The Final Word?

And...breathe! That's that then. Another DSW done and dusted, pretty much; just got the bills to pay and then we can have the wash-up meeting and get the funds out to the charities that we have elected to support.

I'm not sure that the expected 'emptiness' has hit yet, there's still stuff to do around Lear, but I'm not even sure that it will hit! We're already caught up in other projects - chances are there will be several productions before we get to next year's extravaganza, which, in case you haven't heard, will be a comedy, the superb 'Taming of the Shrew'.

The coverage for this year's show was stupendous, the local paper finally got their act together and we had three and half pages of pictures and reporting on the play and all the extra events. Very satisfying.
The word on the street(!) is that those who came to see Lear weren't disappointed, surprise seems to have been the most common reaction. not surprise that it was so good but that it was as entertaining as is was. The consensus, prior to our going live, was that it was dreary, depressing and violent play with it's only virtue being that it was written by Shakespeare. I think we changed more than a few minds on that score! It just proves, as far as I'm concerned, that you can't beat a great story, told well, by brilliant storytellers.
We stretched ourselves and the audience...and I think we all came out in the black, as it were. Makes me think that there's a case for exploring more of Will's 'darker' plays...

We set ourselves a huge target this year and I don't think anyone involved would disagree when I say that we hit that target dead-centre and surpassed all our expectations.
So how do we step it up again next year? We've always managed to thus far and, if what Janie's got planned for 2014 is anything to go by, Shrew will be no different.
As I write, we're waiting to hear from the Royal Shakespeare Company to see if we've been accepted on to the 2014-16 Open Stages Project. It would be great if we were, but if not, that's not going to change one jot what will happen next year.
Shrew will be something very different for us, despite having done it before (it was the second DSW play, back in 2004). 
It's a play that audience's love, although of late it's popularity has taken a bit of hit because of prevailing attitudes with regard to the perceived anti-female stance that the play takes. 
Personally, I think that Shakespeare had his tongue firmly planted in his cheek but who can say? 
Jane played around with several (vastly) different ideas for presenting the play, even to the extent of taking the 'anti' viewpoint and turning it completely on it's head by having all the female characters played by men and vice versa. It got very complicated...
So now she has settled upon a strictly comedic interpretation, using the commedia dell'arte style.
Why is this a challenge? Have you seen the way these guys perform!? It is physical theatre, comedy, in extremis! All the actors are going to have their work cut, from what I've seen so far. Add to this Jane's plans to have everything on-stage from the get-go, including sound effects and music (we're going live!) and you've got something that will border on slap-stick (and that word/phrase come directly from commedia dell'arte) and pantomime yet will still maintain that uniquely Shakespearean quality. It really is promising to be a huge amount of fun!
And speaking of fun, before I catch you up with what else is happening in the world of us, here are few photographic reminders of how much fun we had getting King Lear to the stage at the castle.

Each and every one of these pictures (and the hundreds that I didn't include) holds a very special memory for me: of the people and the time we spent, the place and the experience. There are loads more pictures from the production itself on the website -  www.theinntheatrecompany.co.uk/king-lear - where you can get right back into it all again...but you knew that anyway.

What you might not know is that we have a film of the production too. Parts one and two are linked below. The only bug about that is the fact the music we had for the production can't be used in this because of copyright issues. But John Walker's done a fine job in subbing it, so feel free to have a look.

Here's the first act.

 And here's Act Two.

I've had to put this down...much as I love looking at it and reliving that time, my nature is such that I can't stop myself thinking '...maybe I should have done it this way...' '...perhaps it would have worked better if...' To quote the good king himself, 'That way madness lies.' 

I think the next bit comes under the heading:

AND IN OTHER NEWS...

The undoubted success of Lear has brought the company other benefits too! We'd planned to do other things after Lear, the almost traditional thing being the Dart Drama Festival - in which we will be appearing come November (any ideas?) - but other projects were in the pipeline. Then things started happening on their own account.

Hazelwood House, a local arts centre near Kingsbridge, got in touch, asking us to come have a chat about doing something for them in December and we have also been invited to put on a 'processional' performance in a local garden. Two and half acres of loveliness and endless possibilities. Add to that the notion of doing a full-length drama in the Spring and possible film project, I'm starting to wonder if there are enough days in the week/months in the year to get everything done!

We have yet to visit Hazelwood and ascertain what it is they are actually looking for, but the venue on offer looks beautiful. The Chapel. Intimate space, atmospheric and thoroughly charming. It could lend itself to so many things, but we'll have to wait and see what happens when we visit.

The gentleman who owns the garden, mentioned above, came to see Lear and it was on the strength of that production, I believe, that we've been given the chance to plan this walk-a-about show. 

Several notions made themselves apparent when we visited - 'Larkrise to Candleford'; 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'; 'Wind in the Willows'; 'As You Like It' to name but a few - but at the moment we're leaning towards Toad and his mates, primarily because it's a family show and definitely not Shakespearean; thought it might nice to give Will a rest!!  It's all very dependent upon, I'm afraid, cost. Performances rights, rehearsal space, actually getting there and the set up...but I have little doubt that it will happen, it's just a question of what and when!

We're working on it...got any thoughts? All contributions gratefully received!!

And so, there we are. Up to date. We'll let you know about all the gubbins from the wash-up as soon as we have it. Won't be long.

Maybe we could tour something soon...now there's a thought... 

   

Now You Know What You Missed!

I failed to mention the 'extra' bits yesterday, which, as it turns out, was no bad thing!
Our mate John Walker was at the 'do' in Royal Avenue Gardens and has just posted this video of some of the goings-on.
The Renaissance Historical Dance Society led the festivities and you can also see what else entertained the people who dropped by to look and stayed to marvel at the spectacle!
Already looking forward to next year!

                                               https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i279gu1snVs

The Gentle Descent.

As was to be expected, I suppose, I was unable to get anything resembling a coherent post together in the last week or so. 
But now, with all the scaffolding down, the props and set packed away for another year, I can draw breath and reflect upon what has been an amazing production.

Everybody involved put so much effort into the show and they deserve all the plaudits that are currently flying in their general direction.

It never ceases to amaze me how we achieve what we do in the time we have. I worked it out, somewhere, but I think this little snippet of information deserves repeating.
A professional company, for a production such as this, will spend months planning and rehearsing and fine-tuning...as do we, but only to a certain extent. 
A company like, for the sake of argument, the RSC will, on rehearsals alone spend anything up to six full weeks, six or seven days a week, ten plus hours a day to get where they need to be.
We, as a company, if you break it down, spent every Tuesday and Friday evening rehearsing from about 7pm to approximately 9.00/9.15 for fifteen weeks. 
Break it down again, and we got this together (not including admin, advertising etc) in the equivalent of just over eleven days RSC-time!!
I am so inordinately proud of everybody who gave their all for this production; who not only believed it was possible to do but that I could do it!!

We have had glowing praise from pretty much everybody who was at the castle...and, for once, it barely rained. But it wouldn't have been a Dartmouth Shakespeare Week without a tiny sprinkling on Saturday night. My heart nearly stopped when it started...but only for ten minutes or so.

There was one thing that really puzzled me, with regard to some of the comments I heard, prior to the run, as we were setting up.
The castle has a huge number of visitors strolling around as we beaver away and I heard, time out of number, this comment/conversation in any number of forms:
Child (anywhere from 8 to 13/14): What are they doing?
Parent: A play. It's Shakespeare.
Child: Ooh, can we come and see it?
Parent: a)you wouldn't understand it
           b)wait til you learn it at school
           c)no, it's just old stuff that's pretty boring.
What? WHAT???!!

They're showing an interest in something! Encourage it! Don't wait for some teacher, who possibly doesn't get Will him/herself, to suck the enthusiasm out them! Nurture it!
Sheeesh.
BUT, that being said, one of the young people who performed in Lear this year is, said her Mum, so enthusiastic about Shakespeare, since thye've been performing it, that for her birthday this year, she wants to go and see a production at the Globe! And they're going.
That's what we need; not just for Shakespeare, but for theatre generally. Get 'em when they're young and you'll give them the greatest gift any parent could give a child - love of performance and stories and entertainment and an understanding of how we got where we are today!
Thanks Will.
Thanks everybody.
And, once again, massive thanks go to our Keith, who spent Saturday night crouched up a scaffold tower, snapping these. It's just a small selection at the moment, but more will follow and I'll assemble a special page on the website to display them in all their glory!

Aren't they magical? 
Makes me think that we did pretty well...and that we'll be back again next year with 'Taming of the Shrew'.
Now that's much more cheerful.
But we'll be doing other things in the meantime and I'll keep up this blog to let you know what's happening...although it will all be 'other stories' pretty much.
I'm going to miss Lear.