Artist impression of landing stage and stone steps. Original
painting by kind permission of www.gatehouse prints.com

The Avon Navigation Trust and Holy Trinity Church are raising funds for the construction of a landing stage and stone steps from the banks of the River Avon to the grounds of Holy Trinity Church.

This project has been inspired by the determination and vision of the late David Hutchings MBE who masterminded the restoration of the southern Stratford Canal, re-opened in 1964 by HM the Queen Mother, and led the restoration of the Upper Avon navigation from Evesham to Stratford, completed and also re-opened by the Queen Mother in 1974.

The steps will incorporate a 15m landing stage to give access from the river to boats of all types, enabling them to drop off and pick up passengers who wish to visit the church and see Shakespeare’s memorial, though it is not intended for them to moor there. It will be a particularly attractive facility for wedding parties.

Composed and read by Sir John Betjeman at the re-opening of the Upper Avon Navigation, 1st June 1974.

He who by peaceful inland waters steers
Bestirs himself when a new lock appears
Slow swing the gates: slow sinks the water down
This lower Stratford seems another town
These meadows which the youthful Shakespeare knew
Are left behind, and sliding into view
Come reaches of the Avon, mile on mile,
Church, farm and mill and lover leaned-on style
Till where the tower of Tewkesbury soars to heaven
Our homely Avon joins the haughty Severn
Sweet is the fluting of the blackbird’s note,
Sweet is the ripple from the narrow boat,
Your Majesty, our friend of many years,
Confirms this triumph now the moment nears-
The lock you will re-open will set free
The heart of England to the open sea.

Further information

For further information email hugh@charityview.co.uk

March 22: – Standing ovation first night preview, even better performance when I took Ingrid on the 27th March and sure to be better and better. Beg, steal or borrow a ticket. Great Richard and brilliant cast and direction.

‘RSC’s stage version of children’s novel takes record seven prizes at UK theatre’s most prestigious awards ceremony

The Royal Shakespeare Company show, based on Roald Dahl‘s 1988 children’s novel, had been nominated in 10 categories and was easily the biggest winner on the night.

Matilda’s success meant the RSC beat its own record for the number of Oliviers won by one show, previously held by Nicholas Nickleby, which won six in 1980.’

For details see http://www.guardian.co.uk/stage/2012/apr/15/matilda-the-musical-dominates-oliviers?newsfeed=true

http://www.the-print-room.org/

Geraldine

Many congratulations from RSC Friends!

Gregory Doran named as RSC chief

Bram Stoker Centenary Conference

To mark 100 years since Bram Stoker’s death a group of Stoker enthusiasts, including some Shakespeare Birthplace Trust staff, are inviting you to join them in celebrating his life, his works and his Shakespearian connections.

They invite you to join them for a 6 course meal on Saturday 14 April inspired by menus held in the collection followed by a conference on Sunday 15 April with guest speakers Dacre Stoker, Elizabeth Miller and Michael Kilgarriff.  All proceeds raised from this event will help support vital work to catalogue and digitise the Bram Stoker collection cared for by The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust.

If you would like to attend either the dinner, the conference or both please email stoker100@virginmedia.com or call 01789 204016.

Find out more

There was brief coverage of the excavation when they were here filming but this will be the first time the complete programme is broadcast.

The press announcement from Channel 4 reads:

Sunday, 11/03/2012 8pm Searching for Shakespeare’s House: A Time Team Special Tony Robinson and the Time Team cameras join archaeologists as they dig the site of William Shakespeare’s house, New Place, in Stratford on Avon. There’s little of it above ground now, but records show it was Tudor Stratford’s biggest private home, with up to 20 rooms. However, in 1702, New Place was demolished to make way for a grand Georgian pile. But, with the site now accessible, the archaeologists aim to show for the first time not only where Shakespeare really did live with his family but also how grand his house was.

We have just put on sale a Friends event in Newcastle, the event is next Friday with the wonderful Jonathan Hyde, tickets for the event can be booked online or by calling 0844 800 1110.

Jonathan Hyde -  Friday 16 March, 4pm
Theatre Royal Newcastle
Jonathan Hyde is no stranger to Newcastle audiences having visited the area on several occasions with the RSC. His last visit was in 2007 when he took the part of Kent in King Lear and Dr Dorn in The Seagull. Jonathan is familiar to millions for his film and TV appearances. We are pleased that Jonathan has agreed to be our guest whilst visiting Newcastle as Lionel Logue in the stage production of The King’s Speech. Tickets £5 Friends / £6 Guests / under 18s £2.50.

RSC Chief Associate Director Gregory Doran, Canon Treasurer Mark Oakley from St Paul’s Cathedral, the Revd Martin Gorick and Senior RSC Voice Coach Alison Bomber take part in a discussion exploring the power of language and the importance of the words you choose.  Continuing the debates contained within the RSC production, Written on the Heart, the panel will talk about the enduring legacy of the King James Bible and discuss whether,  in trying to make  the Bible easily understandable, has something poetically profound been ‘lost in translation’?

With Readings by RSC actors including Stephen Boxer

‘One of the main points for discussion, for me, is around the impact of language on its audience, and therefore the precision of the choices we make when selecting our words.  From the wrangling within the new RSC play Written on the Heart over the translation of the Bible into English, to the ongoing changes to a developing liturgy over time, there seems to have been a balancing act between clarity of comprehension and expressivity/poetry.’ - Senior RSC Voice Coach Alison Bomber

Mark Oakley is Canon Treasurer of St Paul’s Cathedral, London. He was the Archdeacon of Germany and Northern Europe, an archdeaconry in the Diocese of Gibraltar in Europe of the Church of England, from 2005 to 2008. As a Residentiary Canon of St Paul’s Cathedral he carries particular responsibility for the Arts policy, fabric and collections in one of the most famous churches in the world.

Book online or call the RSC Box Office on 0844 800 1110.

It will take place on Sunday 19^th February in the Swan Theatre at 7pm, last approx 80 mins and tickets are on sale from the RSC box office.

Time for a few drinks and a bite afterwards, and what’s more it’s in aid of The Shakespeare Hospice, and Andrew Nicklin as MD has managed to bring together a twelve piece ensemble, including the harpist from Covent Garden Opera, to accompany the singers.

So book your tickets now…..http://www.rsc.org.uk/buy-tickets/select.aspx?performanceNumber=15590