Title: Richard III
Author: William Shakespeare
Adaptation by Chris Collins
Directed by Helen Holmes
Performed at Bramfield Queen's Head on 19 July, Bungay Castle on 20 July, Yoxford Griffin on 21 July, Dunwich Ship on 22 July, Wenhaston Church Common & Sibton White Horse on 23 July, and Silverstile Meadow Bramfield on 24 July 2011.
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Richard is a very dramatic play and, when reduced to one hour’s playing time, the drama never stops: all the parts require a lot of emotional input and output, and nearly all the characters have their own anguished calamities to express.
The whole cast gave their all–in buckets full –and well played, all of them!
We were pleased to have a new member, Ben Lock, playing the Prince, with Jess Golding giving a delightful performance as his younger brother. During the week Jess had been feeling unwell but bravely carried on until the last night when tonsillitis overtook her and Hannah Baldwin had to step into the role.
All in all, then, not a light-hearted play but, as usual, rehearsals were mostly good fun and with several birthdays to celebrate. The weather, always a big worry factor for us, was not entirely on our side, with lowering skies and ever threatening rain and the odd gale thrown in.
Nevertheless we were fairly lucky, apart from the first night at Bramfield, when the rain came down for almost half the play; however, the audience had come prepared with macs and brollies and bravely stayed put.
The rest of the week went OK. Our new venue at Yoxford was disappointing but some of us feel it still has potential.
My set, one of the more elaborate of our Summer tours, proved to be fairly stable thanks to Clive Frost’s cable ties. Thanks to all who helped put it up and dismantle after every performance.
The last performance on Sunday evening went very well with everybody pulling out the stops. It was a lovely evening in a lovely setting and the post-production party was most enjoyable.
Copies of press notices, programme, poster, review and an album of performance pictures are available from the Circle 67 Archive.
