Synopsis

In Rockaby, which was written in English in 1980, an old woman dressed in a black evening dress rocks herself in a rocking chair while listening to her own recorded voice. The story tells of the character's seeking for another 'a little like' herself, in the outside world. The search ends as all the blinds are drawn and complete darkness descends.

'so in the end close of a long day went down in the end went down'
– Rockaby

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Director

Richard Eyre was the artistic director of the Royal National Theatre from 1988 until 1997. During that period he directed Guys and Dolls, The Invention of Love; Richard III and Racing Demon, among others. He joined the BBC as producer of Play for Today in 1978. Productions included The Insurance Man (Tokyo World TV Festival Special Prize 1986); Tumbledown (RAI Prize, 1988; BAFTA Best Television Single Drama Award, 1989; Royal Television Society Award for Best Single Drama, 1989). His films include The Ploughman's Lunch (Evening Standard Film Award for Best Film, 1983) and Laughterhouse (Venice Film Festival Award for Best Film, 1984).

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Cast

Penelope Wilton's theatre performances include productions of The Philanthropist, Man and Superman, Much Ado About Nothing, and The Deep Blue Sea, directed by Karel Reisz, which won a Critics' Circle Award and an Olivier nomination. A Kind of Alaska, which was part of the Pinter Festival at The Gate, Dublin, earned her an Irish Theatre Award for Best Actress. Penelope has worked in many BBC television productions, including: Pasmore and Country, both directed by Richard Eyre; The Deep Blue Sea, directed by Karel Reisz; and Landscape, directed by Harold Pinter. Her film credits include Richard Attenborough's Cry Freedom; Karel Reisz's The French Lieutenant's Woman and Richard Eyre's Singleton's Pluck.

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