THE TEMPEST OF LYME....FINAL BLOG

The dust has now settled after the final performance of The Tempest of Lyme and what a performance it was! The whole experience of evolving individual scenes into a cohesive whole was riveting and a joy to observe. En route to being performance ready, the cast and musicians bonded and there have been many friendships forged. I will remember so much about this production, Nicca's masterly Prospera, which was a masterclass in bravado and emotion. The interplay between Nicca and her Ariels was at once both touching and moving and the moments when Prospera was directing no small amount of pain towards her Ariels was especially moving, not least because of artistry of the actresses who combined to give us an unforgettable Ariel. Lucy, Sophie, Aurelia, Freya, Becky, Serena and Faye together were mesmerising. Truth be told, everyone involved in this production gave their all and I was in awe of everyone. I wish it could have gone on longer, I really do. We should be grateful such talent exists in Lyme and its environs from the youngest of our cast to the oldest. (whoever that was! Not me I hasten to add, although....) And Clemmie, dear Clemmie whose vision this was. I only hope we fulfilled it!

The Tempest of Lyme...An interview with Sophie Thomas

Sophie Thomas is one of our Ariels. Let's learn more about her...

Have you always wanted to perform?

I have always loved theatre, film… all things dramatic! When I left the University of York having studied History, I decided to forge a career behind the scenes and, after brief work experience on Broadchurch, started work as a Floor Runner on the television series Doc Martin. It wasn’t until I was on set on the first day, watching all the actors arrive, their interactions with the director, that I decided acting was something I really wanted to pursue.


How did you get started?

Well I turned down a very exciting Production job on BBC’s Wolf Hall in order to take a slightly less exciting office job that was flexible enough for me to start building my acting experience and training. I took weekend classes at Pinewood Studios, London and Bristol for a year before the opportunity to continue my studies in Paris presented itself!

You spent some time in Paris recently, ostensibly studying/working! How did that work out?

I spent last year at L’École Internationale de Théâtre Jacques Lecoq studying theatre and acting which was an incredible experience. The training was based around the pedagogy of Jacques Lecoq which focuses on physical theatre, movement and mime. One of the most enjoyable aspects was that each week we worked in small groups to create a short piece of theatre based on a given theme using inspiration from our lessons. Nearly every week our small creations were torn to pieces by our exacting teachers (by exacting I mean brutal) who left us in no doubt of our errors, and on our own when it came to finding solutions. It has given me a great respect for the creative process and I now see the stage as a place of infinite possibilities to explore.

How are you enjoying the experience of rehearsing for The Tempest of Lyme?

It has been really fantastic! There are so many wonderful people involved in the project, most importantly Clemmie whose vision and direction are the driving force behind the production. I hope to direct in the future, certainly create my own work and I have definitely learnt a great deal from her and this experience. This is my first Shakespeare production and I couldn’t imagine doing it with anyone else! It has been a real journey for everyone and I shall miss seeing all the wonderful people involved each week when we are done!

All the Ariels seem to be bonding so well together. Would you agree with that?

As we are playing one character, with a very physical approach to the part, it has been essential that we work well together in order to create the sense of one entity.

And the future? Do you see yourself performing? Writing? Or?

I have already mentioned my interest in directing and creating my own theatre! Primarily I see myself performing. I start rehearsals after The Tempest for a new play, “Eggs”, written by Rachel Besser which will be performed at the Cygnet Theatre in Exeter in September by Tree Shadow Theatre Productions. It deals with the challenging and sometimes controversial subject of Fertility and will definitely be a challenging piece as each actor involved will be playing multiple roles. We hope to go on tour in the New Year. If anyone would like more information about the production… visit http://www.treeshadowtheatreproductions.co.uk/news/new-writing-to-be-performed-in-exeter-this-september/ . I am also writing my first play although this is proving to be a lengthy process with frequent periods of writers block!

Thanks, Sophie!

The Tempest of Lyme...An Interview With Bramble Wallace

Bramble is playing the part of Miranda in The Tempest of Lyme. Learn more below:

     Could you tell us a little of your background with regards to drama?

-       Well I am Currently studying BA Hons Acting at the Arts University Bournemouth; I would say I have been interested in acting since I can remember. It stems from when I played Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing in the Shakespeare Schools festivals at the Unicorn Theatre in London, and my passion just grew and grew. I had a year out before coming to study at Bournemouth and I did some work at the Phoenix Theatre in London back stage at ‘Once’ the musical and then worked in a schools drama department as a technician helping productions. And it was then I realized that acting was my passion so I applied and here I am!

       Which roles have you particularly enjoyed playing?

-  I love researching my characters in great detail, I love a challenge therefore characters that are different to myself are the most fun to play. One of my favorite roles was when I played Holly from Arinze Kene’s play ‘Gods Property’, a play that discusses the racial tension in the 80’s. My character was a really feisty skinhead, very different to any other character I had every played before. I would say she was the most challenging, and in ways the character that was most unlike myself!                                   

        In The Tempest of Lyme, you play Miranda. What are your views on the character? Do you see points of comparison between the two of you?

-Miranda is a very sweet character, very naïve about the world as she has grown up on a remote island, with no one but her mother and Caliban. It is this naivety that gives her such an open warm heart, seeing the world as such an exciting place. She is very loving and kind, but does stand up to her mother at points in the play and she is very loyal. I would say that in that way we are similar.

      What prompted you to become involved in this production?

I was really intrigued when I learnt about the twinning between Lyme and Bermuda, and Lyme’s links to The Tempest. Also the opportunity to meet and collaborate with local actors was something I was keen to do.  The idea of doing a production of The Tempest outdoors with the actual sea as our backdrop was an opportunity I just couldn’t miss.

 What would you say to someone who is not sure whether it’s for them and is unsure whether to attend?

I would say that this is a fantastic collaboration of music and performance, with some extremely talented people. It is a once in a lifetime opportunity to see this iconic play staged in such a unique way. Its very funny and you will definitely leave with a smile on your face.                                                        

                                                                                                               

  What are your current and future plans?

At the moment I am preparing for my third year shows and getting ready to graduate next year. Focusing on some interesting collaborations in both film and stage. One day I would love to be creating my own theatre and running similar projects just like this. I think theatre is such a powerful inspiring way to connect people from all walks of life and its something I will all ways strive to do.

Thank you, Bramble.

Rehearsal Pics....The Tempest of Lyme