Cymbeline Royal Shakespeare Compamy Cinema relay

On Wednesday 28^th September 2016 I attended a relay at the Bolden Cineworld of the Royal Shakespeare Company’s latest production of Cymbeline. One of only two plays by Shakespeare about ancient Britain, the other King Lear is also part of the present Stratford season and will be broadcast internationally through Cinema relay on October 12. I have previously experienced two RSC productions of King Lear in Newcastle in 1991 and 1994 both at the theatre Royal but not Cymbeline and where I cannot remember having read the play although I did once attempt to read through all the works assigned to Shakespeare. 

Checking my records, I have so found that I watched forty productions of the RSC which cover a wide range of authors other than Shakespeare and twenty-seven of his plays, some twice, a handful at Stratford (Julius Caesar, Merchant of Venice, Midsummer Night’s Dream) come to mind and in Newcastle the famed seasons where plays were performed at the People’s theatre at the former Newcastle University Theatre, now Northern stage and the Theatre Royal.

The relay of Cymbeline featured important explanations of why the play may have come to be written and how the present production was designed to provide clarity on a complex tale and where, as I was reminded, it is essential to allow the ear to tune into the language of the day to fully appreciate and understand the wonder of the works. The production was created on an open stage with the audience on three sides and a back screen plus some back side constructions essential to aspects of story. This was a production which kept the audience focussed on the actors rather than technical wizardry although there was on central stage device which centre on a tree.

The story is divided between geopolitics, family tragedy and young love. Underpinning all these three aspects is the human tendency to distort and manufacture truth, spread lies and deception to further and protect self-interest, to gain revenge coupled with the tendency of the young and the vulnerable to be tricked, seduced, groomed by those will evil intent.  There is an excellent digital programme available on the RSC Internet site which includes cast, interviews, films and photos. Those without the time to re or read the play Wikipedia provides a sound summary.

Cost was an addition £7.20 on top of Monthly subscription of £16.90 with adults paying £18.20 at box office and senior like me with subscription paying £14.20 on line.