Heather Evans Editorial

We can learn many lessons from the lyrics of Outkast:

1. Roses really do smell.
2. Forever never seems that long until you’re grown.
3. Cooler than being cool is only one thing – ice cold.

and finally:

You can plan a pretty picnic, but you can’t predict the weather (even if you looked at the forecast in advance).

For us sad, pessimistic Brits, we have had a summer of sunshine and bliss, which we have inevitably and typically complained about. The glorious sun has beaten down its relentless rays and consequently we have relished our sunburn and braved the outdoors, socialising and trying to avoid neighbours and the general public as, let’s be honest, in quintessential British fashion, none of us really like people.

However, we do like open air theatre. I mean, who doesn’t? This summer, more than any other summer, I have seen advertisements for open air cinemas and theatres alike, where we can all sit back on a garden chair or tartan rug and eat Waitrose ‘essential’ olives with elderflower cordial or Pimms. Basically, we are doing what we do at home but instead of it being frowned upon for binge watching a Netflix original as a solo event, society smiles at you for being cultured and collective. It’s one big, outdoor living room.

Reading back over my sarcastic tone, I just want to clarify that I think outdoor theatre is brilliant and I have been lucky enough to have seen two performances recently. The feeling of sitting in a sea of people for a common cause of enjoyment makes you feel part of a community you simply don’t get in a lounge, and not even in a traditional theatre. It’s utterly unique. The atmosphere felt in the audience is less rigid, and I think families and individuals are there to simply enjoy, not critique. You feel closer to the action itself rather than the fixed distinguished distance of the stage and the seats and, ultimately, any performance where you can bring your own food without judgement is a winner for me. It’s such an ideal way to spend a summer’s evening, providing that the clouds don’t dull the shine of the performance itself.

Anyway, as I have said above, I have seen two performances recently which I shall share below!

The Adventures of Dr. Dolittle – Illyria Theatre at Lacock Abbey

Before I moved to Oxford, I booked tickets to see The Adventures of Dr. Dolittle as a treat to myself and some family friends. We thought it was something a bit different, and I had seen The Taming of the Shrew a few years back with my mum and sister in Lacock and it was delightfully quaint.

Although we arrived a little later than most, we were armed with all the treats our hands could hold, and my mum packed us up with three bottles of prosecco, flute glasses, and an ice filled bottle cooler to accompany such an event. I would say to fully embrace the open air theatre vibe it is essential that you have an incredible spread of food and drink, and we possibly had food to feed the five thousand. With the beautiful backdrop of Lacock Abbey, there were certainly no complaints to be had.

The performance itself and the theatre company, Illyria, were completely endearing and was truly a show for the whole family. I was really impressed with their showmanship in all areas, with that being their singing and songwriting, their use of props, their interaction with the audience, and their adaptability to play all of the roles. The key part to this play is nailing the animals, and the puppets were expertly constructed in such a realistic fashion and the actors did a stellar job in bringing them to life. Although they are not performing again at Lacock, they are a touring company with four different shows – The Merchant of Venice, The Pirates of Penzance and The Hound of the Baskervilles – and I would strongly recommend any family to go; if you’re interested, here is the link to their website. We have a great laugh in the grounds, and the skies remained cloudy but clear. Dry, we went home to the pub.

Romeo and Juliet – Siege Theatre at Oxford Prison and Castle

As part of The Oxford Shakespeare Festival, Oxford Prison presented four different open air theatre shows, these being Othello, Much Ado About Nothing, A Midsummers Night’s Dream, and my friends and I caught the very last performance of Romeo and Juliet. As a new citizen of Oxford, I was really excited to experience such a historical part of the town and enjoy some theatre with my editorial pals.

However, as time got closer to the opening curtain, the skies darkened and opened.

We decided to persist with our plan and watch the show despite the showers. The helpers at the Oxford Prison were absolutely excellent, and although the show was significantly delayed and finished later than anticipated, all of the audience had blankets and somewhere dry to sit. They tried their hardest to make sure we were all comfortable and their efforts made me feel warm inside, even if I felt a little cold externally.

With regards to the actual performance, unfortunately I did think the weather made me more tiresome and I felt it was quite long winded. Siege decided to take an initial spin on Shakespeare’s tragedy by setting it in a prison, presumably to bounce off the location we were all occupying. However, I think my friends and I agreed that this was a little confusing for us all, as it faded from an inmate being an observer/reader of the play that unfolded in front of her eyes, to the prisoner becoming Juliet herself, getting changed into their Shakespearean attire and reciting lines fluently. The transition just didn’t feel smooth. I feel they should have stuck to one or the other; modern day adaptation or traditional rendition. Nonetheless, despite the weather, it was a pleasant way to spend the evening, even if our picnic was a soggy one.

I believe open air theatre season is now coming to a close, which is a shame for those reading this that haven’t yet experienced its loveliness. However, hopefully this has inspired you to go and see some next summer, or even see some of Illyria’s performances in September. Yet, I do sincerely hope you make sure you are equipped for all weather types to get the most out of the experience, as well as having a picnic for the gods.

Hev xo