A Strange Feeling of Deja Vu.

Over a year has been and gone since last we were all up the Castle, getting ready for another foray into the wonderful world of Will; and when we do get up here, it feels like only yesterday that we were up here...sort of a Shakespearean Groundhog Day.

Part of the Castle before it's had its summer trim - blame the council!

Here we are again then, as disparate (some might say desperate, but not I!) a group of people as you ever could wish to meet, all gathered together for the express purpose of bringing the past to life and making it resonate in the present day. It's great.

As has been said elsewhere in this blog, it never ceases to amaze me how, when the call goes out, we get some wonderful people answering; and the talent that we have within the company is as manifold and disparate as...well, as the group itself!
Case in point:

This is Lynne (the smiley, good-looking one...sorry Fred.) who is a power-house of enthusiasm and knowledge. She not only works with us (she is A.D. for this year's production) but with the junior arm of another local company and she teaches too. This year though, her knowledge of movement and the dell'arte form has proven to be invaluable. Character work: yep. Movement: a given. Mime: of course. The list goes on.

This is Shaunagh (the good looking one...sorry again Fred!) who gave us such a wonderful Goneril in last year's 'King Lear'. Not only does she act, she has designed the posters and programme covers for the last two productions (she's done this year's too) but now she is taking on the role of wardrobe mistress and costume design...scarily talented.

Three for the price of one here. Front, with the hat, is Jane, this year's director and also the company's Artistic Director, whose efforts this year not only encompass the production but also acquiring us a further three years affiliation to the Royal Shakespeare Company...she's no slouch when it comes to getting up on stage and bringing characters to life, either. Witness Maria, in Twelfth Night, or Audrey, in As You Like It.

Then there's Jilly (the other good looking one...sorry Rich) who is Katherina in this year's show. Not only has she delivered a stunning Regan in Lear, a wonderfully sultry Titania, in the touring Dream, but has helped shape so many performances, other than her own, and added so much to set and costume design it's almost as scary as one of the Witches she portrayed in Macbeth!

Then there's Rich. Now Rich, I know, would be the first to admit that he's a bit of newbie when it comes to thespianism. However! There can't be many actors of any calibre who throw themselves so readily into a role. He's pretty much game for anything. He's playing Petruchio this year (and Lysander and Theseus in the Dream...don't ask!) and he's volunteered to write an actor's viewpoint blog for us here. (The first instalment is elsewhere on the blog)

Oh yeah...and he is a good actor!

And those are just five of the company. Every last one of the guys involved has a talent and enthusiasm for what we do: they smile, they laugh, they get on with it. Couldn't ask for more really.

The photos here are from our first night up at the castle, getting to grips with the minutae of the play, a bit of blocking and a huge amount of fun. What is smashing is that we don't stagnate as a company, we're always trying different things and also attracting new people to come and discover just what it is that keeps us doing what we do each year.

This is Clare, who saw the web-site and got in touch and, suddenly, found herself knee-deep in mud at Hole Farm, playing with the Mechanicals; definite in-at-the-deep-end sort of thing.

And this is James, persuaded by Rich to come and give it go. This is what I mean when I say 'the call goes out - and people answer'.  So many talented people out there and so many of them are up on our stage in August and throughout the year. 

Here are a few more shots of last night's rehearsals with a few more of this year's cast getting stuck in.

Sam (Biondello) and James (The Merchant) in the little and large show.

Sam, James and Ben (Tranio) - are you sure this is the right page?

Jane explaining that yes, this is a table...and Ikea are interested.

Shirley and Fred putting Jane's explanation and Lynne's advice to good use. They're miming table-tennis.
They're not really.

Katherina and Petruchio - mesmerised. That, or he's knelt on a nail

More to follow soon. Let us know what think - I know you're out there, reading this, the stats tell me as much. Thanks for reading and, I hope, enjoying!