***THE FINAL SOUTH BANK SHOW: THE ROYAL SHAKESPEARE COMPANY***

***The final SOUTH BANK SHOW: THE ROYAL SHAKESPEARE COMPANY is on 20/12/09 and will be followed by the final SOUTH BANK SHOW AWARDS at the end of January 2010.*** 

 

 

18 November 2009

 

THE FINAL

THE SOUTH BANK SHOW:

THE ROYAL SHAKESPEARE COMPANY

SUNDAY 20 DECEMBER 2009

 

The final South Bank Show, goes behind the scenes of The Royal Shakespeare Company, as it embarks on an ambitious and exciting new programme of work inspired by Russia and the ex-Soviet Union.

 Bringing to life artistic director Michael Boyd's bold vision for an ensemble company, a concept almost alien in today's celebrity led climate; the South Bank Show goes backstage, revealing the everyday reality of one of the country's biggest and most dynamic theatre companies. For the actors involved this means taking the brave step of signing up to a three year contract, agreeing to play a range of parts as and when they are needed across the programme.

 The film joins Michael Boyd in the Ukraine to meet the author of The Grain Store, Natal'ia Vorozhbit, one of the new ex-Soviet plays to be premiered in the season, and gains exclusive access to some of the few survivors of the 'Terror-Famine' in the 1930's upon which it is based.   

 The South Bank Show follows the production of The Grain Storm right through to its world premiere. The film reveals an extraordinary insight into the rehearsal process at the RSC, including free-form improvisation sessions, warm up and daily voice classes; the cast getting to grips with complex Russian dances; the heated discussions behind the scenes between the writer Natal'ia Vorozhbit, the translator and Michael Boyd; and the backstage preparations in the costume, wig and set design departments – not forgetting the thirteen hour post-performance laundry cycle to get the costumes ready for the next day.

 The South Bank Show interviews members of the Royal Shakespeare Company involved in the season: from cast to designer, movement director, dramaturge, director and voice coach.

 With extracts from As You Like It and The Grain Storm, this is a South Bank Show for all theatre fans.

 Presented and edited by Melvyn Bragg

Produced by Jonathan Levi

Directed by Naomi Wright

 

 

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