2013 Company Profiles
ROSALIND MARSHALL
Costume Supervisor
Ros has been with SATTF for six seasons.
See all profiles
Two Gentlemen of Verona Spring Tour 2013
Shakespeare at the Tobacco Factory (SATTF) is delighted to announce its first national tour during spring 2013, generously supported by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation who have offered touring funding over a three year period.
SATTF will tour Shakespeare’s early comedy, Two Gentlemen of Verona, immediately after a five week run at Bristol’s Tobacco Factory. The production is directed by, Andrew Hilton and designed by, Harriet de Winton.
Two Gentlemen of Verona 2013 dates:
Tobacco Factory Theatre, Bristol 4 April - 4 May
The Dukes, Lancaster 7 - 11 May
Everyman, Cheltenham 14 - 18 May
Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough 28 May - 1 June
Exeter Northcott Theatre 4 - 8 June
PRESS REVIEWS
**** The Independent: 'Hilton discovers in Two Gentlemen of Verona an unblinking portrait of love’s madness.... this production has a different kind of charm. And it’s not all down to the dog.' (Elizabeth Davis)
The Stage: ' a production set to delight audiences both in Bristol, where Two Gentlemen hasn’t been seen professionally for 62 years, and as far afield as Scarborough and Exeter on the tour.' (Jeremy Brien)
'After a month in Bristol the production is touring to Lancaster, Cheltenham, Scarborough, Exeter and Winchester. I urge you to go: it’ll be a long time before we see another production of the play as good as this.'
(John Campbell)
*** TheGuardian: 'As Andrew Hilton's revival proves... It has charm and high spirits, as love is tested and found wanting among four would-be lovers.' (Lyn Gardner)
**** The Arts Desk: 'As in other productions from Shakespeare at the Tobacco Factory, the casting is pitch-perfect and the acting first class, down to the star performance of a hilariously mournful black dog.' (Mark Kidel)
****Exeunt Magazine: 'The SATTF Two Gentlemen is full of laughs, peppered as it is with bizarre plot-turns and unexpected changes of heart, cross-dressing, a bit with a dog, and plenty of song and dance. By following Richard III with this broad comedy caper, Hilton and company seem capable of anything.' (Geraldine Giddings)
8/10 This is Bristol: 'This splendid Andrew Hilton production headed by excellent performances.' (Gerry Parker)
Gloucester Gazette: 'With love, betrayal and comeuppance – and sexual gags, dancing waiters and an actual dog – what’s not to like?' (Lucy Fulford)
Blackmore Vale Magazine: 'Don’t miss this Two Gentlemen – you won’t see a better.' (G - PW)
'And it’s moving for the audience, because Hilton and his cast always play the truth of the situation to find the comedy, as in the way Julia tears-up a love-letter for show, then scrabbles on the floor piecing it together, fearful the wind might blow fragments away. A tender, sympathetic kiss becomes a deep embrace comical in its passionate surge.' (Timothy Ramsden)
: 'Hilton’s direction has once again brought out beautiful verse-speaking from his cast, ensuring that ancient jokes are still funny and creating a fast-paced show... Hilton has another great show on his hands.' (Eleanor Turney)
Bristol Culture: 'At the performance I saw there were tears rolling down faces;... because the Bard’s words have been brought to life by a talented company under the direction of Andrew Hilton.'
REVIEWS ON TOUR
VL - Lancaster : 'This production should be seen - not only because it is a rare opportunity, but because the acting is excellent and the production hits just the right, light note.' (Jane Sunderland)
'Go and see Shakespeare at the Tobacco Factory’s production of Two Gentlemen of Verona. It is beautifully done and finely acted – but don’t let the dog distract you.' (Michael Hasted)
Gloucestershire Echo: 'Superb, funny, uplifting production of Two Gentlemen - see it now!' (Colin Davidson)
: 'It’s a real pleasure to encounter Bristol’s Shakespeare at the Tobacco Factory, venturing North for the first time in 14 years of productions... Even before the performance starts, it’s possible to guess (correctly) what the strength of SATTF is: the director, , has been responsible for 24 of 25 of the company’s productions and the cast, which hardly bristles with famous names, is full of actors with a long SATTF pedigree. In other words, the strength is the ensemble.' (Ron Simpson)
Express and Echo: (Exeter) 'This excellent production by Bristol-based touring company Shakespeare at the Tobacco Factory certainly validates director Andrew Hilton’s claim that the play richly deserves revival.' (Gordon Richardson)
‘We are all enormously excited to be embarking on our first national tour, and particularly look forward to the adaptations we shall make en route – from our pillared, in-the-square home in Bristol, to real in-the-round in Lancaster and Scarborough, to the more conventional stages of Cheltenham, Winchester and Exeter. The play is wonderfully engrossing – romantic, funny, and provocative – and we have a terrific team of actors and musicians to bring it to life.’
Andrew Hilton, Director
Venetian Lovers by Paris Bordone (1500-1571) The Yorck Project DIRECTMEDIA Publishing GmbH
SATTF will return to the Exeter Northcott Theatre, after a first visit in 2011 with their highly praised production of, The Comedy of Errors. The company will also tour to Everyman Theatre Cheltenham, Dukes Theatre Lancaster, Stephen Joseph Theatre Scarborough and the Theatre Royal Winchester for the first time.
‘We are over the moon that Shakespeare at the Tobacco Factory are taking their excellent work across the country – not an easy thing to do when there are so few in-the-round theatre spaces. As one of the UK’s leading companies making large cast Shakespeare productions, their work deserves to be seen by a much wider audience.’
Julie Brown, Producer & Communications Manager, The Dukes, Lancaster
“I have seen some wonderful Shakespeare productions by this company over the years and I am delighted that they are coming to Cheltenham as part of their first tour.”
Geoffrey Rowe, Chief Executive, Everyman Theatre Cheltenham
‘We are delighted to welcome Shakespeare at the Tobacco Factory back to the Exeter Northcott Theatre, our audiences will be thrilled to have another chance to enjoy what we know will be an excellent and accessible production.’
Kate Tyrrell, Executive Director, Exeter Northcott Theatre
‘Shakespeare at the Tobacco Factory has built a fantastic national reputation for their vivid and accessible productions so it’s very exciting to welcome them to our theatre in the round in Scarborough on their first ever tour.’
Amanda Saunders, Touring and Programming Director, Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough
"We are very pleased to be one of the tour venues for Shakespeare at the Tobacco Factory's tour of Two Gentlemen of Verona in 2013. They have a reputation for work of the highest quality and we welcome the chance for Winchester audiences to see this rarely performed play.’
Mark Courtice, Director,
Two Gentlemen of Verona
Friendship and love and loyalty and betrayal are the real players in this darkly comic early romance.
Two lifelong friends – the two young gentlemen of the title – are parted first by circumstance, and then by rivalry in love. Can their loyalty to each other survive the test, or will new loyalties drive out the old? How deep into perfidy can one be driven by sexual obsession?And what do even the most adored of women count for in a profoundly masculine world?
Shakespeare’s vision is both comic and shocking - and extraordinarily modern.
Clockwise from top: Piers Wehner as Proteus, Jack Bannell as Valentine, Eva Tausig as 1st Outlaw, Alan Coveney as Eglamour, David Plimmer as 3rd Outlaw and Thomas Frere as 2nd Outlaw, Lollio as Crab, Lisa Kay as Silvia, Marc Geoffreyas Speed, Dorothea Myer-Bennett as Julia, Paul Currier as Lord Turio Photos: Toby Farrow, Farrows Creative.
Cast
Jack Bannell Valentine
Peter Clifford Duke
Alan Coveney Eglamour
Lollio Crab
Paul Currier Turio
Christopher Donnelly Launce
Thomas Frere Pantino/ Outlaw/ Musician
Marc Geoffrey Speed
Nicky Goldie Lucetta
Lisa Kay Sylvia
Dorothea Myer-Bennett Julia
David Plimmer Antonio/ Outlaw/ Musician
Eva Tausig Outlaw/ Musician
Piers Wehner Proteus
Production
Director Andrew Hilton
Designer Harriet de Winton
Composer John Telfer
“A revelation. This early play is more than a comedy... Unmissable”
★★★★★ The Sunday Times (on The Comedy of Errors 2011)
Spring Touring 2013 – Booking Information:
April 4 - May 4 Tobacco Factory Theatre, Bristol
www.tobaccofactorytheatre.com
May 7-11 Dukes Theatre, Lancaster
www.dukes-lancaster.org
May 14-18 Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham
www.everymantheatre.org.uk
May 28-June 1 Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough
www.sjt.uk.com
(Booking opens in January 2013)
June 4-8 Exeter Northcott Theatre
www.exeternorthcott.co.uk
www.theatreroyalwinchester.co.uk
The 2013 Spring Tour is supported by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation. We are also grateful to Julian Thomas - Cultural Champion 2012, Patron, Volunteer and Company Member - for a generous donation towards spring touring 2013.
For further information please contact: Morag Massey, General Manager t:
