Peacocks and Princesses.

Well that was fun. And it didn't take as long as I thought it might; about three hours, all told...with a two hour drive each way, obviously! 

Bath Theatrical Costumiers are very fine and the lady's who work there really know their stuff. I mean really.

It also helps if you have a pretty clear picture of what you want the characters to look like and a defined colour schematic from which you can work. Adjustments are allowed...and we did...but it speeds the process.

Jenny, Barbara and I wandered amongst the racks, jaw to the floor; the place is crammed with everything from medieval (that's us) through to modern and just plain fancy dress. We had three ladies trotting around, grabbing jerkins from racks and dresses off hooks, debating the pros and cons the while (usually between themselves) and pretty much deciding for us. 

'What about this for Regan?' Says Lady 1.

'Mmm,' says Lady 2, demurring, 'I think we've got something that...here! This one. And I've got a lovely belt, pouch and hat that goes...' she rummages in a wicker casket, '...here you are. Lovely isn't it?'

Yep.

First thing I spotted when I arrived, up on a shelf, looking very fetching, was a full-face, silver helmet. My immediate thought was 'Edgar'. It's hefty, stylish and thoroughly brilliant. Should keep Sam (Edgar) happy.

Edmund and Knight One will be rocking the fugitive-from-a-leather-club look, very in this season apparently, and Lear will be regal, red and also slightly leather-bound, like a first edition.

Funnily enough...and it makes a bit of change when you're talking about costumes for a Shakespearean production...the male costumes seem to be the more sumptuous this year. They're all going to be peacocks. The ladies aren't forgotten in the pageant though: all dressed in the appropriate house colours. Lear - red with trimmings; Cornwall - green and gold; Albany - mainly blues; Gloucester - yellow with flashes of green to show his allegiance to Cornwall -  and Kent...well Kent is quite flashy at the outset but tends to dress-down after banishment.  

It's all going to look rather splendid, it's just a pity that the camera went flat and I'd not brought mine, so I'm afraid you're just going to have to wait a bit for photos! Oh yes, and we got Lear a rather natty crown.

Oswald is going to be dressed in a splendid bit of kit, way above his station, but then that's Oswald all over...hang on, I hear you say! You haven't cast Oswald yet!

In Other News: We've got an Oswald. I've managed to persuade an old friend of mine to tread the boards again after...I think 'several' is the word to use here...after several years away from this sort of performing; he does play in band, so he has a similar pedigree to someone else I know.

His name is Simon Fox and I also know he will be perfect for Oswald and will slot into the company very, very easily. Doesn't solve the problem of France et al, but we're moving in the right direction.

We've also taken a step closer to having some other events happening round town during Shakespeare week with the news that Royal Avenue Gardens are free and we can hire them! So I'll let you know what we've got going on for definite when we know.

And I'm going to take another moment to mention all the amazing hard work that the cast are putting in. Books are already going down for some of the scenes, which is fantastic, and the characters are now taking a recognisable shape...it's wonderful to see. 

Note to self: find a rehearsal prompt. Our lovely Margaret, who normally takes on this task, can't be with us this year, and they are some very large boots to fill.

Also been batting about Dartmouth, exercising the silver tongue, trying to persuade the businesses to take an ad in the programme. Our advertisers, sponsors and 'friends' are, apart from the audiences, obviously, the financial life-blood of any undertaking such as this. Year on year, they come up with the goods, either in cash form or by way of offering services for nothing. Everyone has had a hard time of it over the last couple of years, yet they always seem to manage to dig that extra little bit for Shakespeare. Thank you. If you'd like to be a 'friend' (you get tickets!!) you can always drop me a line, the address is on the web-site.

Now then...what else do I need to do?