Top Ten Performances
August 20, 2006
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 …
Love’s Labour’s Lost (Shakespeare Theatre Company) @ The Swan Theatre
August 19, 2006
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, …
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 …
Capulets & Montagues (CAPITAL Centre) @ The Dell
August 16, 2006
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 …
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 …
The Tempest (RSC) @ The Royal Shakespeare Theatre
August 11, 2006
Last night’s show was ‘The Tempest’ at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, the third and final play performed by the company of ‘Antony & Cleopatra’ and ‘Julius Caesar’. The big draw tonight was, of course, Patrick Stewart as Prospero, but aside from that it’s the first of the romances to be shown as a full production …
Henry VI Trilogy (RSC) @ The Courtyard Theatre
August 10, 2006
Wow! Yesterday was another big ‘event’ day- the entire Henry VI trilogy in one day, starting at 10.30 in the monring and finishing just after 11 at night. And it was spectacular. I’m seeing the plays again, so I’ll save the detailed comment til then- here I just want to say a bit about the …
Edward III and Sir Thomas More
July 31, 2006
There’s one thing about the Complete Works that disappoints me a bit, and that’s the lack of two plays: ‘Sir Thomas More’ and ‘Edward III‘. Who? Well, they’re part of what some people call Shakespeare’s ‘apocrypha’, the plays which there’s still debate about whether he actually wrote or not. There are several plays which people …
A nice link
July 27, 2006
One more thought from yesterday’s ‘1 Henry VI’ There was one point when the elderly Mortimer was reminiscing with Richard of York, and telling him about the old days when the Percys took up arms in his cause and tried to put him on the throne. What made this a really nice moment for me …
Henry VI Part I (RSC) @ The Courtyard Theatre
July 26, 2006
Tonight was my first visit to the new temporary theatre, the Courtyard, so was always going to be a slightly special occasion! The new theatre is really nice, and still smelled of varnish and new wood when I first went into it tonight. The double bar area is a genius idea that really cut down …
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