RSC performs for the first time in Dumfries
23/09/2004
The Royal Shakespeare Company will perform for the very first time in Dumfries this October with the fast-paced political thriller, Julius Caesar and the sparkling, hard edged comedy, The Two Gentlemen of Verona.
The productions play The Ice Bowl between Tuesday 26 – Saturday 30 October 2004. The visit to Dumfries is part of an extensive UK and international tour, which will see the shows playing in fifteen leisure centres and schools around the UK, as well as dates overseas, including performances at the Davidson College, North Carolina in the USA.
As soon as the RSC arrives in Dumfries on Monday 25 October, the technical crew will set to work erecting the RSC’s unique mobile auditorium. Five 45 foot articulated lorries, carrying over 50 tonnes of equipment - including everything from the auditorium, seating, costumes and set, to the tea-urn and the washing machine – will be unloaded, and within twenty-four hours The Ice Bowl will be transformed into a fully operational professional theatre, ready for the opening performance on the Tuesday evening.
Julius Caesar, directed by David Farr and The Two Gentlemen of Verona, directed by Fiona Buffini, will play in repertoire with a shared company of 20 actors, giving theatregoers the opportunity to see actors playing a range of different, and often very contrasting roles.
Fiona Buffini makes her RSC directorial debut. Her recent productions include the enormously acclaimed West End production of Dinner (“A first rate production” Sunday Telegraph). Her other work includes The Playboy of the Western World (National Theatre); Gaslight, Abigail’s Party (Theatr Clwyd); Othello, Much Ado About Nothing and Richard III (Dark Horse Theatre) and the award-winning Jordan (Gate Theatre, Notting Hill).
David Farr is currently joint artistic director of the Bristol Old Vic. His critically acclaimed and award-winning touring production of Coriolanus played Spalding last year (“This magnificent production catapults David Farr into the front rank of Shakespearean directors” The Sunday Times).
Christopher Saul plays the title role in Julius Caesar and the Duke of Milan in The Two Gentlemen of Verona. Christopher last appeared with the RSC as part of the company’s awardwinning This England – The Histories, a staging of eight of Shakespeare’s history plays. He has also appeared in TV series such as Coronation Street, Dr Who, Doctors and London’s Burning.
Rachel Pickup makes her RSC debut as Silvia in Two Gents and Portia in Caesar. Daughter of actor, Ronald Pickup, Rachel’s other theatre credits include Hamlet, King Lear and All’s Well That Ends Well. She has also appeared on TV in series such as Holby City, Doctors and Soldier Soldier.
A complementary programme of education work will accompany the RSC’s visit to Dumfries, run by Creative Support Leader, Virginia Grainger.
A prematinee Insight event, also led by Virginia, will take the audience behind the scenes and give them an opportunity to meet with members of the RSC crew and technical team. This event will take place before the matinee on Friday 29 October at 11am.
As part of the visit to Dumfries the RSC will present captioned and audio described performances of both plays for theatre-goers with hearing and visual impairments. Captioning is similar to television subtitles: the entire text of the play is pre-programmed word for word and then displayed simultaneously alongside the stage action on a LED display screen. Using a special headset, an audio described performance provides a commentary on the stage action between the actors’ words. These special performances will take place on Tuesday 26 October at 7.30pm (Two Gentlemen of Verona) and Wednesday 27 October at 7.30pm (Caesar).
Tickets can be purchased by contacting the Box Office on 01387 251300 or via www.dgaa.net.
The RSC’s visit to Dumfries is promoted by Dumfries and Galloway Arts Association Ltd and supported by Dumfries and Galloway Council. These productions are presented in association with Davidson College, North Carolina, USA.
ends
Notes to editors
- All performances take place at: The Icebowl, King Street, Dumfries, DG2 9AN
- Ticket prices are £15 - £18.75 with concessions and can be purchased from the Box Office on 01387 251300 or online at www.dgaa.net.
Contact email(s)
dean.asker@rsc.org.uk
Issued by: Royal Shakespeare Company
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