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Shakespeare and the Roundhouse prove a perfect match
• THE breathtaking performance of Richard III by Jonathan Slinger ended the marathon run of Shakespeare’s Histories at the Roundhouse.
Standing ovations, throwing of red and white flowers and tears of disbelief marked the end of a phenomenally successful RSC production.
The ensemble of actors, directors, designers and other theatre artists worked for two and half years. Their tireless efforts culminated in the two-month run. It started with Richard II on April 1 continuing through Henry IV, Henry V, Henry VI on to the finale of Richard III on May 25. Each performance lasted about three hours and particularly exciting was the eight plays shown back-to-back over four days.
Between them the 34 actors played 264 roles. Watching them bring Shakespeare’s language to life and making history understandable was a reminder of civilisation’s frailty.
The battle scenes were dark, imaginative and surrealistic.
At the end of Henry V, one audience member stayed seated crying after everyone had left. She was overcome by the symbolism of stark white wooden coffins being used as a stage upon which Henry V wooed the French princess.
Members of the audience often commented on being so lucky to watch the RSC’s Shakespeare in the heart of Camden. One man said to me: “It’s all right, I know where my seat is I’ve leased it.” Others were grateful for the interlude: “I need to refresh myself before the next battle.”
The Roundhouse was completely transformed to recreate the Courtyard Theatre in Stratford, thereby allowing an intimate atmosphere with the audience becoming part of the scene.
Stage lighting was magic. The texture of the stage changed from battlefield to velvety palace, from tower to open plain. The casting of shadows against the wall was pure poetry, conjuring up extreme menace or a warm, soft surround.
The costumes were a treat in design. One could have watched the plays simply as a fashion show.
It was unlike any Shakespeare production that I had ever seen.
I studied Julius Caesar at Haverstock School in the 1960s and daily walked past the empty old round warehouse. Never would I have put the two together. As a Roundhouse volunteer, this has surely been a once in lifetime experience for me.
Leeroy Murray
Castlehaven Road, NW1
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