Two Gentlemen of Verona : Sun and Moon Theatre : The Dell Stratford
6th August 2016
A dazzlingly bright and sunny day for two performances of a lesser known (everyone has heard of it but not everyone knows what happens in it) Shakespeare play in the Dell Theatre. This is the RSC’s outdoor stage across the lawns from The Royal Shakespeare Theatre and The Swan and just across the road from The Other Place. A beautiful setting by the banks of the Avon with the church where the Bard rests just behind the trees that provide the backdrop for the stage.
This post is largely to share some unedited photographs with members of the cast, as well as to celebrate a fabulous day out. Some more pictures and a review of the production will follow in the next day or two. I hope they go some way to capturing the pace, energy, laughs, tears and torment that attracted the biggest audiences I have seen at this venue. A huge success and congratulations to all who took part.
Melissa Barrett as Julia
The cast in dappled sunlight
Turio serenades Silvia with the energetic backing of Richard Sparkle and The Jingle Bells
The RSC staff counted 160 in the audience at the beginning of performance one. And over 200 by the end. The second performance attracted even more.
Chris Harknett as Proteus and David Johnson as Valentine
Hannah Clancy and Sam Pike wearing a tank top that I’m sure used to be mine.
David Johnson as Valetine and Kathy Towns as Silvia
George Bradley as Launce with Dotty Dog making her stage debut as Crab
An unscripted entrance and exit
Shakespearean spaniel!
Melissa Barrett and Jessica Holyoake
Part of the success was down to excellent use of the performing space and placing some of the action in amongst the audience
My favourite picture
A splendid time was guaranteed for all.
Lovely photos. Grand day.
Certainly was!
I love this play! I was in it last year. I played Panthina, servant to Proteus’ mother Antonia. I know. But it’s amateur theatre… good men are hard to come by. 😀 Even better, in the second half I got to play one of the outlaws with two other women and us all wearing knitted beards. Probably the most fun I’ve ever had in a play. It’s still talked about!
This production looks like fun. I’m so glad they got such good audiences.
I would like to have seen that production. I love this play. Have seen it four times. Twice by the RSC and twice by casts with David in. Yes that’s my lad with the blue shirt on! So many ideas that Shakespeare came back to in later plays.
Hooray for outdoor theater. A few years ago I followed a production of one of Shakespeare’s plays from the Battery to Staten Island — scenes on the ferry as well!
I do love a promenading performance of Shakespeare. My friend Jon and I once led an audience of about 60 around the streets of Exeter in a two man production of Romeo and Juliet. Enjoyed it so much that we went back later and did Hamlet. Never thought of putting it on public transport. Now that is an idea!
Such a summer’s day! I feel a sonnet coming on!
So far this summer we have had some good comparisons to a summer’s day without ever getting to summer. Saturday was very special.
Outdoor theater is a good thing for summer, relaxing and fun, that I wish we have, as you might suspect summer is like a oven in any part of Texas. Your photos have captured these talent performers and splendid time of all.
“…and placing some of the action in amongst the audience”– how brilliant! Thank you for sharing the great summer time with us, Simon. 🙂
I’ve only ever been in Texas in the autumn. It was warm enough then! Outdoor Shakespeare in Stratford on Avon seems to sum up an English summer. It was a superb day out. Loved the weather, loved the location. Loved the play!
Have you, Simon? Good to know you have been in Texas. It doesn’t cool down until October.
No life is complete without spending some time in Texas. Hope to get back there some day.
We moved to Texas because of our jobs. I still miss Colorado. 🙂
There is a definite likeness, but I can’t pinpoint it – the physiognomical (?) one, I mean. The intellectual one is in evidence by the very activity, of course: a couple of cultured fellers, you are. And the photos are huge fun !
He’s better looking than me and makes a better Valentine. In my opinion we both look better clean shaven but I enjoyed a beard when I was younger too. The fun in the pictures captured the fun of the day!
It is so good. I can see the aspect of the actor well.
Thank you very much. It was a superb day out.
Looks fantastic! Wish I was there.
It was. You would have enjoyed it very much indeed. Hope you are well.