7 minute read
07 DST SUMMER TOURS DST productions go on national and international tours
DST Summer Tours This summer, there are 3 DST shows going on tour - all doing exciting things!
Emily McLean gets us updated on the progress of Castle Theatre Company’s UK and US tour of ‘Twelth Night’.
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The cast of Castle Theatre Company’s summer tour are currently taking a well-earned break from travelling, bringing Twelfth Night to venues all over the south of England, and resting up before taking it across the pond to the Big Apple. Every venue we visited this July welcomed us with open arms, providing hospitality and warm praise for CTC. Twelfth Night is a truly joyous play, brought to life by our fabulous cast and crew this year. Director Lucy Knight especially drew out the themes of gender and sexuality, challenging the audience with questions about how aware the characters are of the confusion and trickery that abounds. Does Olivia suspect that “Cesario” is not all that he/she seems? Do our feelings towards Malvolio change when it is Malvolia instead? These questions and more provide a fresh take on the 400-year-old play, contrasting nicely with the traditional costume choices. We opted for a classic, travelling theatre company vibe; while we may be pushing boundaries with our content, at the heart of it we are just actors, presenting a story that has been loved for centuries. Music was also included this year, devised by our amazingly talented musical director, Georgie Proctor. This addition brought scenes to life, achieving a wandering minstrel vibe in-keeping with our classic aesthetic. Unsurprisingly, the “food of love” was a big hit with our audiences.
If you saw us in Durham, you may be wondering if anything changed once we hit the road. While no major alterations were made, once on tour we were able to settle into the material, becoming increasingly comfortable with it as we performed every day (sometimes twice!). We were able to experiment on the road with our own gags and interpretations, not to mention adapting to any unforeseen difficulties. One example that comes to mind is from Elstow Abbey, where, during a sword fight, Toby Belch (Danny Booth) drew his wooden sword only for it to comically droop, having snapped in an earlier scene. Though obviously being constant professionals, the whole cast and audience allowed themselves a giggle before continuing with the scene. Up next is the US leg of the tour. Starting with New York City, we kick off with busking in Central Park, before travelling upstate to Wethersfield Gardens, and over to Long Island and Staten Island before heading down to North Carolina. Here, we’ll be entertained by our friends at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, playing venues around the state for the rest of our time. It promises to be an absolute whirlwind, and we cannot wait to explore. The summer tour is always enjoyable, enhanced this year by stunning weather to accompany our stunning venues. From exploring the historic Beaulieu Abbey to sunning ourselves on the beach, the whole cast were able to appreciate the beauty on our doorsteps. No doubt New York City will provide quite the contrast to the country lanes to which we’ve grown accustomed…
President of Durham Opera Ensemble Rosie Burgering is getting ready for ‘HMS Pinafore’.
Ever since I have arrived at Durham I have wondered why CTC have done their Shakespeare Tour, an amazing opportunity to stage theatre on a wider platform, a much larger logistical challenge but an overwhelmingly exciting opportunity, but there is no other platform for touring Theatre. On becoming president of Fourth Wall this year, this was one of my aims. Having directed ‘Boys’ by Ella Hickson with Alice in December last year, we decided that it seemed sad that three shows would be it’s end and not allow us to develop it any further, so we decided to take it on tour. This was initially meant to happen in June, but logistically it make more sense for it to take place in September, hence the gap, but we are very excited to get our teeth back into it, with Tristan stepping in as Timp giving us a fresh new take on the show. Logistically, this has been a huge feat in organizing venues, sorting budgeting, transport, accommodation, rehearsals, rights, the list goes on… However, I am very excited to see how it all turns out, and if all goes to plan, this is a hugely exciting opportunity, not just for us, but something that I hope will be taken on by other theatre companies within DST well into the future. If anyone is around the following venues, we would absolutely love any support that we can get: We are incredibly excited to be opening out London shows of HMS Pinafore next week. DOE has never performed outside of Durham before so we are getting ready for what will be an incredible achievement for the society. The show itself will maintain similar blocking and dancing however we are adjusting the entire performance to a new stage layout! We have lost the proscenium arch of the Assembly Rooms in Durham and are bringing the show closer to the audience in a deep thrust layout. This means that the cast will need to adjust so some audience members potentially being behind their line of sight - a challenge for the short rerehearsal period. We are also welcoming some fantastic new cast members in both solo and choral roles. They will have the enormous challenge of learning the entire sow in just two and a half days! We are certain with the support of our incredible production team and the friendships amongst the cast, we can
Director of ‘Boys’ Hetty Hodgson travels south for the tour.
really have this show looking ship-shape (Sorry!).
Catching up... with Charlotte Peters
Head of Student Theatre Kate Barton chats to Durham alumn Charlotte Peters.
Charlotte is currently Resident Director on the national tour of War Horse and Tour Associate Director on the US/UK tour of Stephen Daldry’s An Inspector Calls. She recently directed the national tour of Birdsong, which came to the Gala in June. Charlotte is Artistic Director of Brickdust and has directed a range of new writing throughout London’s off-West End theatres.
Kate Barton (KB): When where you at Durham and what did you study?
Charlotte Peters (CP): I was at Durham reading Music (with a couple of modules of English thrown in) in 2006-2009.
KB: What was your DST highlight?
CP: There were so many highlights! Heading out to the US having organised the first tour of the Ivy Leagues was pretty special - playing A Midsummer Night”s Dream to an outdoor crowd of 350 at Brown was magical. And I’ve never had so much fun directing than when we worked on Guys and Dolls for DULOG at the Gala.
KB: What has been your highlight since graduating?
CP: Work wise, my first West End Press Night as Resident Director was a big ‘un, but to be honest, if I’m directing a show wherever and people I don’t know have booked tickets, I still get a serious buzz.
after Durham?
CP: Do it! It’s hard - you have to really graft and be prepared to learn and work in all aspects of the industry, both to make a living and gain experience. But if you have a creative mind and you can make your own opportunities and be consistently passionate and full of energy then absolutely do it!
learning?
CP: That life is always more important than work.
KB: What’s motivating you now to keep working in the industry?
CP: My achievements so far and a drive to keep moving forward; and the inspiring and empowering women that I’ve
Life is always more important than work
KB: What would you say to someone who is interesting in following a career in directing
KB: What’s the one thing you don’t regret
met at all levels of the industry.
