Royal palace becomes a theatre for Queen Dido
Lyra
(quote)
Theatre news from The Evening Standard London,
Royal palace becomes a theatre for Queen Dido
By Louise Jury, Evening Standard 01.02.08
'Glorious': the 17th century palace
* Read Louise Jury's arts blog
Kensington Palace is opening its doors as a theatre for the first
time.
A production of a rarely performed play by Christopher Marlowe is to
be presented by Angels In The Architecture, a company that presents
classics in unusual places.
The work, Dido Queen Of Carthage, is to be staged across a dozen of
the State Apartments rooms this month, starting tonight.
Just 100 ticket-holders for each performance will get the chance to
follow the cast of six as they weave through the ornate panelled rooms
of the former home to royalty and government. Palace staff and local
dance students are volunteer extras.
Nigel Arch, director of Kensington Palace, believes the play could
prove to be an interesting way to experience the buildings, including
one secret passage normally closed to visitors. He said: "The nice
thing about this production is the play is about love, power and human
emotions and how they are changed or warped by experience.
"That's what went on in the 18th century, when this was a centre of
government and politics. It's a very nice fit. It's a very theatrical
space."
Sarah Thom, who founded Angels In The Architecture with Rebecca
McCutcheon and will play Dido, said the setting was highly appropriate
to a plot filled with gods and cupid as the walls and ceilings were
full of paintings telling such stories.
In the play, Dido is a powerful woman who falls heavily in love.
Previous residents of the palace include George II's mistresses,
Princess Margaret and, of course, Diana, Princess of Wales.
"You don't have to mention the Diana story because it just hangs
there," said Thom. "Obviously there are resonances but we're not in
any way saying that Dido is Diana, although the name is slightly
close, I suppose."
Plays have been presented in the palace gardens and there would have
been entertainment such as dancing from as early as the 17th century
when the palace was built by William and Mary.
However, nothing comparable has been staged in the apartments before.
Jake Maskall, formerly Danny Moon in EastEnders and now playing Dido's
love Aeneas, said: "You get so much for free performing here because
the setting is so rich and glorious. It's great. It feels such a
privilege."
There are evening performances until 23 February.
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I caught Angels in Architecture's staging of Marlowe's Dido, Queen of
Carthage in Soho last year and they are now restaging it, this time in
the royal apartments in Kensington Palace.
http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/theatre/2008/02/for_editors_8.html