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Productions
Productions so far have supported the overall idea that a new renaissance form play can offer directors and actors as much creative scope as the originals, be just as enjoyable for an audience and also have educational and academic appeal.
In 2008, Lucy contacted Edinburgh-based theatre company Siege Perilous, whose focus is to produce high-quality, contemporary adaptations of classic texts in a way that is both engaging and interactive for the audience. The company is also strongly involved with new writing, and were keen to co-produce.
Following a staged reading at Bedlam Theatre during the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2008, a full production took place from August from 5th-30th August 2009 at the Universal Arts theatre for the Fringe 2009.
The script, edited to fit the 90-minute Fringe format, was directed by Andy Corelli in a minimalist and symbolic style. The underlying themes were emphasised, as was the topical nature of the play, including the contradictions involved in imposing democracy on other cultures and the alienation of immigrant youth. Andy brought out contrasts between the sections of snappy dialogue and poetic blank verse, and the play-within-a-play was imaginatively staged to highlight the underlying humour and physicality of the scene. The chequered floor and the lighting emphasised the power play between the characters - as if they were chess pieces - and the battles with words were balanced by battles with swords.
The 2010 production was first discussed during the 2009 Festival when Lucy met Fringe legend Richard Demarco at one of his Masterclasses. After seeing the show, Richard seized on the idea of using the renaissance form in combination with a myth, and invited the company to perform the play at Craigcrook Castle, which was also the new home of the extensive Demarco Collection and Archive. The play resonated with Richard's premise of connecting art with its history through the use of location to enrich it, to create art of lasting worth. Alongside the 10 professional actors, some 20 drama students from the local community were also involved in both acting and backstage roles. The self-contained 'play-within-a-play' section was performed by the students, lending an extra layer to the theme of democacy and the idea of the 'people' taking to the stage. This promenade performance was larger in scale and proved the script's adaptability once again.
Archive footage of the 2010 production is being edited to a high standard by Joseph Margiotti, who is interested in the script's filmic potential.
This play has been proved to work as expected, offering all the advantages of the renaissance form but in modern language, and so the way is open for future production opportunities.