What do teachers and students need to know about Michael Attenborough CBE (Director of Macbeth) and why is it such a coup for us to have him here?
In 2014, The Grin and Tonic Theatre Troupe celebrate its 40th Birthday. To commemorate this huge milestone, I wanted to offer Queensland audiences the opportunity to experience the company at its finest. And I wanted the actors, designers, artists and administrators who work on the show to have a career broadening experience. Therefore the project had to be large and involve a number of actors from the history of the company. I knew who I wanted to direct, it was just a matter of getting him here. Michael Attenborough, besides being the son of the great film director and actor Sir Richard and the nephew of naturalist Sir David, in his own right, is one of the finest English directors. Michael spent 12 years as the Principal Associate Director at the Royal Shakespeare Company and 11 years as Artistic Director of the highly acclaimed Almeida Theatre in London. When he finishes with Macbeth he'll be on his way to Washington DC to direct ‘As You Like It’. Michael and I met in 2007 at a two week Shakespeare intensive hosted by the Almeida and the Sydney Theatre Company. We knew we wanted to work together. It has taken 3 years and the help of numerous people at the Queensland Theatre Company to make this project a reality.
What Michael comes with is an amazing oral tradition that is not taught in Australia anymore. This tradition has been and is passed down from actor to actor and director to director for over 400 years. He brings with him a secret and simple toolkit for approaches to text that have been largely forgotten in this country. (Ever wondered why English actors are so good at what they do?) As well as his high degree of skill, Michael is a passionate, down to earth artist, who believes in the power of arts education and social justice, and is a perfect fit for Grin and Tonic and QTC who share these ideals.
What do you want audiences to walk away with from this production?
I think we have a lot of received and preconceived ideas
THIS WAY COMES
and preconceived ideas about Shakespeare and his work. I believe people think they have seen Shakespeare or know what happens in a Shakespeare, and I personally think this is the result of productions that weren't very good or ideas that have been passed on without rigor or deep interrogation. I also believe that on some level people are very suspicious and afraid of Shakespeare (yes, even actors and teachers) as it is often touted as the greatest of greats. That somehow it is impossible or incomprehensible. I also think this is a simple misunderstanding. I know from experience as an actor and a teacher in schools that anyone can understand Shakespeare, even the student who is failing English as a subject, can not only understand Shakespeare but be thrilled to the eyeballs by the pure invention of ideas and circumstances.
So, if you haven’t booked yourself and your students in to see this play, then why not? Book through QTIX Group Sales on (07) 3840 7466 or email [email protected]. Some shows have reached capacity, so get in now to secure your seats.
Follow the journey of the show on www.queenslandtheatre.com.au and visit the QTC Education Blog http://www.queenslandtheatre.com.au/Blog/Education in the coming months to access resources, images and behind the scenes information about the play.
See you in the theatre!
Jason Klarwein & Veronica Neave - photo by Aaron Tait
15
Something wicked