As You Like It at the Maddermarket Theatre

On the evening of Thursday 27th March 2014 I attended the Norwich Players performance of William Shakespeare's As You Like It at the Maddermarket Theatre. To celebrate the 450th anniversary of Shakespeare's birth this production is set in another year of cultural awakening: 1967, the summer of love.

Take a trip from the stifling court into the depths of the forest, where conventions and costumes are cast off and the trees cloak reality. As You Like It has all the elements of Shakespeare's great comedies: cross-dressing, unrequited love, an evil Duke taking the place of a banished one, brothers locked in combat, and, of course, a philosophical Fool. The cast's antics were infused with music and song, rousing the Sixties' spirit.

This was a fantastic evening at the Maddermarket Theatre with Rosalind and Orlando uniting to live beneath the sun in pursuit of the simple life. The Maddermarket Theatre opened in 1921 with a performance of As You Like It and tonight was an evening of celebrations and great acting. This production was directed by Chris Bealey.

As You Like It at the Norwich UEA Drama Studio

On the evening of Friday 6th December 2013 I was back at the Norwich UEA Drama Studio to attend the performance of William Shakespeare's As You Like It. The Arcadian Project was put together by the UEA's students and academics to uncover a major missing tapestry in theatre history.

Combining a unique adaptation of Sir Philip Sidney's Arcadia with a production of Shakespeare's beloved comedy As You Like It, the project aimed to shed a brand new light on the works of Britain's most renowned playwright. I attended the performance of Arcadia on Tuesday 3rd December 2013.

In As You Like It, having been banished from the oppressive court, Rosalind and Orlando are forced to flee into the wild depths of the Forest of Arden. Within this strange and wild realm, the roles of gender, politics and nature are turned upside down as their love, wrapped in a game of mistaken identity, begins to blossom. One of Shakespeare's most cherished comedies, As You Like It journeys into a world of freedom and explores how beguilingly bewildering life can be.

As You Like It was directed by Tony Frost and was performed brilliantly by the UEA's Third Year Drama Students. And this our life exempt from public haunt finds tongues in trees, books in the running brooks, sermons in stones and good in everything. I had a fantastic time at the UEA Drama Studio and very much enjoyed As You Like It.

Arcadia at the Norwich UEA Drama Studio

On the evening of Tuesday 3rd December 2013 I attended the performance of Sir Philip Sidney's Arcadia at the Norwich UEA Drama Studio. The Arcadian Project was put together by the UEA's students and academics to uncover a major missing tapestry in theatre history.

Combining a unique adaptation of Sir Philip Sidney's Arcadia with a production of Shakespeare's beloved comedy As You Like It, the project aimed to shed a brand new light on the works of Britain's most renowned playwright. I will be attending the performance of As You Like It on Friday 6th December 2013.

Arriving upon the utopian shores of Arcadia two young princes, Pyrocles and Musidorus, disguise themselves as an Amazon and a Shepherd to gain access to the Arcadian Princesses, who have been imprisoned by their father to avoid the dangers foretold by a mysterious Oracle. Together they venture into a world of beauty and deception, where every shepherd is a politician, where the court lies in the country and where comedy cascades into tragedy. Under a tree will I take my rest for, howsoever a man be exalted, the beginning and end of the body is earth.

This performance by the UEA's Third Year Drama Students directed by Anthony Gash took us on a journey through fields and forests in search of the lost golden world. I really enjoyed my evening at the UEA Drama Studio and was able to see how this play influenced Shakespeare's As You Like It. The sword fighting was great as well!

A Midsummer Night's Dream at The Whiffler Theatre

On the afternoon of Sunday 7th July 2013 I attended the Chapterhouse Theatre Company's performance of William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream at the Whiffler Theatre at Norwich Castle Gardens. This event was part of the Lord Mayor's Celebration which was taking place in Norwich throughout the weekend.

Chapterhouse Theatre Company is a professional touring theatre company, bringing its wide range of experience to venues across Britain. The company prides itself on fully accessible, traditional, but innovative productions. They are in their twelfth season of productions, with a selection of ever-popular Shakespearean plays, adaptations of fine, classic English novels and their beloved children's show, featuring Milky-White the cow touring country houses and gardens throughout the UK and Ireland.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream, William Shakespeare's most popular comedy, was written around 1595. It portrays the adventures of four young lovers and a group of amateur actors, their interactions with woodland fairies and a duke and duchess. Taking place in a mythical Athens and an enchanted forest, there is a handsome fairy king, a misguided parent, star-crossed lovers, a weaver who's transformed into a half-donkey, wood sprites and elves. This work is widely performed around the world, and no wonder - it's about the world's most popular pastime, falling in love. But as Puck knows, falling in love can make fools of us all.

There was a large audience on a sunny afternoon in Norwich Castle Gardens to see the Chapterhouse Theatre Company perform a wonderful and fun A Midsummer Night's Dream. This was a free event as part of the Lord Mayor's Celebration and proved to be a very enjoyable comedy, with the Chapterhouse Theatre Company putting on a brilliant performance at the Whiffler Theatre.

Steampunk Dream at The Maddermarket Theatre

On Saturday 30th March 2013 I attended The Norwich Players performance of William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream at The Maddermarket Theatre, Norwich. In this production rhythm, movement, music and dance created a dream world.

This Steampunk version of this classic play began in Starveling the tailor's shop where the Mechanicals including that well-loved clown, Bottom, come to rehearse their play for the wedding festivities of the Duke. The fairies transform this shop into their Steampunk forest where four lovers take refuge and we learn all is not well in the relationships of the forest folk royalty. Magic leads to mayhem before order is finally restored.

The stage was transformed but as in a dream, elements of a reality remained. Steampunk is a literacy and cultural genre and aesthetic (an off-shoot of science fiction and fantasy) which combines aspects of the Industrial Revolution, i.e. steam power, with a rebellious or punk response. In the end Puck asks you to consider what you have just seen as no more yielding but a dream.

This production of A Midsummer Night's Dream was mad and brilliant. It was an afternoon where you could leave reality outside and enter an amazing dream world inside The Maddermarket Theatre. Director Chris Bealey created a fantastic version of the Dream which made for a very entertaining experience. Dreams, if they're any good, are always a little bit crazy.

Macbett at the UEA Drama Studio

On the evening of Friday 15th March 2013 I attended the Sacre Theatre's performance of Eugene Ionesco's Macbett, a play in French at the UEA Drama Studio, Norwich. Written in 1972, Ionesco's satire on Shakespeare's play loosely follows the plot adding some characters and twists to the story.

Two generals, Macbett and Banco, put down a rebellion. In payment for their heroic service, Archduke Duncan promises to bestow on them land, titles and cash, but he reneges on the deal. Encouraged by the seductive Lady Duncan, Macbett plots to assassinate the Archduke and crown himself King. He tries to maintain his tenuous grip on the throne through a vicious cycle of murder and bloodshed. Meanwhile, he is haunted by the ghosts of his victims and discovers that his new wife is not all that she seems.

Written during the Cold War, Macbett remoulds Shakespeare's original play into a comic tale of ambition, corruption, cowardice and excess, creating a tragic farce which takes human folly to its wildest extremes. Innovations include a long conversation between the thanes of Glamiss and Candor and a lemonade seller and butterfly hunter, and the revelation that the rightful heir to the throne is a worse tyrant than Macbett ever was.

This was a brilliant night at the UEA Drama Studio with the Sacre Theatre who are a UEA staff-student theatre company which specialises in French language productions putting on a wonderful production of Macbett. It was a night of French culture which offered no ray of hope but was able to offer moments of humour throughout the play. I very much enjoyed Macbett which is a production that evokes a number of different emotions.

Playhouse Creatures at The Maddermarket Theatre

On Saturday 2nd February 2013 I attended the matinee performance from the Norwich Players of Playhouse Creatures by April De Angelis at The Maddermarket Theatre, Norwich. The play was written in 1993 but is set in the time of the Restoration of King Charles II to the throne of England. The cast consisted of Mrs Betterton - Becky Sweet, Doll Common - Dot Binns, Mrs Marshall - Libby Waite, Mrs Farley - Emily Deere and Nell Gwyn - Rebecca Wass.

It is 1660 and Charles II permits actresses to perform on stage for the first time. These became known as the ‘playhouse creatures’ and the play brings these characters to life, characters who are slightly ageing but well-connected or conformist young ladies. All is well until a brash youngster, Nell Gwyn comes along, determined to improve her life from orange-seller to actress even though ‘actress’ to most gentlemen of the time was close to being a ‘whore’. Were they coming to appreciate the dramatic talent or for other less salubrious intentions? The play was a juicy and hilarious historical drama with strong language and themes of an adult nature.

Four of the five women women are echoes of real people, the fifth is an echo of a character from the time before, when women were off the stage, when Shakespeare reigned and Ben Jonson created a female character unparallelled in realism. Doll Common knew what it was to live, to take and to love. She described how Betterton’s theatre was formerly a bear pit, and how as a child she watched her father rip the claws from an aggressive female dancing bear. This makes you understand the analogy with Restoration playhouses – that the actresses were ’creatures’ who would be tamed if they stepped out of line.

This was a brilliant performance from the Norwich Players as they brought April De Angelis' story to life as we were transported back to the time of Charles II. The play was gritty as well as having moments of humour. Well done to all the cast and the Director Lucinda Bray for this amazing production at The Maddermarket Theatre.

Kiss Me Kate at The Old Vic

On the evening of Saturday 19th January 2013 I made my way from London's West End across the River Thames to Waterloo Station and then onto The Old Vic Theatre for the evening performance of the dazzling multi award-winning classic Broadway musical Kiss Me, Kate. This glittering new production, directed by Trevor Nunn, starred Christopher Dickins, David Burt, Adam Garcia, Clive Rowe and Hannah Waddingham. The Chichester Festival Theatre's 2012 revival of the show transferred to the Old Vic Theatre in November 2012, with an official opening in December. The show has received positive reviews from critics and audiences.

Kiss Me, Kate is a musical with music and lyrics by Cole Porter. The story involves the production of a musical version of William Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew and the conflict on and off-stage between Fred Graham, the show's director, producer, and star, and his leading lady, his ex-wife Lilli Vanessi. A secondary romance concerns Lois Lane, the actress playing Bianca, and her gambler boyfriend, Bill, who runs afoul with some gangsters.

Kiss Me, Kate is full of wonderful songs throughout the show. The songs in Act I are "Another Op'nin', Another Show" – Hattie and Company, "Why Can't You Behave?" – Lois Lane and Bill Calhoun, "Wunderbar" – Fred Graham and Lilli Vanessi, "So in Love" – Lilli Vanessi, "We Open in Venice" – Fred Graham, Lilli Vanessi, Lois Lane and Bill Calhoun, "Tom, Dick or Harry" – Bianca, Lucentio, Gremio and Hortensio, "I've Come to Wive it Wealthily in Padua" – Fred Graham and The Men, "I Hate Men" – Lilli Vanessi, "Were Thine That Special Face" – Fred Graham, "We Sing of Love (Cantiamo D'Amore)" – Lois Lane, Bill Calhoun and Ensemble and "Kiss Me, Kate" – Fred Graham, Lili Vanessi and Ensemble.

In Act II the songs are Too Darn Hot" – Paul and Ensemble, "Where is the Life That Late I Led?" – Fred Graham, "Always True to You in My Fashion" – Lois Lane, "From This Moment On" – Harrison Howell and Lilli Vanessi, "Bianca" – Bill Calhoun and Company, "So in Love" (Reprise) – Fred Graham, "Brush Up Your Shakespeare" – First Gangster and Second Gangster, "I Am Ashamed That Women Are So Simple" – Lilli Vanessi and "Kiss Me, Kate" (Reprise = Finale) – Company.

The Old Vic was established in 1818 as the Royal Coburg Theatre, it was taken over by Emma Cons in 1880 when it was known formally as the Royal Victoria Hall. In 1898, a niece of Cons, Lilian Baylis assumed management and began a series of Shakespeare productions in 1914. The building was damaged in 1940 during air raids and it became a Grade II listed building in 1951 after it reopened.

It was also the name of a repertory company that was based at the theatre. The company formed the core of the National Theatre of Great Britain on its formation in 1963, under Laurence Olivier. The National Theatre remained at the Old Vic until new premises were constructed on the South Bank, opening in 1976. It underwent complete refurbishment in 1985. In 2003 Kevin Spacey was appointed as new artistic director of the Old Vic Theatre Company which received considerable media attention.

It was an amazing experience to visit The Old Vic and attend such a wonderful show as Kiss Me, Kate. This Theatre is full of history and such a beautiful building and was the perfect place to enjoy such a brilliant musical. There was a capacity audience on the night who were entertained for three hours with a splendid  performance from all the cast which included lots of laughs on the way. I really enjoyed all the great songs which made this truly a night to remember.

Julius Caesar at Norwich Theatre Royal

On Thursday 18th October 2012 I attended the Royal Shakespeare Company's performance of Julius Caesar at Norwich Theatre Royal. This was part of a national tour following runs in Stratford-upon-Avon and London's West End.

In this production William Shakespeare's great political thriller finds dark contemporary echoes in modern Africa. This epic struggle for power was directed by RSC Chief Associate Director Gregory Doran and was originally created as part of the World Shakespeare Festival for the London 2012 Festival. How many times shall this our lofty scene be acted o'er in states unborn and accents yet unknown.

Julius Caesar tells the story of the conspiracy against Caesar, his assassination and the defeat of his conspirators. Julius Caesar has returned to Rome triumphant from the war against Pompey. The Roman republic is prepared to heap him with new honours, causing concern and dismay among some senators who fear that too much power is held by one man.

Caius Cassius plots a conspiracy to murder Caesar, enlisting the support of the well-respected Marcus Brutus. Brutus has misgivings but is persuaded that Caesar's death is necessary for the good of the republic. However, he rejects Cassius' proposal that Mark Antony, close friend of Caesar, should also be killed. Brutus, Cassius and their co-conspirators stab Caesar to death at the senate house on the Ides of March.

At Caesar's funeral Brutus addresses the people and successfully explains the conspirators' motives. However, Mark Antony speaks next and turns the mob against the conspirators, who are forced to flee from Rome. Mark Antony and Caesar's nephew, Octavius, take command of Rome and lead an army against the conspirators. Brutus and Cassius are defeated at Philippi where they kill themselves rather than be captured.

There were wonderful performances from Paterson Joseph as Brutus, Cyril Nri as Cassius, Ray Fearon as Mark Antony and Jeffery Kissoon as Caesar as this classic story was transferred to present day Africa making it relevant for the 21st Century. The African music and stage set worked very well and the play being acted with African accents gave a real contemporary feel showing how present day political situations can compare to events in history. I really enjoyed my evening in the company of the RSC which made for a real thought provoking and progressive event at Norwich Theatre Royal.

Blue skies over Eaton

On Sunday 2nd September 2012 I attended The Jay Singers concert in the Eaton Concert Series at St. Andrew's Church, Eaton, Norwich. This was a wonderful afternoon to be in Eaton at the first concert in the 2012/13 Series. The Jay Singers were directed by Neil MacKenzie who was a founder member of The Sixteen. Piano accompaniment was provided by Neil Ricketts.

The programme consisted of Full fathom five (from The Tempest) - Shakespeare, Full fathom five - Charles Wood, Look, stranger - W H Auden, Just as the tide - Ralph Vaughan Williams, The Lover's ghost - Ralph Vaughan Williams, Neither out far nor in deep - Robert Frost, Break, break, break - Alfred, Lord Tennyson, There rolls the deep - Hubert Parry, The sea hath its pearls - Ciro Pinsuti, Walking Across the Atlantic - Billy Collins, Fear of Falling - Jehane Markham, Seal Lullaby - Eric Whitacre and Three Shakespeare songs - Ralph Vaughan Williams. There was an interval of 20 minutes and time for a refreshing apple juice before an exciting second half to the concert.

After the interval the programme consisted of Sea Fever - John Masefield, Cargoes - John Masefield, I love my love - Gustav Holst, Matelot - Noel Coward, arr Vlasto, Blue Skies - Irving Berlin, arr Woods, Not waving but drowning - Stevie Smith, The Last Swim - Michael Laskey, Meerfey - Robert Schumann, Der traumende See - Robert Schumann, In Meeres Mitten - Robert Schumann, The Owl and The Pussycat - Edward Lear, Shallow Brown - Percy Grainger and I'm seventeen come Sunday - Percy Grainger.

This was a splendid afternoon of music and poetry with the theme of the Sea as The Jay Singers took us on a journey to the seaside. It was brilliant to hear a couple of Percy Grainger songs along with a reading of The Owl and The Pussycat. A fun and enjoyable concert from The Jay Singers which proved to be the perfect opening to the 2012/13 Eaton Concert Series.

Desdemona at The Barbican

On the evening of Thursday 19th July 2012 I attended the performance of Desdemona by Toni Morrison, Peter Sellars and Rokia Traore featuring Tina Benko at Barbican Hall in the City of London. This event was part of the World Shakespeare and London 2012 Festivals.

Written by Toni Morrison and directed by Peter Sellars, this project was inspired by the fourth act of Othello, in which Desdemona, facing death, sings Willow Song, taught to her by Barbary. This allows an exploration of Desdemona's fascination with Africa, for monologues on women, love, race, relationships and war, for discussions in the afterlife with Othello himself, and between the mothers of Othello and Desdemona. All the voices were provided by Tina Benko.

Between the spoken narratives Malian singer Rokia Traore sang a set of powerful songs with the lyrics translated on a background screen. She is one of a new generation of African women who's music has moved beyond the World Music category. This was an amazing night to be at The Barbican with this moving and visual performance. We danced together, our bodies moving in such harmony it was as though we had known each other all our lives.

The Tempest at Norwich Cathedral

I was back at Norwich Cathedral on Thursday 12th July 2012 for the GB Theatre Company performance of William Shakespeare's The Tempest. Once again we were entertained by the peregrine falcons flying overhead on another exciting evening at the Cathedral's 2012 Shakespeare Festival.

Prospero, (who is both the Duke of Milan and a magician), was usurped by his brother Antonio 12 years ago, helped by Alonso the King of Naples, and the King’s brother Sebastian. Prospero was then put to sea with his baby daughter Miranda, after being given some aid by faithful Lord, Gonzalo, who remained in service to the new Duke, Antonio.

Prospero and Miranda land on a distant island and by the time the play begins, Prospero has been ruling it by using his magic art for the previous 12 years.

Already living on the island were Ariel, an aery spirit, trapped in a tree by dead witch Sycorax until Prospero rescued him, and the savage Caliban, son of Sycorax. He was a free servant until he tried to rape Miranda. Now he is Prospero’s slave and naturally he resents his bondage.

Prospero uses his magic and the help of Ariel to raise a storm, (the tempest), when he divines his enemies to passing by the island by ship as they return from the wedding of King Alonso’s daughter. King Alonso, his son Ferdinand, Antonio, Sebastian, Gonzalo, Stephano and Trinculo are all shipwrecked onto the island.

Alonso and Ferdinand are separated in the wreck and Alonso searches for his son who he fears is drowned. Encouraged by Antonio, Sebastian is urged to plot against his brother, King Alonso, to seize the crown.

A drunken butler Stephano and a jester Trinculo meet the half-man/half-beast Caliban who persuades them that they should kill Prospero and rule the island. Ferdinand is lured by Ariel’s music to meet Miranda and they fall instantly in love. Prospero tests Ferdinand by enslaving him to make sure that his feelings for his daughter Miranda are real and true. Eventually satisfied, he presents the young couple with a betrothal masque.

Drawing his enemies into his circle, Prospero finally confronts and forgives them. Having done this he can drown his books of magic, pardon Caliban, break his magical staff, set Ariel free and leave the island for Milan where he will resume his rule as Duke.

This production of The Tempest was directed by Jack Shepherd who became more widely known for his performance as Wycliffe in the nineties. This performance delighted with Daniel Dingsdale as Ariel and Sarah Middleton as Miranda. I enjoyed my two evenings at the 2012 Shakespeare Festival and I was very impressed with the shows that the GB Theatre Company put on, which gave great entertainment to those in attendance.

The Taming of the Shrew at Norwich Cathedral

On the evening of Wednesday 11th July 2012 I attended the GB Theatre Company performance of William Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew at Norwich Cathedral as part of their Shakespeare Festival 2012. This was an open air theatre production in the cathedral cloister. Their were dark clouds and peregrine falcons flying overhead but no rain on the night.

A tinker, Christopher Sly passes out drunk and is thrown out of the local tavern. A local Lord takes him to his house and decides to play a practical joke on him. He and his household convince Sly that he is in fact the Lord of the house. They inform him that a group of players have arrived to perform The Taming of the Shrew for him. This then becomes not only the play presented to Sly but also the main play presented to the audience.

Hortensio who seeks his fortune, the rich and elderly Gremio and the romantic Lucentio all arrive at the house of Baptista to woo his beautiful daughter Bianca. However, Baptista insists that Bianca cannot be wed until his older daughter, the shrewish Katherine is married, but with her violent temper and reputation for shrewishness who will marry her?

Meanwhile Lucentio has gained the upper hand with Bianca. His servant Tranio convinces a travelling school teacher to pretend to be Lucentio’s father, Vincentio. Baptista wants to meet Vincentio to discuss details of the marriage. When the real Vincentio turns up there is great confusion, but eventually the match of Lucentio and Bianca is settled.

In the meantime, Hortensio has found a wealthy widow to wed. Petruchio and Katherine return to attend the wedding. Everyone is surprised at what appears to be a tamed Katherine. The men hold a wager to see whose wife is most attentive to their wishes and call for them, but only Katherine answers and she makes a speech in homage to her husband’s wishes whilst he watches on dotingly. The only question is: ‘Who has tamed whom?’

This was a wonderful evening at Norwich Cathedral as the GB Theatre Company put on a splendid show with amazing performances from Lucia McAnespie as Katherine and David Davies as Petruchio. This production was directed by Jenny Stephens who previously directed The Merry Wives of Windsor for them in 2010.

The Alchemist going for gold!

On the evening of Saturday 30th June 2012 I attended the Norwich Players performance of Ben Jonson's The Alchemist at the Maddermarket Theatre, Norwich. Ben Jonson had a liking for craziness, whereas Shakespeare had a horror for it. For Shakespeare, madness is frightening; for Jonson it's funny. In Shakespeare, there's nothing to live for if anarchy reigns, whereas for Jonson that's where life really had its foundations.

With his master Lovewit resting in the country to avoid an outbreak of plague in London, a clever servant named Face develops a scheme to make money and amuse himself. He gives Subtle, a charlatan, and a prostitute named Dol Common access to the house. Subtle disguises himself as an alchemist, with Face as his servant; Doll disguises herself as a zealous Puritan. Together, the three of them gull and cheat an assortment of foolish clients. These include Sir Epicure Mammon, a wealthy sensualist looking for the philosopher's stone; two greedy Puritans, Tribulation Wholesome and Ananias, who hope to counterfeit Dutch money; Drugger, a "tobacco man" hoping to marry the wealthy widow Dame Pliant; Dapper, an incredibly suave, fashionable, good-looking 17th century gentleman, and other minor figures looking for a short-cut to success in gambling or in business.

The play takes place over the course of one day in the house of Face's master. The three rogues are forced to increasingly frenetic manoeuvres first to manage all of their simultaneous scams, and then to fend off the suspicious Kestrel, Dame Pliant's brother. At last, Lovewit returns; quickly perceiving what Face has done in his absence, he devises a scheme of his own to allow all to end well. Doll and Subtle escape unpunished but empty-handed; Mammon's goods are restored to him, but the Puritans' are not. The smaller victims either flee or are driven from the stage. Lovewit himself pledges troth to Dame Pliant, with Kestrel's approval. Face is restored without punishment to his original place as Jeremy Lovewit's butler.'

This was a wonderful evening at the Maddermarket Theatre as the Norwich Players brought us the genius of Ben Jonson. The Alchemist is unflinching in its satire, very much a play for our own straitened times. It was a night for going for gold but knowing that not everything that glitters is gold.

Henry V at Norwich Theatre Royal

I was back in my seat at Norwich Theatre Royal on the evening of Saturday 12th May 2012 for Propeller's performance of William Shakespeare's Henry V. With Dugald Bruce-Lockhart as King Henry V and Nicholas Asbury as Montjoy this was another high quality production to thrill the Norwich audience.

Henry V is one of the greatest tales in English folklore about a British warrior. It is set in a time when nationalism is at its most dangerous and exciting. As increasing numbers of British servicemen and women are seeing active service, Propeller brings its own unique take on one of Shakespeare’s most famous plays. Thrilling and deeply moving, Henry V marks the beginning of a journey that takes us from the corridors of Westminster to the fields of France in an evening of unforgettable power.

From  performances of the Clash's London Calling and Manhattan Transfer’s Chanson d’Amour to the transformation of Henry V into the heroic warrior-king who won the battle of Agincourt Propeller brought us the magic of Shakespeare in a fun and different way. Saturday was a wonderful day as Propeller gave us a brilliant taste of two of Shakespeare's best known plays.  

The Winter's Tale at Norwich Theatre Royal

On Saturday 12th May 2012 I attended both Propeller's William Shakespeare productions at Norwich Theatre Royal starting with the matinee performance of The Winter's Tale, while in the evening I witnessed their performance of Henry V. Propeller is an all male Shakespeare company who mix a rigorous approach to the text with a modern physical aesthetic.

The Winter’s Tale is a tragic fairytale which tells the mysterious and extraordinary story of a man consumed by an inexplicable jealousy that destroys his family, his kingdom and himself. Wracked by guilt, Leontes sets off a chain reaction of events that leads to a miraculous climax and the chance of redemption. This is a re-visiting of Propeller’s highly acclaimed 2005 production.

This performance was full of wonderful acting including Robert Hands as Leontes and Tony Bell as Autolycus. We were given a band called The Bleatles and Beyonce's Single Ladies in a fun filled afternoon with the audience laughing out loud on many occasions.  This was a great afternoon spent at Norwich Theatre Royal and I still had Henry V to look forward to in the evening.

Present Laughter at The Maddermarket Theatre

On the afternoon of Saturday 28th April 2012 I attended the Norwich Players matinee performance of Noel Coward's Present Laughter at the Maddermarket Theatre, Norwich. This was the debut production for new artistic director Genevieve Raghu.

The plot follows a few days in the life of the successful and self-obsessed light comedy actor Garry Essendine as he prepares to travel for a touring commitment in Africa. Amid a series of events bordering on farce, Garry has to deal with women who want to seduce him, placate both his long-suffering secretary and his estranged wife, cope with a crazed young playwright, and overcome his impending mid-life crisis. The story was described by Coward as "a series of semi-autobiographical pyrotechnics."

This was a splendid performance from the Norwich Players with Christian de l'Argy playing the part of Garry Essendine. The stylish clothing of the period were spot on as we were taken to the world of London in the Spring of 1939 which brought us many funny moments that brought smiles and laughter to the Maddermarket Theatre. I'm so sorry it's a wrong number as Garry would tell Liz. Young ladies forgetting their latch keys and spending the night in the spare room was a regular happening at Garry's flat in Sloane Square.

Garry said in Act One, "You're not in love with me, the real me. You're in love with an illusion." This sums up the play as Garry tries to deal with his situation and passing years. I really enjoyed my afternoon at the Maddermarket Theatre as the Norwich Players put on the style with a performance full of emotions and asking what is love? The title of the play being taken from Feste's song in William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night.

Macbeth tragedy at UEA

I was back at the UEA Drama Studio on Thursday 8th December 2011 for William Shakespeare's Macbeth another production from the University's final year Drama students. This is Shakespeare's tragedy of power, corruption and bloodshed.

The play is set in the bleak landscape of medieval Scotland. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth with the prophecy of the three witches are tempted into a ruthless hunt for glory. Dark and full of horror, Macbeth is not for the faint hearted.

The setting created on the night was spot on as we were taken back to the 11th Century. This was another triumph from the UEA Third Year Production Team. I enjoyed both my visits to the UEA Drama Studio where I experienced a warm and friendly atmosphere.

All-Female Twelfth Night at UEA

I made my way to the UEA Drama Studio on Wednesday 7th December 2011 for an all-female production of William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night by the University's final year Drama students. It was a night that put a new perspective on this funny and moving comedy as it is normally performed by an all-male cast.

Shipwrecked and separated from her twin brother, Viola disguises herself as a boy in order to serve the Duke of Illyria. While wooing a countess on his behalf she finds herself the object of his beloved's affections.

Viola's brother Sebastian arrives and a trick is played upon the countess' steward Malvolio. Confusion reigns in this romantic comedy of mistaken identity.

A fun time was had by all with lots of laughter filling the UEA Drama Studio. There were splendid performances from all the cast who brought a lot of energy and enthusiasm to this play that is full of shifts and surprises.

Shakespeare delights at the Maddermarket Theatre

Double Falsehood bringing Andalucia, Spain
1612 to the Maddermarket Theatre

On Friday night I was at the Maddermarket Theatre, Norwich for Double Falsehood or The Distressed Lovers by William Shakespeare and John Fletcher. This play was included in the Arden Shakespeare in 2010 and scholars now believe it is based on The History of Cardenio a lost collaboration between Shakespeare and John Fletcher.

The Maddermarket Theatre is a beautiful place to visit and I very much enjoyed my evening. The play is set in Andalicia, Spain in 1612 telling the story of two brothers Roderick and Henriquez who falls for two women. Violante and Leonora who is engaged to Julio.

It was a fine and fitting performance from the Norwich Players who has staged all of Shakespeare's plays. I particularly loved the scenery for the acts in the mountains. Great acting and brilliant Elizabethan costume.

Norwich should be proud of the Maddermarket Theatre and all the fine productions staged at this wonderful building full of history and character.