidity of Nurse Ratched (Claire Bibby). Other stock, crazy characters include the elective deaf-mute Indian Chief (Thomas Renshaw) who finally releases McMurphy from earthly life, after he's been lobotomised to conformity.

After a hesitant start, it builds well, with supportive, well judged contributions from all patients individually and collectively and medical staff, who could have been more menacing. Director Ross McGregor puts them on a claustrophobic set and gets the best from darkly humorous lines amidst the psychiatric jargon and human emotion.

It's moving material, and not for the faint-hearted."