We're back with Brontë

I’m currently in the third week of rehearsals for the ALRA (Academy of Live and Recorded Arts) tour of Jane Eyre. The small scale tour sets off next week to Shaw Playhouse before travelling back to Oldham, Chadderton, over to Slaithwaite and finishing in Marsden.

The production will be performed by 12 postgraduate students from ALRA and the cast will take part in all areas of the production as this will form part of their coursework. ALRA is one of 22 drama schools across the country that are in The Conference of Drama Schools (CDS). The students in the cast of Jane Eyre are on a 15 month postgraduate course that they have chosen to study having completed another degree (whether that be in drama, English or even economics). Anyone who is serious about a career in acting will study at a CDS approved school, even after completing a three year degree elsewhere.

This particular production is a community tour which is reminiscent of ‘mumming plays’ which have been around since the birth of theatre. These basic plays involved troops of actors roaming around the country and performing on a village green with everything they need in the back of their cart.

This type of theatre utilises the creativity of the cast rather than relying on sound, lighting and stage effects. All the actors will remain on stage for the whole performance and play several characters. They’ll also provide all of the sound effects such as the wind on the moor or a ticking clock and move a stool or prop to suggest a change of setting. 

A community tour is quite a challenge for the company as the cast have to be very adaptable. Each venue we are performing at will have different sightlines and the entrances and exits to the stage will change. The actors will have a hand in all aspect of the production including the get-in and get-out where all the equipment is off loading from the van and set up on stage (and then taken down again).

It’s a great challenge for the students and I’m sure they will gain a lot from the experience. The rehearsals have been going really well and they have all shown a great level of discipline and are eager to learn about the industry.

Make sure you catch the show at one of the venues on the tour between 4 – 8 September; Shaw Playhouse, Oldham Central Library, Over 60s Club, Chadderton, Slaithwaite Civic Hall and Marsden Mechanics. Tickets available from the Coliseum box office on 0161 624 2829 or here.

Kevin Shaw
Artistic Director