Summer Shakespeare back for comedy double bill

In great news for lovers of the Bard, outdoor Summer Shakespeare is back at the University of Auckland in February.

Audiences will be spoilt for choice with a double bill featuring a student production of Twelfth Night from 11 to 14 February, followed by A Midsummer Night’s Dream, presented by Auckland-based Stray Theatre Company from 15 to 21 February.

Dr Barbara Taylor, who teaches Shakespeare as the current Alice Griffin Lecturer in Shakespeare and early modern literature is producing Twelfth Night.

She says the production will be cast before Christmas from the cohort of Drama 305, which is taught over the summer semester and designed to give students practical experience as well as academic knowledge.

“We’re expecting up to 30 students to take part, and they’ll all get roles across the cast and production team, be that as actors, stage managers, costume designers or musicians; everyone is going to be graded on their contribution to the show.”

Summer research scholars will also be contributing to the play’s music.

Taylor, who has previously worked as a researcher at Shakespeare’s Globe in London and for various Australian theatres, is delighted to be bringing the ever-popular Twelfth Night back to the University for the fifth time (after productions in 1973, 1996, 2004 and 2014.)

“I chose Twelfth Night because it's an evergreen crowd pleaser; jokes, music, falling in love! It also has a strong ensemble feel, even as it provides opportunities for students to stand out and show their individual talents.”

The play will be directed by poet, playwright and dramaturge Murray Edmond, who was an associate professor of drama at the University until his retirement in 2014.

“We are so lucky to have Murray on board. He’s a total pro who has a strong vision and affinity for the play,” says Taylor.

Edmond is equally enthusiastic about the choice of play.

"Twelfth Night is full of musical moments and a highly entertaining range of characters who are all in-and-out-of love. It's also a play with a wise and thoughtful heart. And, most importantly, it's a young person's play. I’m really looking forward to working with the students to bring it to life."

Taylor is looking forward to welcoming the public, as well as friends and family.

“I’d like it to be proof of concept for Summer Shakespeare productions in the future.”

Arriving from the Australian National University in January, she says she quickly became aware of what a beloved tradition the summer Shakespeare was; with people’s memories of magical evenings under the ClockTower extending as far back as the first production in 1963, when Hamlet was performed under the direction of Professor Sydney Musgrove (1914-1987).

However, past seasons had corporate sponsors and a dedicated organising structure, while the current production is being developed as a University course, supported by department funding.

Longer term, Taylor says, she’d love there to be enough financial backing and interest for the Shakespeare to return annually for a full season, and for it to again be a springboard for bright new talent across the city.

“I’d like to hope that, as it was in the past, it would be a desirable thing for up-and-coming actors and directors to get their start.”

Notable past directors include Michael Hurst, Lisa Harrow, Colin McColl and Simon Phillips, while actors have included Sir Sam Neill, Jennifer Ward-Lealand, Don Selwyn, George Henare, Calum Gittens and Sara Wiseman.

Stray Theatre is the University's resident company in the form of a student-run club, offering a platform for students to get experience in acting, directing, writing, production and technical crew roles.

It typically puts on four full-length shows across the year, often at central Auckland’s Pitt Street Theatre, having lost its former home in the smaller of the two spaces at the Maidment Theatre in 2016 after the theatre was demolished.

The directors of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Hunter Easterbrook and Rose Herda, are “overjoyed” to be working with Stray Theatre to facilitate the return of Summer Shakespeare at the University.

"We’re looking forward to embracing the fairy-laden forest of A Midsummer Night’s Dream in our own inner-city oasis right here on City Campus. Our cast of 19 keen performers is bursting at the seams with energy and wit, and we can’t wait to see them take to the stage."

Herda and Easterbrook are “die-hard fans of the Bard,” both having studied Shakespeare in London as a part of the RADA Shakespeare Summer School and at the Shakespeare Globe Centre New Zealand and Youth Shakespeare Company respectively.

Working with Auckland-based independent company The Arden Ensemble, they have staged productions of Much Ado About Nothing, Twelfth Night and Henry IV, among others.

The two productions will use different parts of the University grounds, with Twelfth Night planned for the copse of trees on the far side of Old Government House lawn and A Midsummer Night’s Dream to be staged on the main lawn.

Twelfth Night will be cut to 90 minutes with no intermission, says Taylor, and will use a minimal set with an audience arranged in a curve around the performance area.

In the event of rain, both productions will be small enough to move to an indoor space in the Arts and Education building on Symonds Street.

Taylor says one could say they're bringing Summer Shakespeare back, but in fact the creative spirit never really left campus.

"A whole heap of eager talent was just waiting for the green light. Shakespeare belongs to everyone, and I can’t wait for the community to see what we can build together.”