Theatre company Permanently Bard brings Romeo and Juliet to pub gardens across London this summer. Sophie Farrah talks to director Sean Turner about combining beer and Bard
Fuller’s fantastic foray into Shakespeare returns this summer, and is coming to a pub garden near you! In association with the aptly named theatre company Permanently Bard, twelve beautiful beer gardens across London (and beyond) will be transformed into the al fresco setting of Shakespeare’s most famous love story – Romeo and Juliet.
So, hankies at the ready, but the show’s Director Sean Turner assures me that there is more to his version of the show than tragedy alone.
"There is definitely going to be a lot of humour in this years show. Romeo and Juliet is actually a very funny show... up until Act 3, Scene 4, of course!" he laughs. "That’s one of the terrifying things for a director who takes on a play this well known - there's always the worry that the audience already knows where the show is going to end up. We need to make it alive again, and tell the story fresh."
And with that in mind you can put any past experience of formal, epically long and occasionally stuffy Shakespeare firmly behind you – this is Shakespeare with a twist. "Our shows are quite raucous!" Sam grins, "we definitely don’t hold Shakespeare up on a pedestal. Hopefully we can remind the audience that Shakespeare is meant to be fun!"
This is Permanently Bard’s second annual ‘pub crawl’, bringing their unique style of boisterous Shakespeare to the masses. The idea was formed three years ago, in a pub (appropriately enough) and has gone from strength to strength. With a company of eleven experienced actors, which this year includes Dame Judi Dench’s great-nephew Olivier Dench giving his take on Romeo, the show will visit twelve pubs this summer ranging from Bath to Barnes.
So how does Sean tackle the challenge of directing a show when the performance space varies from venue to venue?
"It’s something that I was always really keen on not ignoring. The foibles and quirks of each garden can present a challenge or an opportunity. We go to each of the gardens before rehearsals begin, so we can really think about how the show can be uniquely tailored for that space."
Of course, challenges aside, there's one obvious plus-point to the choice of venues - the bar is never far.
Fuller’s offers a good selection of drinks, gourmet bar snacks and delicious hot food which you can actually pre-order for the interval if you’d prefer. Very civilized!
"We actually take two intervals" explains Sean, "so the show is broken up into three acts rather than two. That helps with the fast pace, and it also means that everybody can have a couple more beers whilst the show is going on!"
Maybe it’s due to the open-air nature of The Globe, the London theatre that's become synonymous with Shakespeare, but the Bard's plays always seem so at home when performed outside. Under the stars and amongst the trees, each performance offers a magical experience. This particular production only enhances that feeling by performing in traverse, with the audience on either side.
"The performance space is basically like a catwalk", Sean notes, "running through the middle of garden. We find that makes it a really social experience. The audience feel a lot more involved in the production."
"It’s a night out at the pub as much as it is a night out at the theatre" says Sean. Local pubs involved in the tour include The Turk's Head in Twickenham, The Red Lion in Barnes, and The Duke of Kent and The Rose & Crown, both in Ealing - so it seems that this summer there is no need to head into town for a slice of Shakespeare.
Romeo and Juliet shows from August 3 – September 12, at various locations. Tickets from £12.50
The official charity benefitting from this year’s production is Shooting Star Chase
