Rowena Cade's first helper was her gardener, Billy Rawlings. In the winter of 1931/2 he helped her transform a rocky, cliffside garden into a stage. They undertook this tremendous task to create a theatre for a single production of The Tempest. Together they raised the sloping ground by 10 feet with rock and earth, and turfed over it to make a stage and a series of terraces cut for the audience to sit on.
“The slope was covered with rough grass, bracken and gorse and was not naturally concave, but jutted out in a pile of huge boulders …. These boulders, my gardener, Billy Rawlings, aided by another Cornishman, cut up by hand, much as the English cut butter.“ (Rowena Cade)
Neither she nor Billy imagined they would work together on the creation of the Minack for the rest of their lives.
In the character of Billy Rawlings, actor Mark Harandon tells the story of their friendship, and how they built a piece of heaven on a Cornish cliff.
You can Meet Billy in the theatre on most Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays between 10am and 12.30pm.
If you want to be sure of catching Billy - please contact the Box Office.
Enjoy more Billy!
During the Covid lockdowns, Mark created a series of 'Billy' videos, telling stories about the Minack and the parish of St Levan. You can view them on Billy at Home