Spoilt for choice...
Posted on Sun 11 Mar 2012 by Ciaran McConville
It’s a really busy Rose Plus week and I’d be absolutely delighted to see you at one or all of the following events, if you can make it…
Are You Now Or Have You Ever Been…? By Eric Bentley
12 March 7:30 at the Guildhall opposite the theatre
Versophiles are upstairs in the Gallery rehearsing this right now and I understand that things are going well for them. I was pleased to hear from box office that Orleans Park School have booked to see this tomorrow evening over at Guildhall. It’s funny, but that one booking makes this the biggest performance Versophiles have ever given. And it reminds me that I should be more conscientious at promoting their wonderful work. The members of Versophiles are an eclectic, energetic and talented group. Until this month, they have only performed Shakespeare, with the goal of performing all of his plays (before presumably starting again). But after the rather lovely performance of Love’s Comedy last week, I hope they will consider more ‘companion’ pieces. Are You Now Or Have You Ever Been…? is a docudrama by theatre critic and playwright Eric Bentley, which focuses on the high profile testimonies of America’s leading entertainers during the infamous witch-hunt of the 1950s.
Echoes of Ibsen: short plays by Rose Plus Playwriting
14 March 2pm
I’ve assembled a great cast for this intimate celebration of Ibsen’s legacy. Daniel Weyman trained with me at Arts Ed and has since enjoyed success in a number of West End hits. I saw him in a marathon double-bill of Nicholas Nickleby a few years ago, which makes this week’s project at the Rose look rather microscopic. Alice Beaumont played Perdita in her drama school Shakespeare project, which I directed. She is a fabulous actress and I’m really thrilled that she’s agreed to tackle these short plays. Joanna Eliot is a member of Versophiles and one of the actors to work closely with Rose Plus Playwriting students last term. Anthony Hoskyns’ credits include EastEnders and a role as Benvolio in Polly Findlay’s JMK award-winning production of Romeo & Juliet. Matthew Groom is also a Versophile and is currently upstairs testifying in front of Senator McCarthy. A busy week at the Rose for Matt. So, anyway, a lovely cast for an unusual community project. A Wednesday afternoon matinee might be tricky for some, but if you can make it I promise you fifty minutes of really engaging theatre, staged very simply in the Pit.
A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen
17 March 7pm at the Arthur Cotterell Theatre
18 March 6:30pm at the Arthur Cotterell Theatre
Well, today marked a penultimate rehearsal for our Rose Youth Theatre seniors, who have worked incredibly hard this term on one of the finest plays ever written. They are playing a big space with a fine pedigree of community and student theatre, and I’m sure they would love your support. It’s also a great chance to get to know (or reacquaint yourself with) Ibsen’s masterpiece. Please do come along, if you can. I learnt from our box office team that we have a booking from a school in Dorset on Sunday evening! That really raises the stakes for us, doesn’t it? I hope they leave Kingston with a good impression of us all!
That’s all the news from Lake Wobegon this week: where all the women are strong, all the men are good looking, and all the children are above average… (I love Garrison Keillor, by the way. Do have a read or listen, if you don’t know him.)
Rose Plus blog
Director of Learning and Participation Ciaran McConville shares his views on education, youth theatre and life at the Rose. All views expressed herein are Ciaran's, and do not necessarily reflect those of Rose Theatre Kingston.