Page 36 - FINAL_Guildhall Media Highlights 2019-2020 Coverage Book
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1 May 2020
Guildhall School of Music & Drama
streams Provok’d: A Restoration in 360°
By Ben Brown
Guildhall School of Music & Drama is streaming Provok’d: A Restoration, a piece of
theatre written and devised by the Company of Guildhall School actors, for free from
7pm on 1 May until 15 May.
Online audiences can watch the play in 360° on Guildhall School’s website. It is powered
by LIVR Player from LIVR; a 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 and 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, said: “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