Page 496 - Guildhall Coverage Book 2020-21
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Metcalfe says he was impressed by the resilience of the cast, which also
includes Brandon Bassir, Daniel Bowerbank, Jonny Labey, Vinta Morgan,
Lucy Tregear and Sylvester Akinrolabu. “I can’t begin to understand how
difficult it must be to act against a ball on a stick or a dot on the wall, but
everybody was so up for it. They just got on with it.”
The auditorium used in the production may look familiar – it’s a perfect
copy of the Manchester Palace. Metcalfe had the venue on file from his
work with Preevue and was given permission to use it by owner
Ambassador Theatre Group. As the theatre is one of so many that are
currently sitting dark, the resonance is stark.
The production certainly proves the adage that necessity is the mother of
invention. But is it theatre? Metcalfe argues the case for the defence. “We
hired theatre actors, directors and technicians. Our whole approach was
exactly the same as it would be for producing a theatre show, it’s just the
end product is a film.”
The company in Romeo and Juliet. Photo: Ryan Metcalfe/Preevue
