A THEATRE ROYAL STRATFORD EAST AND ENGLISH TOURING THEATRE CO-PRODUCTION by Peter Shaffer PROGRAMME Undergraduate Open Day Sunday 24 March 2019, 10am–4pm WELCOME Hello and wishing you a warm welcome to Theatre Royal Are you interested Stratford East. in studying the We are delighted to be collaborating with English Touring Theatre for the first time to performing arts? bring you Peter Shaffer’s rarely-performed masterpiece Equus. The original in 1973 opened at the National Theatre followed by Our Undergraduate Open Day is the perfect the 1977 film adaptation with a major West opportunity to visit the Guildhall School in End revival in 2007 starring Daniel Radcliffe London and experience life as a student here. and the late great Richard Griffiths – who I had the pleasure of working with. One of the top performing arts institutions in the world, we offer undergraduate degrees Today I’m so excited about Ned Bennett’s in Music, Acting, Production Arts, Video take on this modern classic, not least as Ned Design and Performance & Creative Enterprise. is one of our country’s most daring theatre Nadia Fall © Hugo Glendinning makers. His work continues to innovate and So whether your passion is classical music certainly takes no prisoners. It’s tantalising to or spoken word, stage management or see just how this bold new production sheds lighting design, acting or devising your light on Shaffer’s haunting story. own work, join us for our Undergraduate There’s much more to look forward to here “It’s tantalising to see Open Day to see what we have to offer. following Equus as we welcome Pilot Theatre just how this bold and their production Noughts & Crosses – an Book now at gsmd.ac.uk/ugopenday adaptation of Malorie Blackman’s much-loved new production sheds Young Adult novel. I’ll be directing Lenny Henry in his Stratford East debut in August light on Shaffer’s Wilson’s hard-hitting drama King Hedley II, and we end our season with Benjamin haunting story” Britten’s uplifting opera Noye’s Fludde, directed by the brilliant Lyndsey Turner in collaboration with English National Opera. Thank you for your continued support in making Theatre Royal Stratford East one of this country’s most important arts venues. Enjoy the performance and we hope to see you back here soon. We’ll be announcing our next season of work very shortly, so keep your eyes peeled. NADIA FALL Artistic Director, Theatre Royal Stratford East Undergraduate Open Day Advertisment.indd 1 05/02/2019 15:01:06 stratfordshopping.co.uk ‘This indispensable theatre’ Michael Billington, The Guardian 1 Feb – 2 Mar 8 Mar – 20 Apr Cougar Blood Knot FROGMORE a new play by ROSE LEWENSTEIN by ATHOL FUGARD ITTLE MONKE A co-production with English Touring Theatre s L ADYS a’ 27 Apr – 1 Jun 7 Jun – 27 Jul n n e Out of Water While the k a new play by ZOE COOPER A In association with the Royal Shakespeare Company Sun Shines M by TERENCE RATTIGAN UNDER 3Os £12.5O orangetreetheatre.co.uk 020 8940 3633 NO BOOKING FEES TICKETS Just 20 minutes from London Waterloo on National Rail | Also Overground and District Line TIMELINE • • • • • • 1884 1926 1951 1958 1963 1964 Theatre Royal Stratford East Peter Shaffer was born on Shaffer’s first play, The Salt Five Finger Exercise, directed The Private Ear and The Shaffer wrote The Royal opened. 15 May. During the Second Land. Later produced for by John Gielgud, opened in Public Eye were staged in Hunt of the Sun. World War he worked as a television in 1955. the West End (transferring to the West End. Coal Miner and later studied New York in 1959 and a film at Trinity College, Cambridge. adaptation in 1962). • • • • • • 1977 1976 1975 1974 1973 1965 Equus was adapted for Equus moved to the Equus won the Tony Award for Equus opened on Broadway Equus was written and first Shaffer wrote the big screen, directed by Helen Hayes Theatre, Best Play and Best Director of a at the Plymouth Theatre. performed at the National Black Comedy. Sidney Lumet and starring closing in 1977 after 1,209 Play alongside being nominated Theatre, directed by John Richard Burton, Peter Firth, performances. for three others. The Broadway Dexter and starring Alex Eileen Atkins, Joan Plowright production also won four McCowen as Dysart and and Jenny Agutter. Drama Desk Awards and four Peter Firth as Alan Strang. Outer Critics Circle Awards. • • • • • • 1978 1979 1987 1993 2001 2007 The film was nominated Shaffer wrote Shaffer wrote English Touring Theatre Peter Shaffer was knighted Equus was revived in the for three Academy Awards, Amadeus. Lettice and Lovage. was founded by Stephen by Queen Elizabeth II. West End and on Broadway Best Actor (Richard Burton), Unwin and their first touring starring Daniel Radcliffe and Best Supporting Actor (Peter production, A Midsummer Richard Griffiths, directed by Firth) and Best Adapted Night’s Dream, was performed. Thea Sharrock. Screenplay. • • • • • 2019 2016 2012 2009 2007 First performance of Equus Peter Shaffer passed away London Classic Theatre First illustrated edition of the Peter Shaffer was inducted at Stratford East on 15 Feb! on 16 June. tour of Equus. Equus playtext was produced into the American Theatre by the Old Stile Press. Hall of Fame. 2019 Tour Dates Sketch by Georgia Lowe CAMBRIDGE ARTS THEATRE ROYAL BRISTOL THEATRE BATH OLD VIC 26 — 30 Mar 02 — 06 Apr 16 — 20 Apr THE LOWRY, NORTHERN STAGE, YVONNE ARNAUD SALFORD NEWCASTLE THEATRE, GUILDFORD 23 — 27 Apr 30 Apr — 04 May 07 — 11 May Who or what inspires you? Q&A WITH I am constantly being inspired by those I work with. Directors, actors, voice coaches, fight directors - the list is extensive. Every MOVEMENT DIRECTOR, job gives me a new insight into different methods of practice. It’s an eye-opening SHELLEY MAXWELL and humbling journey where I get to admire the talents of my peers which in turn keeps pushing me to strive to be better. What is one of your earliest theatre What advice would you give to someone memories? starting out as a Movement Director? As a child growing up in Jamaica, I was first exposed to theatre through the world of I think the idea of growing your network is dance. I would both attend and participate in essential. If people don’t know who you are dance concerts, formal and informal, and fell then THEY DONT KNOW WHO YOU ARE. in love with the feeling of journeying into a So working on projects whether assisting place that was beyond the everyday and was or shadowing is great in terms of a learning instead some place quite magical. experience but also in terms of putting your Shelley Maxwell © Jack Thomson face out there. What was your route into the industry? Dance was my chosen route into the world What has it been like working on Equus? of theatre making. Though it’s debatable as Equus has proven to be a very collaborative to whether I chose it or it chose me. I studied experience. The director is very open to “As a child growing and honed my craft as a performer and exploration and the actors have followed maker in that world, later making my way on suit by also being very active in the process up in Jamaica, I was stage into musical theatre and subsequently of devising. It’s been wonderful stepping first exposed to theatre into movement direction. into the rehearsal room each day not really knowing what might be conjured up. What advice would you give to through the world of emerging artists? What’s next for you? dance.” I think following one’s passion is always Aah the infamous ‘what’s next for you’ a positive attribute and by doing that you question. I’ll answer that more from the guarantee that there is a constant desire and stand point of human being and less so fire to keep pushing forward. I believe having from movement director. On my to do list a strong sense of self-belief and resilience is after opening night are my three Rs: Rest, helpful as an artist, as art is subjective. You can’t please everyone but you can strive to Relaxation and some Reading. remain true to yourself. What has your journey been like from performer to movement director? For me it was somewhat a natural progression as, from a very young age, I was practising the craft of choreography in the world of contemporary dance. I balanced this alongside my performance career and when I decided to retire from stage an opportunity came my way to delve into the world of movement direction. The big difference being I was now working with actors instead of dancers and the huge revelation for me was how much I absolutely loved doing it. The rest, as they say, is history. Shelley Maxwell © Jack Thomson Narration credits include: Ask Lara, Mummy White Devil (Leicester Haymarket), Haroun Robert Fitch Mysteries, Secret of Stalingrad, The Last Ethan Kai & The Sea of Stories (National Theatre), Voyage of the Empress, Animal Armageddon, Wonderland Adventures of Alice (London Ultimate Battles and Quest for Sunken Bubble Theatre), Little Red Riding Hood, Warships (Discovery Channel) and Zumbo World Storytime, D’yer Eat With Your Fingers (Sky TV). (Theatre Royal Stratford East), Romeo & Juliet (Cambridge Syllabus Players), Radio credits include: Time to Move, Telling It Necklaces (Talawa), The House of the Spirits The Way It Is and ‘Together’ (BBC). (Yorrick Theatre Company), Total Rethink Robert has recorded numerous educational (Black Mime Theatre Company), Cleaning Up tapes.