The Shakespeare Conference: SHK 18.0270  Wednesday, 4 April 2007

From: 		Jan Pick <
 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
 >
Date: 		Monday, 2 Apr 2007 21:05:23 +0100
Subject: 18.0263 Royal Shakespeare Theatre Closing for 
Comment: 	RE: SHK 18.0263 Royal Shakespeare Theatre Closing for 
Refurbishment

Went to a meeting on Sunday (Friends of RSC) where the Project Manager 
explained what was going to happen.  Like others I have many happy 
memories of the RST where I was introduced in the late 60s and 70s to a 
lifelong love of Shakespeare and theatre.  Apparently they have already 
made changes to the prototype due to experiences at the Courtyard.  It 
will no longer be semi circular, but 'faceted' as the original shape was 
too big for the actors' voices to carry from one side to the other when 
they were 'facing away' from one section of the audience.  They are 
putting in aisles, and keeping pillars.  They have to keep the current 
Wings and also have to keep the Pros Arch as it holds the RST roof up! 
Looking at the new plans they seem to have been done quite sensitively - 
they are stripping back the 1950s accretions, so the new back row will 
be the best circle seats!  I begin to feel a little more hopeful about 
the new theatre.  When asked what would happen to the Courtyard, the 
answer was that it will be dismantled and The Other Place reinstated.

Jan Pick

_______________________________________________________________
S H A K S P E R: The Global Shakespeare Discussion List
Hardy M. Cook, 
 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
 
The S H A K S P E R Web Site <http://www.shaksper.net>

DISCLAIMER: Although SHAKSPER is a moderated discussion list, the 
opinions expressed on it are the sole property of the poster, and the 
editor assumes no responsibility for them.