Page 34 - FINAL_Guildhall Media Highlights 2019-2020 Coverage Book

1 May 2020

Guildhall School Of Music & Drama Streams

Provok'd: A Restoration In 360° For Free

by BWW News Desk

Guildhall School of Music & Drama is streaming Provok'd: A Restoration, a ground-
breaking piece of theatre written and devised by the Company of Guildhall School
actors, for free from 7pm on Friday 1 May until Friday 15 May.

Online audiences can watch the play in 360° on Guildhall School's website. It is
powered by LIVR Player from LIVR; the world's first virtual reality content platform
dedicated to theatre.

The production was premiered in autumn 2019 as part of the first season
programmed by the School's new Vice-Principal & Director of Drama Orla
O'Loughlin.

The innovative performance combines Restoration Comedies of the 17th Century
with original rap and hip hop. As a group of actors come together to rehearse period
scenes, a rising sense of anarchy bubbles up as they question which stories deserve
to be retold. It is regarded as an important piece of theatre for our time, tackling
issues such as gender, politics, race and sexuality.

Brodie Ross, Head of Acting at Guildhall School, says: 'Provok'd is an original
production in which a group of students take up space and offer their own responses
to a vital conversation. It injects both humour and rage into issues of relevance and
representation in arts education, and we are proud and excited to be sharing it with
this free, 360° streaming.'

The performances in December 2019 gained wide praise from audience members on

social media with a selection of casting directors, artistic directors and practitioners
commenting that it is 'one of the most vital pieces of theatre of the year,' 'something