The Stage

Professionals to collaborate with amateurs in RSC scheme

Published Wednesday 8 December 2010 at 14:06 by Zainab Rahim

Amateur theatre groups across the UK are being invited to pitch Shakespeare-themed performances to the Royal Shakespeare Company as part of a new project, RSC Open Stages.

The project, being funded with an undisclosed sum by the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation, will bring together professional and amateur groups to collaborate and share skills.

After pitching a Shakespeare-themed performance - which can be a straight text, an evening of sonnets or a devised piece inspired by Shakespeare - the amateur theatres will be eligible to attend an exchange event, hosted by theatres across the UK. The RSC said the aim of these events will be to “inspire ideas and pass on new skills for use in the groups’ productions”.

A selection of the performances will be showcased at the RSC theatres in Stratford-upon-Avon in 2012, during the World Shakespeare Festival.

Eight regional theatres will work with the amateur groups to provide professional support. These are the National Theatre of Scotland, the Lyric Theatre Belfast, the Sage Gateshead, Contact Theatre Manchester, Hall for Cornwall, the Nuffield Theatre Southampton, the New Wolsey Ipswich and the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon.

Producer of RSC’s Open Stages Ian Wainwright told The Stage there was no limit to the number of amateur theatres that could take part. He said: “Amateur theatre pre-dates professional theatre - that is mystery plays, performances by the community, and so on. I think this is a celebration of that work. It’s an art form that belongs to everybody, and what we can do is share the resource. It’s a leadership project and I think it’s leading a change in our relationship with the amateurs.”

Tony Gibbs, chief executive of the National Operatic and Dramatic Association, which represents amateur theatre, said it would be a great opportunity for groups “to look at how they can raise their game”. He said: “It is a great idea because it does actually mean that through the partner theatres, we’ll see professional and amateur practitioners come together.”

Following on from the launch of Open Stages, the RSC will hold a two-day workshop at NODA’s residential summer school at the University of Warwick in 2011, which will explore different interpretations of Shakespeare’s plays, movement in performances and other skills.

Gibbs said: “We already know there are lots of professionals with RSC backgrounds who are huge supporters of amateur theatre, such as Sir Derek Jacobi and Sir Ian McKellen. Both of them have got strong roots in the RSC from their early days, so it’s great when you start to see the kind of genesis that we’ve got now, and I really hope that other professional practitioners will look at what RSC is doing and say, ‘hey, maybe we can do that too’.”

Applications for RSC Open Stages are now open.