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Posts by Peter Kirwan

Nos do Morro/ Gallery 37 Post–show talk @ The Courtyard Theatre

Just a few extra notes about the post–show talk from yesterday’s performance. Much of the start of the talk was devoted to the two groups telling each other how much they meant to each other. While admittedly a little cringy in places, it was actually quite moving, particularly listening to how the city kids from …

The Two Gentlemen Of Verona (Nos do Morro/Gallery 37) @ The Courtyard Theatre

I’d been looking forward to this play as one of the more unusual productions– a Brazillian community theatre group, Nos do Morro, joining forces with a Birmingham urban youth project, Gallery 37. It was certainly very good– a young and energetic cast really put their hearts and souls into it. The large Chorus became walls …

The Film Festival

I’m not in Stratford today, which is starting to seem like a relatively rare occurrence! I thought I’d quickly mention another aspect of the Complete Works Festival that ended yesterday- The Film Festival. A huge outdoor screen has been set up in Stratford for the last three weekends, showing six Shakespeare films as an nod …

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Henry VI Part III (RSC) @ The Courtyard Theatre

It’s been a busy week for me in Stratford- ‘2 Henry VI’ and ‘Capulets and Montagues’ on Wednesday, long public transport nightmare trip on Friday, ‘Love’s Labour’s Lost’ yesterday and today, my second viewing of ‘3 Henry VI’. I’m quite glad I decided to see the Henries individually as well as the whole day event- …

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Top Ten Performances

Just as some fun before I go to sleep, thinking about my favourite ten individual performances of the festival so far. In order, then, that I saw them in….. Harriet Walter as Cleopatra There’s always something wonderful about seeing one of the genuine greats, and Harriet Walter gave an absolutely rivetting performance as the Egyptian …

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Love’s Labour’s Lost (Shakespeare Theatre Company) @ The Swan Theatre

I always try to read a selection of professional reviews of the shows I’ve seen- partly for interest, partly because they sometimes bring to light things I hadn’t noticed and partly because they sometimes give a good platform for argument. One of the most respected of these critics is Michael Billington, the Guardian theatre critic, …

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A rant about public transport

Sigh I’ve had a terrible night. I was meant to be seeing ‘Love’s Labour’s Lost’ tonight, along with a pre–show talk by the director beforehand. Instead, this happened. You would have thought that English public transport would be equipped to deal with bad weather, but no. A combination of intense rain, flooding, a lightning strike …

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Capulets & Montagues (CAPITAL Centre) @ The Dell

Although my project is mainly concerned with the main performances of the Complete Works Festival, it’s impossible to ignore the fact that there’s a lot more going on in Stratford than what’s in the theatres. While no–one could possibly go to all of the talks, discussions, workshops and sideshows that are happening, it’s really interesting …

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Henry VI Part II (RSC) @ The Courtyard Theatre

I have to admit, this is my favourite part of the trilogy, and so the chance to see ‘2 Henry VI’ by itself today was one I was enormously looking forward to, especially as I again had a front row seat. And, once again, it didn’t disappoint. The ‘Henry VI’ trilogy are in contention for …

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Aaawwww!

As terribly cheesy and fairytale as this sounds, I just found out that Morven Christie and Rupert Evans, currently playing the star-crossed title characters in ‘Romeo and Juliet’ and also falling in love in ‘King John’ as Blanche and The Dauphin, have actually fallen in love in real life as well, and are now an …

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