THE STAGE EDIT: ROMEO & JULIET// PRESS EVENT PT.1
In my On the Edge post I hinted at the fact that I somehow managed to attend the press event for HOME's Romeo & Juliet production earlier that week and managed to get a couple interviews with members of the creative team. Well, today I am here to share Part 1 of what I saw, heard and learnt that day...
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I made my merry way on a very sunny Tuesday to the venue for the site-specific production of Romeo & Juliet, the Victoria Baths, where the press event was to be held. In the 5+ years that I claim to have lived in Manchester, I had never once been to see this historic and rather exquisite building before that day. Opened in 1906, the Victoria Baths was given high praise and called a water palace that citizens of Manchester could be proud of. This fact was deemed, by the council, a good enough reason to spend over £59,000 to build it which was double the proposed cost of construction. Over the years the Victoria Baths underwent quite a few changes but it was not until 1993 that the council closed it down due to it being too expensive to keep open. But back in 2002, the Victoria Baths featured in BBC's Restoration series and won which led to it receiving various grants and the like to aid in its full restoration. Now, it is being used to host art events, as a filming location amongst other things and hopes to one day have at least one of the swimming pools fully functioning and open for public use again.
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Source: Sara Vickers (Juliet) and Alex Felton (Romeo) // Courtesy of HOME
When I made my way to the front entrance, I was greeted by Sara Robinson, the producer of the show whom I got to interview later that day. I did not anticipate just how odd it would be say the words, 'Hi! My name is Mo and I'm with the Entertainment & Lifestyle blog, Within My Locket'. Goodness me. T'was like I became a very different version of myself in a parallel universe where I'm "part of the press." Ha! Once my tongue got used to allowing those set of words being rolled off it, it became quite fun to say. Anyway, I was shown to the room where all other members of the press were congregated and was offered some refreshments. It was at the refreshment table that I met the lovely Jill Bowyer of Salford City radio and got chatting about what we do and how we came about being won over by the magic of theatre - this may become a very important fact in coming weeks... Shortly after we all arrived, we took to our seats, drinks and nibbles in tow, and waited for the event to start. The director, producer, dramaturg and community engagement officer, who formed the panel, made their way to the front and the event began. Did I mention I was sat in the front row? No? Well, I was and found it a bit unnerving. Let's just say I was never that student that rushed to sit in the front. I was always a middle row kinda gal - my poor eyesight never allowed me to stay in the back row for too long haha. I guess people can change...
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Source: Walter Meierjohann // Courtesy of HOME
Walter Meierjohann, HOME's Theatre Director and director of this version of R&J, welcomed us all and introduced us to the other members of the panel - Sara Robinson (producer), Petra Jane Tauscher (dramaturg) and a lovely lady from HOME's Community Engagement team whose name I, unfortunately, did not catch. They were in the middle of rehearsals but he said that we will be given the chance to see the ballroom scene that was being choreographed by Kendrick 'H2O' Sandy and hear some of the original music that was written and composed by Nikola Kodjabashia specifically for this production. He also gave a special mention to the stage designer, Ti Green and told us that we would be given a tour of all three swimming pools that have been transformed into stages for the play whose design was inspired by Eastern Europe.
Why Romeo & Juliet?
During this introduction, Walter Mierjohann even explained why he chose Romeo and Juliet, stating that he’d always loved the play and had once even experienced a real-life rendition of the play during his travels with his girlfriend in Central and Eastern Europe where a young couple whose families were at odds with each other for a long time, ran away in her parents’ Mercedes Benz. This, he said, led to pandemonium fueled by shouting. "I thought I heard gunshots as well," he said. "Half an hour later the whole place was cleared and about 15 Mercedes were chasing after this young couple." Needless to say, we all found this story quite amusing.
Why Victoria Baths?
After accepting his new role as HOME's Theatre Director last year and then finding out that it does not actually open until 2015, he wanted there to be a season of site-specific productions leading up to the grand re-opening of HOME. For the brief he gave to an expert in site-specific projects, the words urban and gritty were used for Romeo & Juliet. He was offered a lot and said, "I was walking around going 'hmm...somethings's not quite right' and then I came here for the private tour. I stepped in and was like,' Ok, this is the place for Romeo & Juliet.' Because it has this beautiful, I would say, faded beauty and there is a lot about, I would say, memory in this place." He drew similarities between the play and Victoria Baths due to its beauty and "[...] also maybe because it was empty. There is a sense of loss in here as well." And he said that when he walked into the ladies' pool and saw all the cubicles clustered all around the pool it was like, "Bang! Got it! Capulets that side, Montagues that side. Done."
Why Site-Specific Projects?
Listening to all that was said about R&J, there seemed to be quite an emphasis on getting the community of Manchester very much involved. A lot of community workshops were held in the months leading up the to the first R&J performance geared towards the promotion of arts, crafts and theatre. The chorus ensemble was made up of students from Manchester Metropolitan University and the volunteers for the front of house were all local. We were even told that there would be a mini exhibition of the work made during the workshops for us all to see on the night we see R&J for ourselves which I was quite eager to see.
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Source: Sara Vickers and Alex Felton // Courtesy of HOME
After being allowed into rehearsals and seeing a bit of the really entertaining ballroom scene (the music had me bopping my head and tapping my feet), we were given a tour of the place and the chance to interview Sara Vickers (Juliet) and Alex Felton (Romeo). I only had time to ask one question though, which was a real shame but I am pleased with the little time I was give.
Have you ever seen or been in a Romeo & Juliet production before and if so how did that affect your approach to the role?
Sara: Mmm... I have seen other productions but I have never been in a Romeo & Juliet before. I think it is one of those things where you've seen it done so many times. I was actually like, "Nah, I never want to play Juliet. I don't know what to do with it." It had been done so much, you get really frightened. But I actually did it for an audition a couple years ago. And I did it and was like, "Actually I feel like trying that again; I really get it." And I thought I had something to offer which I didn't feel I had before. So, it felt like it kinda sort of found me, in a weird way. I did 'Tis Pity She's a Whore' which is kind of a similar story- much darker, sick, twisted version [laughs]. You know you get your heat cut out nd it's a brother and sister so...
Alex: I did audition with the balcony speech but I hadn't looked at the play until the audition. Well, I loved the film but I hadn't seen it in ages. Erm... but yeah, it's similar - it's like coming back and you think you know it - you build it up in your head but then then you actually read it and go, "Wow! This is really good." So yeah, it is kind of fresh. I just have to forget Leonard DiCaprio...
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Shortly after Sara and Alex were whisked away for rehearsals, I seized my opportunity to interview Petra Jane Tausher (dramaturg) and Sara Robinson (producer) before they too had to get back to putting the finishing touches on the show. As this post is already a bit long I will share what I learnt about those ladies later on. All in all, it was a great event. The venue was beautiful. The people I met were passionate and friendly. Could not have asked for a better introduction to HOME's Romeo & Juliet.
So, stay tuned...connected?...online?... You know what, forget it. Part 2 and 3 of this event are on their way as well as my thoughts on this version of R&J.
Mo x
**Unless otherwise stated, all photos were taken by me/belong to Within My Locket.