Crescent Theatre Blog

The Indian Boy by Rona Munro will be in The Ron Barber Studio at The Crescent Theatre from the 6th to the 13th March. The play was described as “wonderful” by The Observer and “magical” by The Times when it was first performed at The RSC in Stratford so don’t miss this rarely-performed piece by one of Britain’s most versatile and innovative playwrights.

 

Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollecito

‘…the progress of Desire from its first conception is of this kind…it seeks hiding places and keeps itself secret…until throwing off all restraints of shame and fear…it either assumes the mask of some virtue, or sets infamy itself at defiance.’ (Francis Bacon, De Dignitate et Augentis Scientarium, 1623)

The Changeling (8th – 15th May, Crescent Studio) is a play for anyone who, watching the news last year, looked at Amanda Knox being led away in handcuffs and wondered how pretty 22 year old exchange student from Seattle, USA ended up being convicted of the murder and sexual assault of another young woman.

We’ll probably never know exactly what passed between Knox, her former boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito, and Meredith Kercher. The facts are that Kercher was found dead; she had suffered a crushed windpipe, her throat had been slashed, she had 43 bruises, scratches and knife wounds on her body and she had been sexually assaulted. Amanda Knox, a previously unremarkable, middle-class young woman, is now serving a 26 year sentence in an Italian prison. Raffaele Sollecito was also convicted of murder and sexual assault and jailed for 25 years.

Middleton and Rowley’s play deals with what happens when the animal instincts that lie somewhere within us all are unleashed. It’s a dark, violent and bloody Jacobean tragedy with plenty to say to a modern audience about the fragile line between passion and madness.

The main character, Beatrice, lets her passion for a man she can’t have override her reason. She enters into a sinister pact with a Deflores, a servant who has secretly lusted after her for years. When Deflores changes the terms of their agreement after murder has been done, she agrees to quench his desire for her, rather than risk revealing what they have done. More deceit becomes the only way to cover up their crimes as they spiral into depravity and despair. Beatrice is the ‘changeling’ of the title; changing almost beyond recognition from the beautiful, ordinary young noblewoman at the start of the play.

Jacobeans believed that humans were set apart from animals and plants by their possession of a ‘rational soul’. It was the rational soul that ruled over the animal in Man, elevating people above beasts. If Man’s appetites refused to be controlled by the rational soul, they believed that the animal in Man became dominant, resulting in madness. Madness in Jacobean plays is not only seen as a state of sin, but is frequently represented by the transformation of humans to the state of animals. It is almost as though the animal in man resents being tethered by reason and rationality, so much so that when let loose, it wilfully wreaks havoc.

Francis Bacon, a prominent Jacobean thinker, used the image of ‘the tiger in the chariot’ to describe this phenomenon; ‘Tigers likewise are kept in the stables of the passions, and at times yoked to their chariot; for when passion ceases to go on foot and comes to ride in its chariot, as in celebration of its victory and triumph over reason, then is it cruel, savage, and pitiless towards all that withstand or oppose it.’ (De Dignitate et Augentis Scientarium, 1623).

The Changeling is a play about what happens if we let our basest desires ride roughshod over our reason and humanity. A glance at some of the more salacious stories in the news, nearly 400 years after the play was first performed, suggests that the plot is as relevant today as it was in Jacobean times.

Intent on giving people a “lovely, happy night in the theatre” Victoria Wood revived her 1980s soap opera Acorn Antiques with a musical of the same name staged for the first time in 2005. Massively popular in the late eighties, this revival became an Olivier award-winning show with a tremendous cast including Julie Walters and Celia Imrie.

It is with great pleasure to announce that The Crescent has now got the rights to perform this classic comical satire…that you can audition for! We are the only non- professional theatre in the Midlands and the one of two in the UK to have ever got the rights to this show. And personally, it means so much more because Celia Imrie opened The Crescent Theatre fifteen years ago in it’s current location in Sheepcote Street.

Auditions for this will be taking place within the next month or so. If you want to get involved keep an eye out on the Crescent website auditions page which will detail when and where to come!

Are you a designer (past, present OR future)?

Ever thought you’d like to learn design skills?

Would you like to help a director/designer realise their vision?

There will be an informal meeting for all those involved with, or interested in, production design on Friday, 12 February from 7.30pm at the theatre. Please come along.

This will be an opportunity to learn a little more about what’s involved, maybe sign up to work on a forthcoming production, or buddy-up with a designer and learn some skills before going solo.

Hope to see you there (and don’t be put off if you’re at the ‘thinking about it’ stage – this meeting’s for everyone).

Robert F. Ball

Arts Manager

Rehearsals are now well under way for Hamlet, last performed by The Crescent Theatre company in 1989. This is Alan K Marshall’s first production at the theatre since his stunning Macbeth in 2000 so it promises to be something special.

One of the great things about recording rehearsals at the theatre is that I get a bit of a sneak preview of a work in progress and from yesterdays evidence Hamlet is definitely going to be worth the anticipation. What was also great to see was how the whole cast were really enjoying exploring the text and working with each other - there was a really good company feel in the rehearsal room. Really looking forward to opening night.

We have introduced a pilot scheme which asks the audience for thier opinions on the production they are watching. A View from the Bridge has been the first play to host this and below are some of the comments it has received so far:

“Wow, I enjoy all the shows we do but few blow me away like that one. Truly amazing performance all round. Well done”
Jo Mason

“ The Play was very delightful, and it is one of the best performances I have ever seen”
Adam Franks

“it was Excellent, the best role play I have experienced”
Anil Daji

“ I thought it was good acting and a good layout “
Dan Hudson

“Very good, Brilliant”
Frederic Tremblay

“Excellent, I was hooked from the start and filled with justified foreboding until the end, acting, stage set and direction and casting brilliant”
Lynde Mckenzie

“ Can it get any better?  I doubt it!!! Brilliant!”
Denis Pratt

“ Really excellent, thoroughly enjoyed it. Worked very well in the intimate setting. I liked the references to Greek tragedy – gave it a sense of timeless quality. I missed the brooding ominous presence of the bridge that I have experienced in other productions”
Anonymous

I’m delighted to say that the excellent Crescent production of Arthur Miller’s classic ‘View From The Bridge’ opens tonight. Please check with box office though before setting off to the theatre if you wish to see it as it’s almost completely sold out.