Shakespeare and Aristophanes to be
performed at Temple by
the Aquila Theatre Company of London
The Aquila Theatre Company of London will make its third visit to Temple May 1-2, 1998
for performances of Aristophanes' comic masterpiece Birds and Shakespeare's Julius Caesar.
Following on this year's successful program for area high schools, we will be organizing similar
special workshops and matinees. The performances will take place in the new Apollo at Temple.
Aquila is a transatlantic touring theater company that specializes in modern productions of
Greek and Shakespearean drama. The London Independent has called Aquila "one of the UK's
finest transatlantic touring companies." It is especially renowned for its Aristophanes; the London
Times raved about their Wasps as "hugely enjoyable and very, very funny." The Philadelphia
Inquirer praised its "first-rate ensemble of energetic actors".
Its producing director, Peter Meineck,
now resides in South Carolina, but continues to assemble a cast of actors drawn from the great
theaters of London, including the Royal Shakespeare Company. On their first visit, Aquila actors
conducted public workshops on Shakespeare and the use of masks in Greek theater. Our students
found this a uniquely stimulating event, and we are sure that yours would as well. Aquila has
extensive experience working with schools as well as universities. Artistic Director Robert
Richmond recently ran an educational program for the Royal National Theatre in London. This
year, before the matinee performance for high schools, Peter Meineck made a special, fascinating
presentation on the nature of Greek theater and its modern production.
The performances at the new Esther Boyer Theater at the new Apollo
of Temple are as follows:
- Birds: May 1, 130 and 8 p.m.
- Julius Caesar, May 2, 130 and 8 p.m.
- Preperformance talks by the directors for each matinee!!
Friday's
takes place in Walk Auditorium, Ritter Annex, and Saturday's in Anderson
Hall, AL7.The talks begin at 11:15 a.m. and run until 12:15/
If you enjoyed the Birds last year please note that Peter Meineck
has made
improvements to the production and expanded the chorus. Peter reports
that
Julius Caesar is the best thing Aquila has ever done.
Tickets are $8 for Temple students, $15 for other
students/seniors/Temple employees, and $20 for the general
public and can be obtained by calling the Apollo box office at (215)
204-2400, or from any Ticketmaster outlet. Tickets will be available
beginning March 27.
Finally, please pass along this information to your colleagues at other schools. If this event
grows in size and success we hope to present Aquila in a dramatization of Homer's Odyssey and a
Shakespeare comedy in 1999 and then Aeschylus' complete Oresteia in 2000.
This is a chance for you and your students to experience the great British theatrical tradition
without leaving Philadelphia. We are very pleased to be able to provide this opportunity and hope
to see you next May.
Photographs of the production: From Aquila's production of the
Birds:
the gods, and
a member of the Bird chorus in a costume inspired
by Native
American bird dances. Learn more about the play here.
If you are tantalized by this prospect, you can
read a review
of an earlier Aquila
production of Aristophanes, or look at
Aquila's
own web site.
NEW!!!!!!!
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