2 minute read
Guildford Shakespeare Company
The Guildford Shakespeare Company - on the eve of its 50th production - reveals the power The Bard can have, even 400 years after his death
THE POWER OF ARTS ENGAGEMENT
As I write, we are a week away from opening our 50th production since we began making theatre in 2006. Over that time, we’ve had the privilege of working with some exceptionally talented artists and entertained some 136,000 people. These shows have given thousands of people their first positive experience of Shakespeare and theatre, whilst through our site-responsive approach, audiences have been able to connect with their wider heritage and community spaces.
Alongside this we have also come to experience first-hand the extraordinary power that arts engagement has. This power is a subtle power; it works on us subconsciously, thoughtfully affecting our perceptions, enriching our understanding of ourselves and others.
Our recent five-star A Midsummer Night’s Dream in June brought families and theatregoers together from as far away as Cornwall. We received an email from a teacher who’d brought their class from Hounslow, and reported that one little boy exclaimed that this was the “best day of my life”. Featuring some of Shakespeare’s best loved lines alongside stilt-walking, tree-climbing and unicycling, it was inspiring to hear so many voices laughing, cheering and wandering home into the night, discussing their favourite moment. Our promenade production of The Tempest in July continues the magical theme. Set on an enchanted island, we’re immersing audiences in the world of the play as multiple locations in Stoke Park play host to the characters shipwrecked on the island. It’s a terrific way to encourage people to interact with the story and a location they know very well in a whole new way.
All our shows serve a double purpose: they are terrific pieces of inclusive entertainment, whilst also serving as a shop window for the ground-breaking and life-changing work of our Outreach and Education Departments. Through these programmes, the power of arts engagement is experienced directly by individuals and families. The success of our stage productions, and the profile they create, enables us to create opportunities for the 17,000 people we work with every year; 13,000 of which do so for free.
It is with this sentiment we would like to recognise the vision and generosity of our business sponsors and supporters, many of whom are Chambers members. Their financial support is invaluable in helping us achieve the artistic ambitions we have. In return, we hope that an association with GSC enriches these companies’ connections with their clients, colleagues and the community.
We’re already in pre-production for our Autumn show, an electrifying new adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic, Jekyll and Hyde, as well as putting the pieces together for 2023. If you would like to play your part in the next chapter of GSC’s story as a sponsor we would love to hear from you.
