…and now for something completely different. After last week’s performance workshops, this post moves us from the rehearsal space back to the library; I have been revisiting archival documents associated with the rise of the commercial playhouses and getting a clearer sense of the context that surrounds extant references, restrictions, and correspondence about playing. The … Continue reading Early Thoughts on the Archives
Month: August 2016
Galatea Workshops: Let us into the grove
Yesterday, we took some of the scenes we'd been working on to the park. These photos show moments throughout the play surrounding the lovers, Galatea and Phillida:
Galatea Workshops: Stephen Purcell’s Response
On Thursday, we welcomed among the visitors to the room Stephen Purcell, an academic, director, and practitioner. Here are his thoughts on the morning: *** The group was three days into its week-long exploration of Lyly's Galatea when I attended its Thursday morning session. It was, I understand, the first session dedicated to the play's … Continue reading Galatea Workshops: Stephen Purcell’s Response
Galatea Workshops 6: Interview with Antonia and Steve
This afternoon I spoke to Antonia Kemi Coker and Steve Jacobs about their experiences in the workshops. How are you finding the week and the workshops? SJ: I’m really, really enjoying it. I work a lot in Cornwall with a lot of companies that tend to be the same people, so it’s great to … Continue reading Galatea Workshops 6: Interview with Antonia and Steve
Galatea Workshops 5: Interview with Becky and Krishna
This morning I had a chance to speak to Becky Barry (BB) and Krishna Istha (KI) about this week. How are you finding the workshops so far? BB: Ah gosh! I’m finding it as if it was a wonderful palette of opportunity and a very deep—in a good way—explorative process of the text, but … Continue reading Galatea Workshops 5: Interview with Becky and Krishna
Galatea Workshops 4: Songs, Nymphs, and Boys
The room this week has been filled with the sound of music, in large part from the guitar of Victoria Abbott (@vittyabbott). Vicky has set the play's two songs to music and has been taking the group through a range of vocal exercises and teaching us the songs, with harmonies (all while fresh from writing them--the songs were still … Continue reading Galatea Workshops 4: Songs, Nymphs, and Boys
Galatea Workshops 3: Interviewing Angela and Selina
Today, we had the chance to talk to Angela Clerkin and Selina Thompson about their experiences in the workshop over the first two and a half days: How are you finding the workshops so far? ST: Alex is making me dance today; I’ll never forgive her… No, it’s been really great; I’ve really enjoyed the week... … Continue reading Galatea Workshops 3: Interviewing Angela and Selina
Galatea Workshops: Deities in BSL
As part of working with the text of Galatea in both written, spoken, and British Sign Language (BSL) forms, Nadia Nadarajah, Jamal Ajala, Hermi Behrane, and Becky Barry have devised signs for the play's deities. They're a constant visual presence in the room by now. Here they are both as GIFs and as YouTube videos: Neptune: … Continue reading Galatea Workshops: Deities in BSL
Galatea Workshops: Where are we?
This week, Emma Frankland is exploring John Lyly's Galatea (1585?) at the Jerwood Space with a collection of performers, actors, and makers, looking in particular at its representations of non-normative sexuality and concluding investment in transgender identity exploration. Throughout the week, a handful of academic visitors are dropping in to observe or participate. The workshops are also working between deaf … Continue reading Galatea Workshops: Where are we?
Before Shakespeare 