This year sees the 120th anniversary of the publication of M.R. James’ first story collection, Ghost Stories of an Antiquary, which included The Treasure of Abbot Thomas. It is also the 50th anniversary of Lawrence Gordon Clark’s celebrated adaptation for BBC One.
Join us for evening celebrating one of James’ most enduring and chilling tales of academic hubris and terrifyingly tactile sentinels, with both a performance of the original story by Robert Lloyd Parry and an introduced screening of the 1974 film, followed by a q&a with original cast member, Paul Lavers.
Timetable:
7:00 – Welcome and introduction
Jon Dear, author of forthcoming book, No Digging – the Story of the BBC’s Ghost Stories for Christmas.
7:10 – Performance of The Treasure of Abbot Thomas (1904)
Robert Lloyd Parry.
8:00 – Break
8:15 – The Treasure of Abbot Thomas (Lawrence Gordon Clark, 1974)
Introduced by Simon Farquhar, writer and Broadcaster.
9:15 – Q&A with Jon Dear, Robert Lloyd Parry, Simon Farquhar, Adam Scovell and Paul Lavers, who played Lord Dattering in the 1974 adaptation.
9:45 - Close