Bottom's Blog

The lovely Eric Potts has written a guest blog for us! Eric will be playing Bottom in A Midsummer Night's Dream and here's how the first week of rehearsals went for him:

Week One.

And so, as the cast, creative team, stage management and technical crew converged on sunny Stafford, the excitement grew as this year’s production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” at the castle continued to approach apace!

I seem to have spent a significant number of days staring longingly out at the sun from within the confines of the Gatehouse Theatre – and this week proved to be much the same. 

Phyl Harries in rehearsal with musical
director Greg Palmer

Week One of rehearsals and the set was marked out on the Gatehouse stage whilst the Copeland Room, bathed in warm sunlight through the glass panels on the roof became the production’s music studio. A Monday morning read-through of the play followed by a look at the wonderful costume drawings and impressive set – (much more open this year, cleverly using the natural landscape of the castle site – still with some very clever surprises though!!) – and after the obligatory first day lunch of a jacket spud from the potato man on Market Square the rehearsal process began.  Whilst the “mechanicals” tried to master some of the music featuring in this year’s show, the “lovers” started to plot their amorous journeys through the wonderful text.

It’s been a great first week, and so lovely to be back in Stafford. I can safely say already that “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” is going to be one of the best, and funniest productions at the Castle and should you wish to glimpse my Bottom in the midst of many other wonderfully talented performers get booking those seats for a night of fun and music in the shadow of the stunning Stafford Castle.

Will keep you all updated next week!!

Eric x

A Midsummer Night's Dream: Full Cast

The cast have arrived and rehearsals are in full swing. We are very excited to have the following talented actors with us!

Andy Cresswell

Snout

Andy's numerous theatre credits include The Government Inspector, Water Babies and Treasure Island for Northern Broadsides. His other Shakespeare credits include Twelfth Night, A Midsummer Night's Dream and Ricahrd III, all for Heartbreak Productions.

Robert Fitch

Theseus

Robert trained at the Academy of Live and Recorded Arts. Alongside his
numerous theatre credits, he is also a talented musician and has toured
with the band Zed as a bass and harmonica player. His television and
film credits include Doctors and Shaun Of The Dead.

Craig Fletcher

Lysander

Craig trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts. Since graduating
from RADA, Craig has recently played the role of Guy Kirk in the British
Premier of the American Musical Boy Meets Boy. His other theatre
credits include Sky in the West End production Mamma Mia!




Jennifer Greenwood

Hermia

Jennifer trained at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. Her theatre credits include Dancing At Lughnasa, Tobacco Factory; Knives In Hens, Greenwich Theatre; Health Wealth, Old Vic New Voices.

James Haggie

Flute

Following his popular performance as Balthasar in 2012's Romeo and Juliet,  the talented actor and musician is back! James is also well known and loved for his regular appearances in the Rock 'n' Roll pantomimes at Theatr Clwyd.

Phylip Harries

Quince

Phylip makes a very welcome return to SFS following his hugely popular performances in Dromio of Ephesus in The Comedy of Errors and as Sir Hugh Evans in The Merry Wives of Windsor. Families may also recognise him from his performance as Mouse in Theatr Na n'Og's Aesop's Fables which visited the Gatehouse last year. The company's latest production We Need Bees, directed by Phylip has just visited the Gatehouse in May!

Anthony Hunt

Starveling

Most recently Anthony has performed in Mother Courage at the Lowry Theatre. Anthony returns to Stafford Festival Shakespeare after his well received performance as Friar Lawrence in 2012's Romeo and Juliet.

Simone James

Titania

Not just a talented actress, Simone is also a highly skilled dancer. Most recently she performed as Melody in Neghbors at the HighTide Festival Theatre. Simone's television credits include Silent Witness. Eastenders and Holby City.

Paul Kissaun

 Egeus

Paul is delighted to be back this year having appeared last year in Romeo and Juliet as Montague and the Apothecary. During the 80's and 90's Paul was a member of The Flying Pickets with whom he still makes the occasional appearance. Paul's other theatre credits include Wind In The Willows, National Theatre and Alive In Wonderland, Royal Shakespeare Company.

Lanre Malaolu

Puck

A talented dancer and actor, Lanre's theatre credits include Marate/Sade and A Midsummer Night's Dream, both RSC; and Macbeth, Globe. His television credits include The Bill, The Armstrong and Miller Show and Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor.

 

Eamonn O'Dwyer

Demetrius

Stafford Festival Shakespeare fans will recognise Eamonn from his performance as Antipholus of Ephesus in 2011's The Comedy of Errors. Eamonn's other theatre credits include The Glass Menagerie, Chipping Norton Theatre; The Tempert, Watermill Theatre; and War Horse, West End.

Eric Potts

Bottom

Eric last performed to critical acclaim at Stafford Festival Shakespeare in 2011 as Dromio of Syracuse, in The Comedy of Errors. He is also fondly known for playing Diggory Compton in Coronation Street.



Georgina White

Helena

Most recently Georgina has played the lead role of Betty in the Blonde Bombshells of 1943 at the Oldham Coliseum and the New Vic Theatre. She also starred as Olivia in the Stafford Festival Shakespeare production of Twelfth Night in 2009. Georgina is a talented singer and musician, specialising in piano and bassoon.

 

Stafford Music Festival is back, bigger and better than ever!

Stafford Music Festival is returning for it’s 12^th year from 11^th – 25^th May, bringing a variety of music to suit all tastes from classical to jazz, folk and blues, choral and big bands.

The Gatehouse Theatre and The MET Studio have a jam packed schedule of exciting performances as part of this event.



Ewan McLennan



Kicking off the musical festivities will be Ewan McLennan on Saturday11^th May, in the MET Studio. The folk singer is already having a superb year, as he was most recently awarded Best Male Singer at the Spiral Earth Awards 2013. Tickets for his performance are just £10.

Following on will be Martin Carthy, performing in the Gatehouse Theatre on Thursday 16^th  May. For more than 40 years Martin Carthy has been one of folk music's greatest innovators, one of its best loved, most enthusiastic and, at times, most quietly

controversial of figures. His skill, stage presence and natural charm have won him many admirers, not only from within the folk scene, but also far beyond it. Tickets are available at £15 / £13 concessions.

Manchester Camerata return for the finale of their 40^th anniversary season on Friday 17^th May. Conducting the concert will be Music Director, Gábor Takács-Nagy whose engaging style of presentation has endeared him to audiences in Stafford since he took up post in 2011. He will be joined by Camerata’s magnetic young leader, Giovanni Guzzo, for Beethoven’s Violin Concerto, whose recent performance of the Four Seasons in Stafford played to a sell-out audience. The second half will be Beethoven Symphony no.2, written at a time of great personal turmoil for the composer yet remarkably the symphony has an incredible joy and vigour, with a typically uplifting finale. Tickets are £15 / £13 concessions, with a limited number of tickets available at £5 for under 26s and £3 for under 18s.



Manchester Camerata

Carpenters fans can celebrate the legacy of Karen Carpenter with Voice of The Heart on May 18^th, starring local performer Rachel Dean. This stunning two hour show in the Gatehouse Theatre will recreate some of the most loved hits of The Carpenters. Tickets are £19 / £18 concessions.

The MET Studio will come to life with an evening of stunning Spanish music from guitar virtuoso El Moreno on Thursday 23^rd May. His performance will blend classical, Latin-American and flamenco styles and tickets are £11 / £9 concessions.



Saturday 25^th May sees a busy day for The MET Studio with two performances from Jackie Oates at 3pm and 8pm. The singer is a phenomenon in the exploding folk-pop scene in the UK today.  Originally a member of The Mercury-nominated The Unthanks (then Rachel Unthank & The Winterset), Jackie Oates has since carved out an astonishing solo career which has made her a name to conjure with in folk music circles, in demand for work with other artists, cosmetics stores, collaborative projects, and even the subject of pop-art! Tickets are £15 / £13 concessions.



Jackie Oates

Ending the celebrations will be Richard Digance on Saturday 25^th May in the Gatehouse Theatre. Richard Digance is not just a singer/guitarist, and not merely one of the country’s most celebrated comedy entertainers, he is also a one man creative industry, whose achievements are acknowledged around the world. A BAFTA nominated performer, a world acclaimed poet, an author and an artist. Truly an evening not to be missed, with tickets just £16.50

Other venues taking part in the Music Festival include Joxer Brady's, The Swan Hotel and Ye Olde Rose and Crown. We can't wait!

Stafford Music Festival website

See the full line up on our website






Stafford Festival Shakespeare needs you!

Producers of Stafford Festival Shakespeare are on the hunt for local dancers to audition as fairies in this year’s production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Successful candidates will be given the opportunity to star alongside professional and talented actors; previous performers have included Matthew Kelly, Julie-Kate Olivier, Sally Lindsay, Rupert Hill and Eric Potts. 

They will also be directed by a high profile creative team which will include returning Choregrapher Francesca Jaynes. Francesca's recent film credits include choreographer for King of Soho and Great Expectations. She also devised the chorepgraphic sequences for the Oompa Loompas in Tim Burton's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, as well as working on Sweeney Todd and Alice in Wonderland. She worked with Steven Spielberg devising movement concepts for Jude Law and the robots in his film A.I Artificial Intelligence.

   

Stafford Festival Shakespeare Producers are looking for talented dancers, aged 16+. Auditions will take place on Sunday 12 May 2013 and anyone wishing to take part must be available during the rehearsal period and all performances of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Those wishing to audition should report to Stafford Gatehouse Theatre on Sunday 12 May 2013 at 9.30am for registration. There is no need to prepare anything in advance. We recommend those auditioning wear comfortable clothing and shoes and bring something to drink. The performers will be split into groups and will audition with the members of the creative team for approximately 25 – 30 minutes.  During the audition the candidates will be taught a short piece, which they will then perform back to the group.

Following this the groups may be given a short extract to read or a song to sing.  There may be call-backs later in the day for auditioning dancers, so the show’s producers are asking that interested parties are available throughout the day.

For more information regarding the auditions please contact Derrick Gask, at Stafford Gatehouse Theatre on: 01785 253 595.

Story competition for A Midsummer Night’s Dream!

Stafford Gatehouse Theatre have launched a new competition for budding young writers!

Children can submit their very own fairy story inspired by A Midsummer Night's Dream for a chance to win some fantastic prizes! The lucky first prize winner will receive a Family Ticket to the show, their story printed in the souvenir programme, a backstage tour meeting the cast and crew of Stafford Festival Shakespeare and a book voucher courtesy of Waterstones Stafford!Two lucky runners up will each win a Family Ticket!

The three winners will also have their stories displayed at Stafford Castle for the duration of the production is on as well as having their stories published on the Stafford Festival Shakespeare website.

Derrick Gask, Producer of the show commented: “A Midsummer Night’s Dream is a wonderful story filled with fairies and fantasy so it’s a perfect opportunity for youngsters to get creative and write their own magical story. We can’t wait to read them!”

To enter the competition children up to the age of 16 can either email their stories to ehogan@staffordbc.gov.uk or post them to Emma Hogan at Stafford Gatehouse Theatre, Eastgate Street, Stafford, ST16 2LT. All entries must be received by May 31^st and must include the entrant’s name and age, and a parent or guardian’s full name, address and contact details. The story should be no longer than 500 words. Family tickets may be used subject to availability  (exclusions will apply) on performances between 27^th June-13^th July 2013.

The Stafford Festival Shakespeare secret's out!



The Producers of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, this year’s Stafford Festival Shakespeare Production, can exclusively reveal that Peter Rowe will be returning as Director following the hugely successful Romeo and Juliet. On returning Peter said: “A Midsummer Night’s Dream is a very special play and it’s not for nothing that it’s the favourite outdoor Shakespeare. It’s a beautiful play about illusion and reality and how close being in love is to being mad and the madness of being in love”

Peter has been able to discuss early ideas for the show, revealing a late Victorian setting for the production, listing Victorian style brass bands and Gilbert and Sullivan as key influences.

On reflecting back on the 2012 Stafford Festival Shakespeare production Peter commented: “we had a really good company and I was very proud of the show” After a particularly wet summer last year Peter added: “I think A Midsummer Night’s Dream is the one play that can cope with anything! If it does pour with rain it’ll add to the story and the experience. But I do think it’ll be a better experience all round if it’s drier than last year!”




Eric Potts

  The first cast member to be confirmed is Eric Potts, in the role of Bottom. Eric last performed to critical acclaim at Stafford Festival Shakespeare in 2011 as Dromio of Syracuse, in The Comedy of Errors. He is also fondly known for playing Diggory Compton in Coronation Street. Peter added: “there couldn’t be a better part for Eric, we’re going to have a lot of fun!”

When discussing the iconic comedy role Eric commented: “I’ve wanted to play this role since leaving Drama College! I did a radio version a few years ago but it’s taken 26 years to be able to play Bottom on stage!”

He added: “A Midsummer Night’s Dream is such a wonderful balance of comedy and love story, there’s something there for everyone. I think its one of Shakespeare’s best comedies and I know with the way we’ll be doing at the castle with live music it’ll be absolutely magical”.

On working with Director Peter Rowe again Eric said: “the way Peter has directed over the last few years has made it very accessible and I think people who perhaps would have been slightly afraid of spending hard earned money on watching Shakespeare know they’re going to get a real fun evening they’re going to enjoy”

A Midsummer Night’s Dream will be performed at Stafford Castle 27^th June-13^th July. Tickets are available from £10-£23.50 and can be reserved by calling the Box Office on 01785 254653 or by visiting www.staffordfestivalshakespeare.co.uk 

Featuring the festivals much loved combination of original music, celebration and unique setting, this magical comedy is set to again be a highlight in Staffordshire’s cultural calendar.




Eric with Phylip Harries in Comedy of Errors 2011

 









Award winning youth theatre to perform brand new play as part of National Theatre Connections!



A sneak peek of the set

Stafford Gatehouse Youth Theatre will be performing at The MET Studio from Wednesday 27^th February to Saturday 2^nd March as part of National Theatre Connections, a nationwide celebration of new plays for young people.

Connections is produced by the National Theatre and supported by a number of individuals, trusts and foundations.

Each year new plays are commissioned for and about young people from some of the best contemporary playwrights, for performance by schools and youth theatres all over the UK and Ireland, making Connections one of the world’s largest celebrations of youth theatre.

SGYT will be performing Don’t Feed The Animals by Jemma Kennedy.

Richard Poynton, director of the show commented: “I shortlisted five of the ten plays written for the National Theatre Connections, then the group read all five and voted on which they would rather perform. Not only has this play never been performed before, it’s the first time this group have worked together”.

Don’t Feed The Animals is an energetic show about Sparks Circus, which is on its way down. The owners have been forced to sell their star attraction Tiny the elephant and a rival circus is poaching their artistes. With a busy bank holiday weekend approaching, it’s down to acrobatic twins Zack and Missy to fill the house and stop their family business going under. When a local gang of bored youths volunteer to help them, the twins are faced with the task of training an un-trainable mob in circus skills.

Richard added: “as it’s a new play, the actors are creating these roles for themselves, rather than looking to what other people have done in the past. In the play, a group of youths are challenged to put on a circus performance in the space of 24 hours, and it's been quite a challenge for us to be able to put that piece together, as it's a performance within a performance.  However, Circus is really about challenging the status quo, turning things on their head and unsettling authority and Don't Feed The Animals is really about how this group of demonised youths choose to express themselves and undermine authority within the circus genre”

Don’t Feed The Animals will be at The MET Studio from Wednesday 27^th February to Saturday 2^nd March at 7.30pm. Richard concluded: “People should book as it's the chance to see a great new play performed with energy, enthusiasm and a bit of circus pizazz thrown in for good measure!”

Tickets are just £7 (£6 concession) and can be reserved by calling the friendly Box Office on 01785 254653 or by visiting www.staffordgatehousetheatre.co.uk




Some of the SGYT cast in rehearsal