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Shakespeare has been my bread and butter over the years and I’ve been lucky enough to take on some beautiful roles in some beautiful productions.
Thanks to @bardbotanics I’ve had the opportunity to tell stories that, although 400 years old, reflect the world we live in today.
Thanks to @bardbotanics I’ve had the opportunity to tell stories that, although 400 years old, reflect the world we live in today.
To celebrate #ShakespeareDay I thought I’d have a look back and share some of the fun times I’ve had with Scotland’s premier Shakespeare company...
#HappyBirthdayShakespeare
#HappyBirthdayShakespeare
Puck in ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’, 2011
Osric in ‘Hamlet’, 2011
Bertram (Beatrice) in ‘Much Ado About Nothing’.
This production saw Bertram find his Benedick, the same year Scotland introduced same-sex marriage legislations.
This production saw Bertram find his Benedick, the same year Scotland introduced same-sex marriage legislations.
Dromio of Syracuse in ‘Comedy of Errors’, 2014.
The year of the referendum, this “riotous”production was set in an imagined independent Scotland.
So much tartan.
And a seven foot nun.
The year of the referendum, this “riotous”production was set in an imagined independent Scotland.
So much tartan.
And a seven foot nun.
Boy Chorus in ‘Henry V’, 2014.
Marking a hundred years since the start of WW1, this huge production saw a 1914 high school perform Shakespeare’s famous history play for their summer fete.
Ending with the boys signing up and heading off to war.
Marking a hundred years since the start of WW1, this huge production saw a 1914 high school perform Shakespeare’s famous history play for their summer fete.
Ending with the boys signing up and heading off to war.
Mercutio in ‘Romeo and Juliet’, 2015
Moth in ‘Love’s Labour’s Lost’, 2015.
Richard II in ‘Richard II’, 2015.
Viola in ‘Twelfth Night’, 2016.
With women playing men and men playing women playing men, this production shone light on gender and living your true life.
Staged the summer of the UK’s EU referendum, it celebrated all things Love, welcoming outsiders with open arms.
With women playing men and men playing women playing men, this production shone light on gender and living your true life.
Staged the summer of the UK’s EU referendum, it celebrated all things Love, welcoming outsiders with open arms.
Witch in ‘Macbeth’, 2016.
Can you produce a horror in the Botanic Gardens mid-summer? Apparently so! I can still hear the screams and feel the tension of that opening sequence.
Can you produce a horror in the Botanic Gardens mid-summer? Apparently so! I can still hear the screams and feel the tension of that opening sequence.
Touchstone in ‘As You Like It’, 2019.
One of my favourite productions I’ve ever been part of.
This production celebrated the joy and heartache of love in all of its messy, queer, beautiful, forms.
I openly wept with glee during most shows.
“Look mummy, he’s a princess”
One of my favourite productions I’ve ever been part of.
This production celebrated the joy and heartache of love in all of its messy, queer, beautiful, forms.
I openly wept with glee during most shows.
“Look mummy, he’s a princess”
Richard III in ‘Richard III’, 2019.
With the use of spin and social media this production asked who owns Truth and what happens when it falls into the wrong hands, with updates throughout the run to reflect daily political events.
Complete with chants of “Witch! Witch! Witch!”
With the use of spin and social media this production asked who owns Truth and what happens when it falls into the wrong hands, with updates throughout the run to reflect daily political events.
Complete with chants of “Witch! Witch! Witch!”
These plays aren’t relics for a museum.
They live and breathe.
And in the right hands they soar and highlight aspects of ourselves we never knew were there or never knew others felt too.
They live and breathe.
And in the right hands they soar and highlight aspects of ourselves we never knew were there or never knew others felt too.
For me, no one handles this better than @bardbotanics and it’s a sheer privilege to call myself an associate artist of such an the utterly bold and brave company.
I cannot imagine what the world of theatre would look like without them.
I cannot imagine what the world of theatre would look like without them.
If you fancy celebrating #ShakespeareDay yourself, please consider visiting Bard’s crowdfunding page to help support the future of this invaluable company. https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/bard-in-the-botanics-support-fund
Huge shout out to @TGKW for the majority of these stunning production shots.
Massive props to @CarysHDesign for the constantly perfect designs.
And of course to @GordonB75487773 and Jennifer Dick for the opportunities, trust and the friendship.
Massive props to @CarysHDesign for the constantly perfect designs.
And of course to @GordonB75487773 and Jennifer Dick for the opportunities, trust and the friendship.
