This is a short video with some of the cast from last year's production of 'Twelfth Night'...no bribes were given or offered in the making of this piece!
Don't be too put off by this bloke with the beard...we tend to try and ignore him!
And it also gives you an idea of what a spectacular place the castle is and what great bunch of people we get to work with. Thanks to topcameraman, John, who not only made this piece but, if you go to the facebook page Friends of the Inn Theatre Company, you can see the entire play (in four parts!) also filmed by topcameraman!
And as far as this year is concerned, the read-through went brilliantly and we're now heading toward the auditions on the 10th February. The running time seems to be spot-on; at least we have some leeway and the overall piece will run to about two hours and ten minutes, give or take five. Can't complain!
Life is full of 'firsts' and this is two of them rolled into one! The first entry in the first Inn Theatre Company blog that will, I hope, give an insight to what it takes to organise and present an open-air theatrical production. This, though, is purely from my point of view as the director of this year's show, King Lear; although I have been involved with the comapny since 2005, so have a small notion as to what it all takes. However - another first here! - it my first production as director. Chosen a corker to break my duck with, haven't I?
I've actually been working on Lear from August last year. Reading it, editing it, thinking about sets, costumes, blocking; designing posters, looking for music, thyinking about actors and the sundry other details that I can sort out before we actually start rehearsing. The more that's prepped, the easier it should all be as we move forward...that's the theory anyway!
Every single year, as we start preparing for Dartmouth Shakespeare Week, an amazing group of people come together and give of their time, energy and expertise, all in the name of entertainment, having a good time and, we hope, giving the paying audiences an experience they will never forget...thankfully, they've always been good experiences.
Last year the Company were lucky enough to be involved with the Royal Shakespeare Company's Open Stages project, part of which was being able to attend work shops and seminars given by the professionals from the RSC. Personally, I learnt a huge amount from them and, in some ways, it's their fault that I got ambitions to direct...particularly the aforementioned King Lear. It's already been an exciting time (and I'd be a liar if I said that it hasn't been a little daunting too) but it's been fascinating too; I've had read a massive amount about the history of not only the play but of the time period too - we're setting it in the 12th Century or thereabouts, rather than the 17th, which is the time frame we've used for previous shows, where it was warranted.
I felt that I needed to know as much as I could about the whole so I was able to answer as many questions as possible that might be thrown at me by the cast or crew. I'm not aiming to be a fount of all knowledge, Lear wise, but I felt it was encumbent upon me to at least have something in my arsenal that I could draw upon.
And on Sunday 27th January, the work began in earnest. We had the initial read-through of the edited script with all the company mambers being invited to come along and get a glimpse of what we attempting to put on this year. We get a rough timing and the actors can start to think about the parts for which they might to audition - nothing, in that respect is set in stone. For sure, I've had thoughts about who might be suitable for certain parts, but that's based on previous performances in plays that are completely different to this one. It's the auditons that decide who plays which character. And the read-through has already had me making notes and re-thinking some of the thoughts I'd had previously. It's the same for every director in every production that we have staged, whether it be Shakespeare or modern. Some folk are approached, sometimes in the previous year, to have a think about a certain part, but that's all it ever is. And apart from anything else, the person a director has in mind might not even be available or want to act the following year. Better to find out sooner than later! It was, as I say, an excellent evening and I think (I hope!) everyone enjoyed themselves.
What was great was the fact that we saw so many new faces as well as those who have been here before. We are so lucky as a company to have all these lovely people turning out to support us. I must say, I'm really looking forward to starting on the best bit: getting out to the Castle and rehearsing. Finding those characters that are lurking inside, just waiting to get out there and surprise everyone.
But before I can even contemplate that, I've got to get a cast together. That's the next big thing: auditions! The date is set, the room is booked, the invites are out there...now we just hang in there and see who walks through the door. I really want to be spoilt for choice. Seriously. I can't imagine anything more wonderful than having to choose between two or three Lears/Regans/Edmunds, whoever; better that than having to scrabble about!! I suppose the down-side to that little piece of heaven is having to disappoint somebody who wanted a particular part. That's something I've got to get used to I suppose. That's a bridge to cross in the future.
For those of you coming across us for the first time, this is what the actors get to look at every night, as they strut their stuff on the raked stage at Dartmouth Castle. They've got a great view!
And this gives you an idea of the performance area that we have to fill with other lives and excitement. Yep, I'm really looking forward to this year!
