TASTE FOR THEATRE

A new way of learning

“The Egg Theatre isn’t just a theatre you go to to watch plays”, says James Moore, Head of Creative Learning at the Egg. “It’s a new campus for a new way of learning.” Melissa Blease talks to the movers and shakers at this innovative hub of theatrical activity and uncovers all the opportunities available for our youngsters

The backstory of Hamelin’s infamous Piper is set to be revealed on a Bath stage this month. Later on in April, we’re all invited to bring our parents, children, friends and lovers to The Family Sex Show, described by the show’s designer Josie Dale-Jones as “a series of artistic responses and conversations to help make it easier for anyone, of any age, to talk about certain sticky, tricky topics.” Elsewhere...

There’s glorious gelato and the coolest cocktails in town on the menu at the stylish Brozen cafe, and a flurry of activity around the imaginative, immersive experience The Living Tree (produced in partnership with the Forest of Imagination) which returns to Bath by popular demand in June. Meanwhile, it’s just been announced that the Wonderfund – a uniquely bold initiative – has garnered enough traction and support to extend its remit beyond the realms of original possibility.

All this and much more is going on at The Egg Theatre, which first opened its doors on St John’s Place in October 2005 and has since become an established, internationally recognised centre for creativity and innovation. “The Egg isn’t just a theatre you go to to watch plays,” says James Moore, Head of Creative Learning. “It’s a new campus for a new way of learning, and our doors are open to people of all ages.”

Alongside all manner of ambitious, innovative ongoing initiatives to deepen the quality of art that’s available to young people and make engagement accessible to all, The Egg is also home to The Bath Theatre Academy (a working partnership with Bath College to deliver the two-year Level 3 Performing Arts course) and the Theatre Royal Bath Theatre School (TRBTS), which offers an inclusive program of workshops for those aged between 5–25, covering all disciplines of theatre-making including a backstage programme that’s unique to the South West.

Are The Egg team a merry band of modernday Pied Pipers, wooing the creative industry superstars of the future and offering them the kind of experiences, skills, inspiration, selfbelief and empowerment that shapes limitless possibilities?

“One of our key ambitions at TRBTS is to offer our members exceptional experiences,” says the School’s Director Sophie JacobsWyburn. “For some, this is the opportunity to work alongside specialist industry professionals; for others, it’s being offered opportunities to perform in our venues, or using our support and contacts to seek out ways in which we can present their work in other venues – or simply just make friends and memories. For me, no experience is as exceptional as seeing our young people empowered, joyful, and invested in their own creative lives.”

The TRBTS’s latest production is entirely devised by company members aged between 14–16, and features 22 cast members supported by 10 of the school’s backstage crew. “Hamelin is a theatrical investigation into the many theories around the truth behind the Pied Piper story,” says Sophie, who started to plan the production last autumn. Working collaboratively, the company pulled the disparate threads of the multiple historical theories woven into the fable together, incorporating fairy-tale whispers and mischievous humour into their version of the story and resulting in a kind of love letter to the elements of folk horror that runs through traditional tales right up to the Grimm brothers. In Sophie’s words, “Hamelin is a kaleidoscopic experience of a story we all think we remember well. It shows not only a remarkable level of maturity in the young people who created the show, but the curiosity and playfulness which they employ to engage their audience is an absolute joy. We couldn’t be prouder of the results.” And yes, Hamelin offers broad appeal across multiple generations – no grown ups are too grown up to enjoy it. Back to The Egg’s overall ethos:

“The notion that you have to bring – or ‘borrow’ – a child to enjoy The Egg is a constant challenge for me,” says Kate Cross MBE, Director of The Egg. “The Egg is a creative hub that’s open to all ages, at all times. Why would you not give children the same quality of experience that theatres offer to adults? To my mind, that sends a message to both children and parents that children don’t really matter. And we must never forget that a trip to the theatre can change someone’s life forever. It can mould a career or define leisure time. It can help them in their exams or in their relationships. At The Egg we’re so sure of this, through testament, data, instinct and years of experience, that we urgently want to give this opportunity to as many young people as possible. In our young communities, we’re witnessing a happiness deficit and we want theatre to top that up. But resources are needed to take a child to the theatre.” And so...

Established in autumn 2021, The Egg’s Wonderfund campaign originally aimed to help schools come back to The Egg in the post-Covid climate. In February of this year, the Theatre hosted a magical event to celebrate the initiative and acknowledge the charities, trusts and individuals who have supported the Wonderfund journey. But looking back, nobody could have predicted just how much there would be to celebrate.

“We started to see that, with ongoing support, we could extend The Wonderfund

School children watching a show at The Egg

Exploring The Living Tree at the Egg Theatre

...we’re witnessing a happiness deficit and we want theatre to top that up ❝

programme beyond 2022,” says Andrea Harris, Head of Development at Theatre Royal Bath. “New partners are emerging all the time, and we’re looking at ways that we can work with community-minded corporates, the local authority and fellow charities to layer up opportunities that give the best impact for children and teachers.”

To date, the Wonderfund has raised the funds needed to offer up to 4,000 Egg Theatre tickets to state schools over the next 12 months and alleviate barriers such as transport and teacher cover for the schools facing the greatest hardship. A schedule of Wonderfund activities will soon be announced, starting with The Living Tree installation and including details of a dance tour designed for school playgrounds alongside wonderful opportunities for school groups to see live performance.

“A full theatre programme and enhanced support to teachers has become a tangible goal,” says Kate Cross. “Thanks to the hugely positive reception and support that our local community has so readily offered us, our aim is to establish the Wonderfund as an ongoing feature of Bath life, making sure that every school is supported to embrace the arts and bring their children to the theatre.”

Why wouldn’t you want to support the Wonderfund? Who wouldn't want to meet the Pied Piper, or take the family along to a family-friendly show that takes the guilt out of talking about sex... or just sit at a table in the sunshine on a historic, traffic-free lane at the heart of Bath, sipping a cool cocktail?

“We never condescend to children,” says Kate Cross. “People think that children don’t have taste, but they do.” People think that they know all there is to know about The Egg... but unless you can say that you visited just yesterday, you really don’t. n

Bath school children taking part in a theatre workshop

The Egg Theatre: theatreroyal.org.uk/ your-visit/the-egg; Wonderfund: theatreroyal.org.uk/wonderfund

Seeing in the Spring

As we get older, cataracts affect many of us, but acting early can reduce the impact they will have on your life. Here, we focus on the signs to look for, and what can be done to alleviate the problem.

Cataracts are a very common eye condition, and many people aged over 60 will have at least some amount present. A cataract is a clouding of the lens in your eye, which causes your sight to become misty. Cataracts slowly get worse and your sight gets cloudier over time, but the vast majority can be treated successfully. If cataracts have been limiting your ability to do the things you enjoy, surgery to remove them can be a truly lifechanging experience.

How does your eye work?

Light enters your eye through the cornea (the clear window at the front), and the lens ensures this light is focused correctly to form an image when it reaches the retina. Just like glasses lenses, in order to see clearly, the lens in your eye needs to be clear. Throughout your life, your lens changes shape to help you see things clearly in the distance and close up. This is called “accommodation of vision”. However, as we get older, the lens isn’t able to change shape as well as it used to. When this happens, most people can see clearly in the distance but need reading glasses for close work.

How does a cataract affect your sight?

Cataracts could affect your sight in a number of ways. Your vision may become blurred or appear misty; you may be dazzled by lights; or your coloured vision may seem washed out or faded.

Most people will eventually develop a cataract in both eyes, though one eye may be affected before the other. If a cataract isn’t removed, over time it will be like trying to see through a frosted window. Even if your cataract gets to this stage, it can still be removed and your sight will be almost as it was before the cataract developed.

What causes a cataract?

The most common reason is ageing. Most people over 60 have some amount of cataract and this gradually worsens with age. Apart from getting older, other common causes of cataracts include diabetes, medications such as steroids, and longstanding eye conditions. They can also be present at birth (congenital cataracts).

What treatment is available?

The only effective treatment for cataracts is surgery to remove your cloudy lens and replace it with an artificial clear lens implant. New glasses will not help if the cataract is too advanced, and cataract surgery is one of the most successful operations performed.

In the past, eye surgeons often waited until the cataract became “ripe” before removing it, but with modern surgical precision and techniques, the operation is usually done as soon as your eyesight interferes with your daily activities, such as reading and driving.

What does the operation involve?

Cataract surgery is usually done with a local anaesthetic and takes around 20 minutes. Small cuts are made and the cataract is removed in small pieces using sound waves (phacoemulsification) so you don’t need stitches. The artificial lens implant is then simply placed inside the eye.

How soon will I recover?

After surgery, you can usually go back to your everyday activities within a few days. You will be given eye drops to use for up to four weeks, but the majority of people have no problems following cataract surgery and are up and about the next day.

What should I expect to see after the operation?

Usually, everything in the distance will be clear, but your reading vision in the operated eye may be blurred. This is because the standard lens implant isn’t able to provide clear vision for both distance and near. However, premium lenses are also available at Nuffield Health Bristol Hospital, and offer the potential to see clearly at more than one point of focus. Premium lenses are not available on the NHS, and are not suitable for everybody, but your surgeon will help you make the best decision, based on your individual needs.

Consultants specialising in cataract surgery at Nuffield Health Bristol Hospital include Mr Kieren Darcy, Mr Adam Ross, Mr Mo Majid, Mr Sidath Liyanage, Mr Michael Greaney, Mr Richard Haynes, Miss Rani Sebastian and Mr Rafik Girgis.

Furthermore, if you have any additional health concerns but are struggling to book an appointment with your GP, Nuffield Health Bristol Hospital also offers a private GP service, with minimal waiting times for appointments, prescriptions and referrals. Call our Enquiries team on the number below, who will be able to assist you in booking a consultation.

If you would like to book an appointment with one of our Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeons, or a member of our private GP team, call 0117 911 5339, or visit our website.