Monkey Rock (1995) began life as The Primates, a play originally written by Mark Beeson in 1983 with the stage in mind but adapted for radio and broadcast as an afternoon play, directed by Richard Wortley, on BBC Radio 4 in 1985. The Primates became Monkey Rock with the addition of a significant number of teenage characters, and was performed by MED Theatre in Manaton, Moretonhampstead, Dunsford and Leusdon halls. It was the last of MED Theatre’s big cast, end-on verse comedies (The Hedge, The Swallows, The Green Woman, The Salmon, The Bees, and The Wilderness were the others).

You can find out more information about Mark’s work as a primatologist and how it led to the development of MED Theatre on our Dartmoor Resource website here: MED Theatre and Mark Beeson