European Theatre Group 2017 - Much Ado About Nothing

CAMBRIDGE

LONDON

LEUVEN

CHANTILLY

SURSEE BERN

GENEVA

CAMBRIDGE - CHANTILLY - BERN - SURSEE - GENEVA - LEUVEN - LONDON - CAMBRIDGE

A History

EUROPEAN THEATRE GROUP:

The Cambridge University European Theatre Group is a selfsufficient, entirely student-run theatrical company, which tours a Shakespeare play around Europe for two weeks every December (and is now in its 60th year!). It is an ambitious coach-bound operation; a company of 24 students tour with professional lighting and sound equipment, costumes and an experimental set, enabling us to put on a show absolutely anywhere. In the past, we have performed in France, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, Holland, The Czech Republic, Italy and Hungary, before returning for a home-run in Cambridge the following January.

Over time, ETG has developed a reputation at home and abroad for producing exciting, innovative, experimental and professional interpretations of classic texts, attracting the most ambitious actors, technicians and creative forces from within the university. We provide successive generations of company members and audiences with challenging experiences completely unimaginable elsewhere in British (let alone student) theatre.

cast&crew THE TEAM

Benedick Stanley Thomas Beatrice Shimali De Silva Claudio Tom Taplin Hero Saskia West Leonato

Joe Tyler Todd Don Pedro Henry Eaton-Mercer Dogberry | Ursula Kate Collins Margaret | Verges Georgina Taylor Don John Milo Callaghan Borachio Oliver Jones Balthasar | Friar | Sexton | Messenger Laura Pujos *** Tour Manager Katherine Ridley Business Manager Alex Ridley Company Manager Isadora Dooley Hunter Director Geraint Owen Production Manager Theo Heymann Stage Manager Anna Hackney Lighting Designer Joyce Lee Production Designer | Technical Director Jack Parham Education Officer Teuta Day Chief Electrician Leah Ward Technicians Emily Brailsford | Emily Senior | Isabella Woods Photographer Laura Wells Assistant Director Anastasia Bruce-Jones Publicity Designer Oliver Baldock Choreographer Lisa Bernhardt

the Synopsis

MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING

The Prince of Aragon, Don Pedro, and his soldiers return from war to a celebration hosted by Leonato, the Duke of Messina.

Claudio, a promising young soldier, falls in love with Leonato’s daughter, Hero, and so Don Pedro hatches a plan to pretend to be Claudio at the masked ball in order to woo Hero on his behalf.

The Prince’s misanthropic illegitimate brother, Don John, who betrayed Don Pedro and his country in the war, has now reconciled with the Prince but will do anything to get his revenge. When his henchman, Borachio, informs him of the Prince’s plan, they decide to deceive Claudio into thinking that Don Pedro is wooing Hero for himself. The plan fails, and Claudio and Hero are engaged to be married.

Leonato’s niece, Beatrice, continues her longstanding “merry war” of words with the soldier, Benedick, a professed bachelor.

With the help of Leonato, Claudio, and Hero, Don Pedro plots to make them fall in love with each other, by a trick in which Benedick will overhear them talking of Beatrice’s supposed secret love for him, and vice versa.

Meanwhile, Don John and Borachio contrive a more malicious plot to trick Claudio and Don Pedro into thinking they have

witnessed Hero being unfaithful on the night before the wedding, but it will actually be Margaret, Hero’s unsuspecting maid, in disguise. This time, Don John’s trick goes to plan, although Borachio is overheard telling his friend the details of the plot by the foolish watchmen, Dogberry and Verges.

At the altar, Claudio publicly denounces Hero. She faints, and Leonato harangues Hero, believing the claims without proof.

The Friar, convinced of her innocence, advises Leonato and her family to pretend she has died until the truth is discovered.

Benedick and Beatrice declare their love for each other, and Beatrice demands that Benedick should kill Claudio, as an act of love for her.

The watchmen finally convict Borachio and prove Hero’s innocence, and overcome with guilt, Claudio agrees to do anything Leonato wishes. In one final trick, Leonato commands Claudio to marry a cousin of Hero in her place - when unmasked, she is revealed as Hero. Beatrice agrees to marry Benedick. The play ends with the news that Don John has been caught fleeing from Messina, is now bound and is being brought back to Messina to be punished at Don Pedro’s discretion.

from Alex, Katherine and Isadora MANAGERS’ NOTE

This year we are celebrating the 60th year

possibly be, and we cannot thank them

since a group of students, including Trevor

enough. As well as the rest of the fantastic

Nunn and Sir Derek Jacobi (the latter now

cast and crew (who we still can’t believe

one of our patrons, along with Stephen Fry),

trusted us to take them safely around

travelled across Switzerland in a grocer’s

Europe for two weeks!), this tour would

van performing Romeo and Juliet as the

not have been possible without the help

inaugural ETG tour. ETG has come a long

of literally hundreds of people, including

way since then, now hiring a customised

venue contacts and host families across

coach into which we cram 24 students, an

Europe, and many ETG alumni who gave us

experimental set, and enough technical

advice, practical help, and reassurance in the

equipment to be able to set up and do a

run up to the tour.

show basically anywhere.

We are incredibly excited to share the result We first started planning the tour in March,

of months of hard work with you, and we

when we knew very little about ETG apart

hope you enjoy the show as much as we’ve

from that it sounded like an exciting

all enjoyed creating it!

opportunity to combine our love of travel and theatre. Now, over nine months later, it feels like we’ve been elbows-deep in the tour for as long as we can remember. We’ve emailed venues from internet cafes halfway round the world, taken phone calls from the edge of a cliff in Cornwall, and had countless meetings in all kinds of locations around Cambridge. Of course, we would not have been able to do this without Geraint’s vision and dedication to the play, and Theo’s never-ending technical knowledge and enthusiasm. They have truly made this experience as fun and rewarding as it could

Katherine, Alex, and Isadora

Tour Manager, Business Manager, and Company Manager

DIRECTOR’S NOTE

from Geraint Our carnivalesque concept came about quite organically; I wanted the show to embrace the frivolity and fun of the postwar celebrations, with the soldiers playing games and tricks on each other now that they have no fighting to do, but the ladies of the household get involved as much as the men do. The carnivalesque is an occasion when societal authority is inverted, albeit temporarily, and so our carnival sees gender and class equal and in flux, as all the characters celebrate the end of war together. Our music aesthetic plays with this idea, each piece being a version of a wellknown song in a different context (Cubanstyle Mozart, string quartets of pop songs, etc.).

But we also needed a world where the darker second half doesn’t come as a surprise, with the potential for it lingering from the outset. When Hero is shamed at the altar, the oppressive societal forces of the real world seep back through, and the alarming relationship between Hero and Leonato becomes increasingly evident. The real world of this production is characterised by the colour white, to contrast with the vibrant colours of the carnival.

Furthermore, the play is inherently theatrical, with characters constantly pretending to be someone else, putting on an act, playing tricks with each other, and so our carnival

embraces this theatricality. The magical Jack Parham has designed a set that unpacks itself from a box, which the actors set up and play with themselves. We do not hide from the fact that we are a touring troupe of actors, putting on a show from a box, and this has been such a fun dynamic to play with in rehearsals.

By the time we end our tour in London, it will have been exactly 9 months since I was offered the role of director, and I’m going to embrace the cliché that this whole experience has been like having a baby. I was quite shocked to discover the news, yet unbelievably excited. ‘Much Ado’ is my favourite Shakespearean comedy, and I couldn’t wait to bring it to life. The team behind me have been so unbelievably supportive and passionate about the project, and I do not feel twee at all when I say the whole team have become something of a family to me.

Geraint Owen Director

Cast

MEET THE

Stanley Thomas - Benedick Stanley is in his third year studying Classics at Selwyn College.

Previous credits include: Guard in Antigone/Lysistrata at the Cambridge Arts Theatre, Mr Mushnik in Little Shop of Horrors at the ADC Theatre, and Posner in The History Boys in Pembroke New Cellars. If his parents ask what he’s doing on stage, tell them it’s a kind of work and definitely not acting.

Shimali De Silva - Beatrice Shimali is in her second year studying English Literature at Peterhouse College. Previous credits include: Catherine Parr in SiX at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Carol in Oleanna at the Corpus Playroom, The Lady Jane in Patience at the Minack Theatre, and Diana in A Chorus Line at the Hong Kong Arts Centre. She loves children’s yoghurt pots, hates the cold and fears the medical consequences of drinking two litres of Diet Coke daily.

Tom Taplin - Claudio Tom is in his final year studying French at Selwyn College. Previous credits include: Tulsa in Gypsy and Cam in BOYS, both at the ADC Theatre, Howie Lee in Howie the Rookie at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and Performer in Marlowe Showcase at the Jermyn Street Theatre. This will be Tom’s third and final attempt at an on-stage marriage before he retreats to a convent to lead a life dedicated to rosary beads.

Saskia West - Hero Saskia is in her second year studying Theology at St John’s College.

Previous credits include: Hester Collyer in The Deep Blue Sea at the Fitzpatrick Hall, Queens’ College, and Caroline Cushing in Frost/ Nixon at the ADC Theatre. During her first visit to Cambridge, she was concussed by a lamp post outside the ADC Theatre.

Joe Tyler Todd - Leonato Joe is in his second year studying English Literature at Christ’s College. Previous credits include: Richard Nixon in Frost/Nixon and The Cardinal in The Duchess of Malfi, both at the ADC Theatre, and B in Crave at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Joe is a lifelong Jackie Chan fan and as a child broke his finger attempting to emulate one of his idol’s stunts.

Henry Eaton-Mercer - Don Pedro Henry Eaton-Mercer is in his second year studying Classics at Homerton College. Previous credits include: Adam in Rules for Living, Antonio in Merchant of Venice, both at the ADC Theatre, and Josepipi/Jack in Trump’d! at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Henry likes waterskiing and snowball fights.

Kate Collins - Dogberry/Ursula Kate is in her second year studying English Literature at Newnham College. Previous credits include: Performer and Writer for SKIN (short film selected for online showcase by Channel 4’s Random Acts), Writer for Spiders at the Corpus Playroom, and Some Flowers (short film), and Actor in Two at the Corpus Playroom. When she grows up, Kate either wants to be a playwright, or a crime-fighting vigilante.

Georgina Taylor - Margaret/Verges Georgina is in her second year studying Linguistics at Homerton College. Previous credits include: Juliet in Romeo & Juliet in the Queens College Gardens and Actor in The Vagina Monologues at the ADC Theatre. She co-founded a theatre group: the Relaxed Theatre Company. Her middle name being May, Georgina has recently realised her name is in fact a sentence, and is now in the midst of a small existential crisis.

Milo Callaghan - Don John Milo is in his first year studying Education, English and Drama at Queens’ College. Previous credits include: Jack the 14th Earl in The Ruling Class at the ADC Theatre. Had Milo not made it to Cambridge, he would currently be travelling with a Russian Circus. His Mum thinks he made the right choice.

Oliver Jones - Borachio Ollie is in his second year studying Engineering at Christ’s College.

Previous Credits include: Director for My Eyes Went Dark at the Corpus Playroom, Lars Ollsen in Dinner at the Corpus Playroom, and Sebastian in The Tempest at the Yusuf Hamied Theatre. Ollie has a very impressive collection of Pepsi cans, but that pales in comparison to his Coca-Cola hoard.

Laura Pujos Laura is in her final year studying English at Girton College. Previous credits include: Portia in The Merchant of Venice and Louise in Gypsy, both at the ADC Theatre, Ophelia in Hamlet at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and Performer in The Marlowe Showcase at the Jermyn Street Theatre. Laura briefly tried to learn to play the clarinet but was advised to stop on account of her hands being so small.

Crew

MEET THE

Katherine Ridley - Tour Manager Katherine is in her final year studying English Literature at Trinity Hall. Previous credits include: Stage Manager for Alice at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and Producer for Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons at the Corpus Playroom. She has greatly enjoyed juggling various massive spreadsheets while planning this tour!

Alex Ridley - Business Manager Alex is in her final year studying History and Philosophy of Science at Clare College. Previous credits include: Floor Manager and Flying Director for How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying at the ADC Theatre, and Pyrotechnician for Patience at the Minack Theatre.

She is proudly a whole two minutes older than Katherine.

Isadora Dooley Hunter - Company Manager Isadora is in her second year studying English at Murray Edwards College. Previous credits include: Assistant Director for Cigarettes and Chocolate at the ADC Theatre and Company Manager for Patience at the Minack Theatre, which involved carrying soup for 60 down a cliff-face in the pouring rain. She’s very much looking forward to a tour that takes place entirely indoors.

Geraint Owen - Director Geraint is in his second year studying English Literature at Pembroke College. Previous credits include: Director for Two at the Corpus Playroom, Composer for Love’s Labour’s Lost at the ADC Theatre, and he is also preparing to direct The Producers at the ADC Theatre next March. Pronunciation guide for his name: Get-a-pint.

Theo Heymann - Production Manager Theo is in his third year studying Engineering at St John’s College.

Previous credits include: Production Manager for Patience at the Minack Theatre, and Technical Director on ETG 2016: Hamlet. He’s hoping there’ll be snow on tour because there wasn’t any last year!

Anna Hackney - Stage Manager Anna is in her final year studying Psychological and Behavioural Sciences at Queens’ College. Previous credits include: Stage Manager for Footlights presents: Bread at the ADC Theatre and The God of Carnage at the Corpus Playroom. One of her proudest stage managing feats was orchestrating a live vomit scene on stage using a pillow, a squeezy bottle and some popcorn.

Joyce Lee - Lighting Designer Joyce is in her final year studying History at Newnham College.

Previous Credits include: Lighting Designer for Love’s Labours’ Lost at the ADC Theatre and Shape of Things at the Corpus Playroom.

Joyce first encountered a courgette in summer 2016.

Jack Parham - Production Designer | Technical Director Jack is in his final year studying Spanish and Portuguese at Clare College. Previous credits include: Designer for Mnemonic, The White Devil, and MOJO all at the ADC Theatre. Having studied design in São Paulo during his year abroad, he spent the summer touring Edinburgh and London with SiX and Maklena. He likes piña coladas and getting caught in the rain.

Teuta Day - Education Officer Teuta is in her second year studying Education with English and Drama at St John’s College. Previous credits include: Bernadette in Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons at the Corpus Playroom, and Ingrid in Wenlock & Jones, a mini-series. She is so fantastically malcoordinated that she can break her wrist throwing a ball above her head.

Leah Ward - Chief Electrician Leah is in her final year studying Maths at Emmanuel College.

Previous credits include: Technical Director for CUADC/Footlights Panto: The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and Teahouse, both at the ADC Theatre, and The Mikado at the Minack Theatre. Leah can’t seem to stay away from ETG, going on tour in all three years of her degree - always doing a different job though!

Emily Senior - Technician Emily is in her first year studying History at St Catharine’s College.

Previous credits include: Sound Designer for Rabbit at the ADC Theatre. She once designed and built an 8ft tall pop up book for a school production of The Lion King despite herself being barely 5’2’’, though she still hasn’t given up on the dream of one day being tall.

Emily Brailsford - Technician Emily is in her first year studying French and Spanish at Trinity College. Previous credits include: April in The Boy Preference at the National Theatre and Mrs Wright in Just at the Welwyn Festival.

Emily sees letters and numbers in colour and hopes to be able to find a practical use for this one day.

Isabella Woods - Technician Isabella is in her first year studying History at Clare College. Previous credits include: Assistant Producer for The Ruling Class at the ADC Theatre. Isabella was once nearly strangled by the school snake and is very pleased to have made it on the tour.

Anastasia Bruce-Jones - Assistant Director Anastasia is in her final year studying English Literature at Gonville and Caius College. Previous credits include: Director for Patience at the Minack Theatre, LOUD // in Babel at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, The Duchess of Malfi, The Glass Cage and Birdsong, all at the ADC Theatre, and Some Flowers, a short film. As the only person not coming on tour, she has now become hypersensitive to the words “tour”, “Europe” and worst of all, “chalet”.

Design DIARY

There were a number of key themes I wanted to incorporate into the design. Firstly, I chose to embrace the fact that we are a touring company, constructing and deconstructing the set for numerous audiences in various venues across Europe. This links nicely with the themes of performativity and deception in the play.

The dismantling of our set box and its subsequent manipulation throughout the show is a self-referential nod to both the actors’ roles on stage and our process as a travelling theatre group. This interaction with the set is meant to be playful and (hopefully) fun to watch. The stark colour contrast, between the white, tomb-like box and all the vibrantly coloured pieces within, mirrors the tonal contrast of the play itself, mixing frivolous high-jinks with sinister moments of emotional severity. The aim was to capture that combination of conflict and carnival.

Jack Parham

Production Designer

Education MUCH ADO ABOUT

ETG sees education as a central aspect of its identity and aims to make the study of Shakespeare just as exciting as it does in performance.

Touring around schools in France and Switzerland, ETG is providing workshops for students of 11- 18 years, ranging from beginners’ introductions to the text to sophisticated discussions on the themes and language within the play.

Moreover, a comprehensive Education Pack is given to schools which acts as both a teaching resource and a practically-orientated textbook on Much Ado About Nothing.

Both the workshops and education pack are created from a theatrical perspective, bringing together the dynamic ideas of our touring show and offering students the opportunity to visualise the text beyond the page (because that’s how Shakespeare wanted it to be seen!).

Preparing for the tour has been an incredibly interesting process as I’ve been able to learn from other teachers about what kind of resources are valuable in the classroom (which I hope is reflected in the pack!). Moreover, when working on a tour you meet so many creative people and I have learned a lot from the cast and crew. With an amazing director, technicians, organisational experts (the managers), dedicated actors and even a mask-making specialist, there is a wealth of expertise to integrate and learn from.

ETG’s educational work aims to produce a professional standard of teaching that gives students an insight into the theatrical life of the text.

Teuta Day

Education Officer

ADC

A NOTE FROM THE

England’s oldest University playhouse is administered and maintained by the University of Cambridge.

Chairman of the Executive Committee: Dr Mark Billinge Theatre Manager: Vicky Collins Operations Manager: Jack Rowan Production Manager: Jamie Rycroft Technical Manager: John Evans Office Administrator: Connie Dent Box Office Administrator: Stephen Gage Box Office: 01223 300085 Free online booking: adctheatre.com | adcticketing.com Administration Tel: 01223 359547 The ADC Theatre is a non-smoking venue.

Patrons are reminded that in accordance with Cambridgeshire County Council regulations, the consumption of drinks in glasses is not permitted in the auditorium.

Tonight’s performance will include a 15 minute interval

Thanks ALL OUR

The company of ETG 2017 would like to thank: Lorna Morin Marcel Röthlisberger Sahron Luepold Markus Zihlmann Marshall Sapherson Raphael Ingelbien Host families across Europe The management of the ADC Theatre Brickhouse Theatre Company Lewis Scott Vanessa Upton Emily Newton Jack Rowan Joe Winters Peter Lotts Alan Egan Duncan Wood We would also like to thank our sponsors: