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| Emily Jane Kerr in rehearsals for The Tempest as Stephano |
My body is aching. My mind is full. And those lines still won’t quite stay in my head. It is most definitely week two of rehearsals. Still in that honeymoon period that will disappear come Wednesday morning when we return for week three. That dreaded week three lull. But enough about that.
Dream is looking marvellous. This week has been joy after joy as everyone’s characters in the Dream have very nearly come to full blown three-dimensional life. Bottom, Quince and the Mechanicals are spectacularly bad actors. (The characters I mean. The chaps playing the mechanicals are fabulous. And rather funny). The lovers are truthful, passionate and hilarious in equal measure. Titania and Oberon are gloriously magical. But Puck? That’s not for me to say. I most definitely struggle with Puck. But she’s coming. How do I get that sense of magical mischievousness combined with the possibility of great evil? It’s a challenge. I’m definitely not there yet but hopefully I will be by the performances. I just hope my costume arrives on time.
One thing that has occurred to me is how lucky I am to be surrounded by such wonderful actors, who not only are talented, but also are intelligent, imaginative and have points of view. It is glorious to spend time with these people and to see everyone else’s enjoyment in Shakespeare’s language. It’s also a joy to see each character and person blossom. Well done Grassroots for getting a fab
group together!
I keep having a, what I like to call, ‘fan moment’ about Shakespeare, about one particular piece of text. It genuinely makes me tingle every single time I say his words.
‘If we shadows have offended
Think but this and all is mended,
That you have but slumbered here
While these visions did appear…’
The beauty of Shakespeare’s language really gets into my heart and soul at that point in the play and I think it’s a perfect end to the show. Also, it says a great deal about theatre. I really hope it makes you tingle too.
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Grassroots Shakespeare London's Christmas rep season of The Tempest and A Midsummer Night's Dream runs at the Lion & Unicorn Theatre from 11th December 2012 - 5th January 2013.
Tickets are available from www.ticketweb.co.uk or www.lastminute.com, who have a £10 offer on until the end of November.
For more details - www.grassrootsshakespearelondon.com
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Emily Jane Kerr
Stephano (The Tempest) & Puck (A Midsummer Night's Dream)
Emily Jane Kerr is an actress from Hertfordshire. She graduated from Central School of Speech and Drama in 2010. Since graduating she has been performing on stage and screen, and has recently turned her hand to writing (Shakepeare for Breakfast 2012 – C Theatre). Emily has performed in many and varied venues, including Shakespeare’s Globe, Hampstead Theatre and The Arts Theatre. Recent credits include Nurse in Shakespeare for Breakfast 2012 (C Theatre), Julia in Waiting for Space (Trafalgar Studios) and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Young Shakespeare Company). Grassroots is a fabulous company and Emily is excited to be working with wonderful individuals who love Shakespeare as much as her!
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