RSC Friends

When Michael Boyd became the company’s  Artistic Director, he said that in time he would like to be able to offer the public an insight into rehearsals. Such a privilege was recently made possible with three sessions at the RSC rehearsal rooms in Arden Street, each entitled THE MORTE D’ARTHUR – AN EXPLORATION. Although my wife and I could only get along to the final session on 1st May, it was an event to be savoured and long remembered.

 Not only did Greg Doran share where the company are with rehearsals and how certain scenes from the book are being staged, but also there was an opportunity to hear from adaptor Mike Poulton and Movement Director Struan Leslie about their input into the project.

The other memorable aspect of the session was to hear Greg in conversation with RSC Advisory Director and legend John Barton about staging fight sequences now and in the early days of the company (John recalled amusing moments when he rehearsed the heavy sword sequences in The Wars of the Roses), as well as the language of Malory and the importance of incorporating certain words into the script. They also discussed the influence of Morte D’Arthur on Shakespeare’s Histories.

It was an additional  treat to hear John Barton reading the latter pages of Malory’s epic work in a way which made it clear why the language of any theatrical presentation is  so important. it will indeed be exciting to see how Malory’s epic is translated into the space of The Courtyard.

 There was quite a buzz of anticipation and enthusiasm as we all left the rehearsal rooms. Many thanks to all who made the events possible and how very generous that they were free.

  Tony Boyd-Williams