RSC to stage plays in Holy Trinity Church?
bookburn
Ambitious Bard festival under way
The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) has launched one of the UK's most
ambitious theatre projects, in Shakespeare's birthplace of
Stratford-upon-Avon.
The year-long Complete Works festival, which begins on the anniversary of the
bard's death, will stage his sonnets, poems and all 37 Shakespeare plays.
Dame Judi Dench and Sir Ian McKellen are among the performers taking part.
RSC artistic director Michael Boyd told the BBC that the event would be a
"national knees-up".
"Our ambition is to stage one of the most significant cultural festivals of
the year in Stratford-upon-Avon," said Mr Boyd.
Shakespeare is traditionally said to have been born on 23 April 1564, and to
have died on the same day 52 years later, in 1616.
Hailed as the biggest theatrical celebration in the company's history, the RSC
claims the festival marks the first time all the plays have been staged in one
continuous season.
OVERSEAS PRODUCTIONS
Titus Andronicus - Japan
Richard III - Kuwait
Richard II - Germany
Two Gentlemen of Verona - Brazil
Macbeth- - Poland
Midsummer Night's Dream - India
Hamlet - South Africa
Seventeen overseas theatre companies and 14 UK theatre companies will perform
at the festival, as well as the 23 productions being staged by the RSC.
Ten of the productions will be in languages other than English, at least in
part.
"It shows how fantastically universal the plays are, and seeing people's
different approach," said Dame Judi, who will play Mistress Quickly in The
Merry Wives of Windsor.
Outdoor theatre
BBC arts correspondent Rebecca Jones called the project "a gamble", but said
ticket sales were already up by a 25 per cent on the equivalent period last
year.
"If the festival is a success it could help revitalise a company which has
been criticised by some for losing its way," said Jones.
A new outdoor theatre - The Dell - will be built in the riverside gardens
beside the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, and a temporary 100-seat studio will be
erected inside the auditorium for a month.
Actors will also perform in the 1,000-seat Courtyard Theatre, which is
scheduled to open in July 2006, and Holy Trinity Church, the burial place of
Shakespeare.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/entertainment/4935658.stm
Published: 2006/04/23 09:07:48 GMT
© BBC MMVI
bookburn
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Holy Trinity Church
Stratford-upon-Avon, Warkwickshire, CV37 6BB
Tube n/a
Telephone 0870 609 1110
HENRY VIII
by William Shakespeare
Location Stratford-upon-Avon (UK)
Genre Drama
Previews from 23 Aug 06
Opens 24 Aug 06
Booking to 2 Sep 06
Closes 2 Sep 06
Time 7.30pm (24 Aug at 7pm), No Perfs on Sunday
B/O Price
B/O Tel Fee!
Standby Concs
Tickets
Performers
Director Gregory Thompson
Design
Lighting
Choreography
Costume
Producer AandBC
Press
Synopsis
Length
Review
Seating Plan
Map
Hotels
Other Info Part of 'THE COMPLETE WORKS' Series
**In Portuguese and English
Performance Schedule
bookburn
religious and secular celebrations, here is part of a local Brit's blog
refering to what sounds like hypocrisy.
(quote from "Strumpet" at
http://thejournalsofronliar.blogspot.com/2005/11/for-christs-sake.html
Friday, November 25, 2005
For Christ's sake.
It seems a shame but par for the course, that Stratford Choral Society's
latest concert was banned from Stratford upon Avon's Holy Trinity church all
because a section of the operatic work by Karl Jenkins, contained an Islamic
call to prayer.
Ironically called The Armed Man: a mass for peace, the work was actually
performed two weeks ago in Coventry Cathedral but the whingers on the
Parochial Church Council of Holy Trinity could make no room for it in their
building or in their cold, cold hearts.
The wet Vicar of Holy Trinity Martin 'hands up in the air' Gorrick, said
according to reports in Ron's favourite newspaper , '.there was no problem
performing the piece, but we didn't feel happy about that call to prayer being
sung in church' . He went on to point out that the Parochial church council,
did, in a wonderful display of Christian generosity, '.offer the society the
opportunity to go ahead with the concert.if the call to prayer was deleted'.
It seems that his Holiness Gorrick has forgotten that JC is venerated in the
Koran, the only difference being that the Muslim faith declares Jesus a
Prophet rather than actual Son of the big Guy. A view that I know for a fact,
is held by many silent and troubled Christians.
Anyway, is it any wonder that church congregations are dwindling in this
country in the face of such cold, unimaginative, unwelcoming, we-know-best
behaviour. The very same disgusting, ignorant and uneducated behaviour that
disallowed a friend of mine holding Tai Chi classes in the parish Hall?
Pathetic.
Oh, I nearly forgot, the words to the offensive prayer.' God is great. I
testify that He is God. I testify that Muhammad is God's Prophet. Come to
prayer. Come to security. God is great. He is God'.
At least it's better than 'All things bright and beautiful'
And another thing less we forget, this is the church (Holy Trinity) that
charges you cash money to sneek a peek at Shakespeare's last resting place.
(snip rest)
------------------------
bookburn's comment: Also, I have wondered why the roof of Holy Trinity Church
needs expensive repair now and donations are asked for, considering that the
church is used for tourism and paid entrance. Also, I thought Shakespeare was
buried there by right of his purchase for over £400 of part of the local tax
levy that included direction of Holy Trinity Church? Is it a church or a side
show of concerts and plays?