Thursday, 10 May 2012

Young hearts, run free...

Preparations for Star Cross’d are really getting going now. For those of you that don’t know what the play is about, it’s a modern re-telling of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet set in Oldham. The writer, Ian Kershaw, is from Oldham and has found the perfect tone for the production.


This will be the Coliseum’s first ever large-scale outdoor production – it will be performed in Alexandra park and the audience will follow the action promenade style from scene to scene. The logistics of staging an open air production – let alone one that moves around – is quite complicated. A lot of the production team (myself included) have worked on outdoor productions in the past and we’re having to approach it all from a completely different angle than our usual main house productions.

All of the lighting, sound and other electrical equipment needs to be fully weather proofed as they’ll be exposed to the elements for two weeks. The path that the audience follow through the park needs to be full accessible for everyone and very clearly lit. There’ll be ample parking and numerous ushers to make sure everyone knows where to go. Because of the promenade aspect the audience won’t have set seating to watch each scene from so – while they’re welcome to bring a fold up chair or cushion – the company and cast will make sure they are led in the right direction but anything could happen!

We also have to take in to account the time of the sunset each day, factoring in when the light will fade and whether the action will face towards or away from the sun etc. The weather will play a major role in the production. In fact Shakespeare mentions weather throughout a majority of his plays and this was because they were often performed outside (The Globe in London is an outdoor theatre) so he would factor in the weather so that it formed part of the dialogue.

Last week we booked two local brass bands who’ll be playing dance music or acoustic versions of modern songs in the play, the casting process is also in full swing and we’re putting together the community chorus from talented young people from across the borough.

This is going to be a fantastic production – unlike anything we’ve done before. If you’re unsure about any aspects what an outdoor promenade production will be like just get in touch with the box office on 0161 624 2829 or at boxoffice@coliseum.org.uk.

See you out and about,

Kevin Shaw
Artistic Director

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