The newly-formed Midsummer Theatre Company, based at the Town Hall in Midsomer Norton, has been selected from over 200 applicants to work with the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) to produce their very own Shakespeare production.
This prestigious opportunity to be part of the RSC Open Stages Programme has been awarded as a result of an innovative proposal to create a community play entitled 'A Midsomer Knight's Dream', based on Shakespeare's classic comedy and drawing for its title on the poem created by Irene Benson in 2008. The Midsomer Norton play will be written by Petra Schofield, who will be drawing on the central themes of the Medieval Knight effigy, a wealth of local history and the town's name.
The scheme will see Midsomer Norton's play feature alongside a line-up of other projects from around the UK, such as 'Macbeth'
performed in a Cardiff Shopping Centre, 'Much Ado About Nothing', performed by serving members of the Royal Air Force, 'The Tempest' in a quarry in Durham and 'Richard III', performed in Leicester Cathedral by Leicester University students where the King's newly-discovered body will be buried. Overall, ninety productions will form the UK's biggest amateur theatre project – Open Stages.
The project begins on the weekend of 28th September, when all ninety Directors from the selected groups will come together for the first and only time in Stratford-upon-Avon to participate in two days of skills workshops, led by the RSC's own team of theatre practitioners. The RSC will be supporting the selected amateur groups over the coming year, with mentoring and workshops to create their own RSC Open Stages production in their own venue.
RSC Open Stages Producer, Ian Wainwright, commented: "The RSC is once again excited to continue to collaborate with just some of the one million amateur theatre makers in the UK. The RSC understands the skill, commitment, energy and passion it takes to make theatre happen. We, therefore, have a huge respect for those DIY, grassroots theatre-makers who create theatre in their spare time, often on very limited resources. Open Stages looks to share some of the processes, techniques and ideas of professional theatre-making, while allowing the RSC to learn about and be inspired by the work of people with a real passion for the craft of theatre."
The Midsummer Theatre Company is a new venture, based at Midsomer Norton Town Hall, and is open to all ages. The Midsomer Norton Community Trust has been working in conjunction with Midsomer Norton Town Council and Bath and North East Somerset Council to develop a programme of live drama open to the whole Somer Valley, drawing on the extensive experience of local theatre professional, Petra Schofield.
Underpinning the initiative will be a youth theatre session on a Wednesday, starting on 9th October, from 5.30 p.m. – 7 p.m., and an adult (over twelve years) evening session following between 7.30 p.m. and 9 p.m. For further details on how to join in this exciting new theatre company, please visit: http://www.midsomernorton">www.midsomernorton communitytrust.co.uk