Tread the Boards kick off new season
A Midsummer Night's Dream and Richard III played to packed houses as Tread the Boards put on their first performances of 2018 at the weekend (see Thursday's Herald for reviews).
“It’s been a bumpy ride but a good one,” says executive producer and co-founder of Tread the Boards, Catherine Prout, speaking to Hearld arts ahead of the theatre company’s season opening.
“Every year we go ‘deep breath’ and then we are off…”
Catherine and her husband, artistic director John-Robert Partridge, set up the company, based at the Attic Theatre, Cox’s Yard, nine years ago and have slowly built up a loyal following of theatre-goers, and are currently number one in ‘things to do in Stratford’ on TripAdvisor.
“We are so lucky to have very loyal regulars and our feedback is great,” she said.
“We had a couple who started coming to our panto three years ago, and now they’re bringing 20 of their family with them.”
The fringe company are building on their strengths with their 2018 season, Catherine tells us: “We are kicking off the season again with a Shakespeare — as we did with Henry V last year, and it fits in with it being the Bard’s birthday. So A Midsummer Night’s Dream is followed by Richard III — gritty and a bit of comedy too.”
Catherine continues: “It is going to be a really good mixture through the year, so we have classics and some more modern pieces too.
“We love Austen, so we have Pride and Prejudice and then a bit of contrast with Sweeney Todd at Halloween for blood and spooky fun.
“We continue our love for the Brontës with a production of Jane Eyre, which follows on from last year’s Wuthering Heights and Brontë, then it’s back to a family show with The Wizard of OZ for the summer.”
The company is keen to support new writing and talent, and will be putting on a new play by Nick Wilkes, who brought The Wooden O to Stratford last year. A moving tale of a Land Girls’ reunion, Lillies on the Land, adds a warmth and gravitas a century on from Armistice Day in November.
Catherine says they also enjoy light-hearted comedies and are putting on Poles Apart by Bouncers’ writer John Godber, and also plan to host musical and improv nights, not unlike Whose Line Is It Anyway?.
As well as growing their repertoire and reputation, Tread the Boards are keen to bring on young actors. Catherine says: “We love to try and bring young actors through and give them a taste of a professional production in a smaller theatre. We are in touch with Stratford College and we have three of their students coming to do Richard III.
“We are relaxed but professional, we want to be good fun and a welcoming family but you need to get your Shakespeare right. They get a chance to work with great directors and properly get down to some text work and make it really entertaining.”
Catherine’s departing words probably sum up the Tread the Boards attitude best: “You want to send people out with a smile and something to think about.”
Tread the Boards 2018 season
A Midsummer Night’s Dream 29th March-22nd April
Richard III 31st March-22nd April
Up ‘N’ Under by John Godber 26th April-6th May
Movable Props by Nick Wilkes 10th-20th May
Poles Apart by John Godber 24th May-3rd June
Pride and Prejudice adapted by John-Robert Partridge 12th June-1st July
The Wizard of Oz adapted by John-Robert Partridge 31st July-27th August
Jane Eyre adapted by Catherine Prout 6th-23rd September
Sweeney Todd adapted by John-Robert Partridge and Catherine Prout 11th October-4th November
Lilies on the Land by The Lions Part 6th-11th November
The Normal Way by Nick Wilkes 15th-25th November
Aladdin 13th December-6th January
