Theatre / Previews
Bristol School of Acting dive into the radical, Hamlet-inspired world of ‘Elsinore’
Bristol School of Acting (BSA)’s first year Theatre Making BA students have been working on a brand-new programme in collaboration with The Wardrobe Ensemble.
The first show to emerge from this partnership is an original production devised by students and directed by The Wardrobe Ensemble’s Tom Brennan.
Inspired by the world of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Elsinore is billed as “a radical reworking” of the Bard’s enduring play that blends choreography, diary extracts and storytelling
is needed now More than ever
Bristol24/7 were joined by BSA students Tess Morris and Toby Mitchell, who play Queen Gertrude and Kind Claudius in Elsinore, to discuss the upcoming production.
Elsinore is set in the world of Hamlet. How do the two narratives blend, or diverge, as the play goes on?
“Elsinore takes the story of Hamlet and uses it to explore themes that feel relevant to a modern audience, such as grief, relationships and purpose. Whilst still using the characters and general plot, we use elaborate movement, original dialogue and live music to take this classic play and ask the question ‘what is really happening here?’”
What were the challenges of giving a devised production such familiar roots?
“Hamlet is obviously a classic. It has been reinterpreted and staged countless times and is very loved, but it is also Shakespeare and we are aware that not everybody connects with that.
“We have been focusing a lot on striking a balance between honouring the original form of the play but not limiting ourselves to it. It feels important for us to be clear that we are not staging a production of Hamlet. Our play will resonate with Shakespeare fans as well as people who are completely unfamiliar with the story.”
How has Tom Brennan’s direction helped you to unlock the play you have created?
“Tom’s direction has helped us in a number of ways. Tom is great at taking all of our ideas and welding them together to make one strong idea. He’s created a culture that enables people to be vulnerable with their ideas and be true to what each individual is interested in, utilising each ensemble member’s specific skills to create a shared language for our company. This ensures that everyone’s voice is heard in our production, and it really is our show.”
What excites you most about sharing the show with an audience?
“We’re excited to share what we’ve been up to as a brand new course at BSA. We’re very focused on the now and how that affects the theatre that we make. Elsinore is a radical retelling of a classic told through our lens, and it’s a personal show for each of us. We’ve put a new spin on each character and we’re excited to show you what we’ve come up with.”
Elsinore (age recommendation 14+) is at Tobacco Factory Theatres on June 27-29 at 7.30pm. Tickets are available at www.tobaccofactorytheatres.com.
All photos: Tom Brennan
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