HE’S the world’s greatest playwright and recently Studley’s very own theatre group Aunty Jen Productions paid homage to the genius of William Shakespeare.
The occasion was the 400th anniversary of the first folio of the Bard’s work – a coming together of all his plays – and to mark it players put on a stunning performance of his final work, The Tempest – staged on the back of a juggernaut, of course at Studley Sports and Social Club.
And that wasn’t all: Billed as a Summer Shakespearience, the Svartland Vikings were also there, plus two groups of Morris dancers, members of Gloriana, an Elizabethan dance company, Tudor experts and much, much more, including the longbow expert from Warwick Castle.
The Vikings set up camp and after demonstrating their arts and crafts, closed the day long event with a battle scenario that delighted young and old alike.
Although the hoped-for crowds failed to appear, the many that did turn up were royally entertained, not least by an appearance of Good Queen Bess herself ‘Elizabeth I’ a member of Gloriana.
Together they got everyone up and on their feet and performing dance moves last seen in Tudor times – to the delight of all.
The main event though was The Tempest, deftly ‘introduced’ by Heminges and Condell, the duo who first gathered Shakespeare’s works together in 1623, the work proved a hit for the audience.
The Tempest, a tale of treachery, love, forgiveness and honour restored starts with that most Shakespearian of things, a shipwreck, with a little magic thrown in for good measure.
There was magic too in the performance, with jokes aplenty – yes, Shakeszpeare really can be very funny – and a truly impressive turn by Jen Rigby of Aunty Jen as the lead character, Prospero.
Plaudits for all concerned, especially as this was an event that should have been packed out.
Therefore, don’t miss the next Aunty Jen Production, The wind in the Willows, coming soon to a stage in Studley.
