To Broomgrove Junior School! …on Wednesday evening for the opening performance of The Tempest by the Wivenhoe Open Air Shakespeare Company. This has been a production that has been five months in the making – some might say even eight years.
Writing in the programme notes, Directors Sheila Foster and Janita LeFevre explain:
“In this Olympic year there are many productions of The Tempest taking place throughout the country, and we didn’t want Wivenhoe to be left out. It is an unbelievable eight years since the last Wivenhoe Open Air Shakespeare production of Twelfth Night took place at Ten Acres. We are delighted to be invited by Broomgrove Junior School to use the backdrop of their wildlife garden to present our take on The Tempest.”
With the Isles of Wonder found in The Tempest also inspiring that other minor Olympic event down the line at Stratford on Friday, this was the opportunity for Wivenhoe to take The Tempest into a hyperlocal setting, and to explore some of the themes that are still relevant in our own town today.
Four days after the Regatta sailed into the Quay, it was fitting that the return of outdoor Shakespeare in Wivenhoe played heavily on the nautical themes within The Tempest. The opening Act manages to create a shipwreck scene right in the centre of the Broomgrove playing space. You try doing that down the line at Stratford.
Coming to terms with the surroundings has been a parallel challenge for the Company alongside the learning of the lines and theatrical development. Outdoor Shakespeare is magical if the storytelling can match up with the surrounds.
This was the case for The Tempest, with the language coming alive in an everyday outdoor setting. Where Broomgrove kids usually gather to explore new findings by the Nature Garden and to learn and develop new social interactions, so was the case for the Wivenhoe Outdoor Shakespeare Theatre Company.
Betcha the Broomgrove kids need insect repellent as well…
And so with the sun setting over the backdrop of the Towers up at Wivenhoe Park in the north, and with the Quay south of the set blowing up a slight breeze, show time started at 7:30pm with the first sighting of the costumes.
Having blogged about The Tempest during the build-up over the past five months, we agreed not to touch on the costumes – #savethesurprise etc, a decision which certainly was worth waiting for.
Janita LeFevre’s attention to detail is amazing. A matching red costume to match the striking red hair of Sebastianna [it's a Wivenhoe thing...] Caliban’s costume capturing the grotesque but captivating side of the character, and even fully-grown beards especially cultivated for the occasion (men, not women.)
The first three Acts ahead of the interval relied upon the natural lighting coming in from the estuary. It’s a hippy dippy thing to say, but audience and actors alike were at one with the Broomgrove Nature Garden. Birds flew past over the set; the breeze rattled the leaves of the tress that made up the backdrop. Midges bit both participants and observers.
Tip: if you have the enjoyment of The Tempest still to come, cover up any naked flesh and be prepared to be brutal with the little buggers.
All of this was oblivious to the talent taking place in front of us. Both Sheila and Janita have cast the Tempest superbly. An amateur production in constitution, but highly professional when it comes to the performance.
As with most Wivenhoe volunteer led groups, The Tempest has been helped along by passion alone. The small pool of actors stepping forward has been absorbed, with some doubling up, but no excess of talent in which to draw up.
Peter McDonagh carries a commanding performance as Prospero throughout. With almost 30% of the entire dialogue coming from the big man with the big stick, this is a slightly more challenging role to that of playing a pantomime Dame.
He should be ready for the Great Dane next summer…
Ellie Chambers manages an obedient, yet still feisty Miranda throughout. Sara Rout’s Trinculo and Richard Edwardson’s Stephano display comedy chemistry, part fuelled by comic timing, part fuelled by booze.
The Sprites led by Rosie Harford as Ariel blend into the Broomgrove Nature Garden like a merry band of Jacobean eco punks. In Caliban and the company has created a monster, and a most magnificent one in Brian Ford. You could equally douse the beast with your insect repellent, or buy him another drink from the licened bar.
Elsewhere and Peter North projects incredibly well in the dignified role of Alonso; Steve Fisher’s Antonio makes much mischief with Sebastianna. The overall effect is that you’re not sure if The Tempest is a comedy, a tragedy or simply an everyday Wivenhoe pub scene. Or possibly all three.
Joining all of this together is the Queens Musick, directed by Wivenhoe musician Nick White and played by Julie-Anne White and Xanthia Fletcher. Full Fathom Five floats across the Broogrove outdoor space, carrying the magic of the play and projecting well across the playing field.
The local lighting crew of David Sleightholm, Tom Chambers and Keiran Smith take over from the natural illuminations after the short interval. Costume changes keep up with the stunning pace of change, but once again – #savethesurprise. Now was no time to go all snap happy with the camera – Acts 4 and 5 were there to be considered from the comfort of my seat.
The ending leaves Caliban – and the audience – considering the fate of the beautiful monster. The beast is last seen clutching Propero’s book, probably en route to return it back to the Broomgrove Juniors library.
And so that was opening night of The Tempest by the Wivenhoe Open Air Shakespeare Company. Effort, skill and commitment over almost half a year were rewarded with a production that wouldn’t feel out of place in some of the more celebrated outdoor theatrical spaces.
A confidence sans bound, blah blah blah.
You can probably still pick up tickets for Thursday, Friday and the two performances on Saturday from the Bookshop or Crossways.
Full flickr feed.
