I attended the tree planting ceremony on Friday in @TheRSC gardens in memory of Terry Hands, former artistic director. Greg Doran referenced so many outstanding productions which Terry directed for the company as well as at Theatr Clwyd where I once the Vice Chair of the Board.
His productions especially of the history plays made a mark in the history of their performance at Stratford which was no little achievement in the wake of Hall, Barton, Hands and Noble.
He should be remembered with thanks.
Sir Michael Boyd both changed and yet preserved the Shakespearean landscape of Stratford upon Avon. The theatre building as it is now retains much of its past within the new. It is a welcoming place in which to watch Shakespeare close up as it were, to the thrust stage.
These are vastly different conditions of course but what a great challenge to the coach today. Make something of the youngsters you have - rather than merely buy. It’s what football needs.
The letter sent to the @Wolves fans by Jeff Shi the Chairman of the Board clearly explains the strategy that he and the Fosun owners are employing. There is a remarkable honesty about it.
I’ve seen the good and the not so good years but what we have in Jeff Shi’s letter is a long term vision for growing a team.
Matt Busby had to do that after Munich and created an incredible team.
Those in the wrong don’t like being interrogated. The Conservative right wing has betrayed the people of this country. Let’s hope that ballot box will start to kick them out this week and finish them off next year. 10/10
Despite what the Prime Minister says graduates in the media, the humanities, the arts and social sciences do get good jobs and help wealth creation. 1/10
No doubt graduates in other subjects also consider these issues but the arts, social sciences and humanities are trained to ask the difficult questions and to lift the stones that corruption prefers to leave where they are. 9/10
This is Omar Elerian’s first production at Stratford. I hope it will not be his last.
Don’t be put off by the ‘rehearsal’ description. It is part of the fiction and magic of this polished, outstanding production.
As You Like It at @TheRSC may not be as some critics would like it but I liked it, indeed loved it! This is a stylish interpretation of this play which brings out the humour and farce of Shakespeare’s artistry.
Both the interval and the conclusion provide stunningly apt surprises. But the accolades must go to the brilliant cast which includes Geraldine James, Malcolm Sinclair, Maureen Beattie and James Hayes to name but four. All in the cast however are excellent as are the musicians.