'Twelfth Night' - a theatrical extravaganza!

The countdown is underway—it’s less than six weeks until our first ever Cambridge Riverside theatrical performance, coming here on 13 and 14 July. We caught up with Gill and Simon Gallant, Darwin residents and organisers (and, in Gill’s case, performer!) of the Twelfth Night extravaganza, to find out more.

Hi, Gill and Simon. Thank you for talking to us about this exciting upcoming event. First, can you tell us a little about yourselves and your connection to Cambridge Riverside?

We moved from Barnet to Cambridge nearly three years ago.  Our motives were to escape the smoke, gently nudge our adult sons out of their cushy hotel and try out what must be the best 15-minute city in the UK. What we didn’t anticipate was the warmth and friendship of the people who live and work at Cambridge Riverside.  We really feel we landed on our feet and hope that the theatre production will be a modest way in which we can reciprocate so much kindness.

So, how did the idea of staging a Shakespearean play at Cambridge Riverside come about?

We learned from longstanding residents that the amphitheatre on Midsummer Lawn had not been used in the 10 years since Cambridge Riverside was completed and efforts to engage with theatre companies had come to nought. With our contacts and experience (Gill has a background as a teacher and performer in theatre and music; Simon works as a media lawyer), we saw this as a fantastic opportunity to create a unique event that could bring our community even closer together. 

What inspired you to choose Twelfth Night for this outdoor production?

At first, we considered doing a more modest performance, with perhaps only a couple of performers reciting poetry with some additional music.  But as we discussed possibilities of what we could offer, we felt that with the support of the community we could be more ambitious. 

Our friend, Michael Dray, who is both directing and acting in the show, has been working for more than 30 years directing Shakespeare plays.  When Michael visited the amphitheatre, he was particularly struck by the sculptural mirror and curved bronze benches as the focal centre.  These could provide an intriguing set for a play such as Twelfth Night with its themes of love and jealousy, mistaken identity and revenge, dissembling and disguise, identity and gender, and the transitory nature of youth and beauty, to name but a few.

What unique challenges and opportunities does staging a play like Twelfth Night in an outdoor setting present?

Heat and the sun’s angle can be a challenge both for audience and actors.  This is a particular concern because of the metal mirror and benches reflecting light and becoming hot.  We have deliberately timed the shows for mid to late afternoon. We will have to be conscious of outdoor noise and, to this end, we have tried to avoid the major events that take place throughout the summer on Midsummer Common.  We may have to adapt to any unexpected noise that arises in the immediate vicinity. Although one or two cats have been known to wander around the stage, we can assure our audiences that no animals will be harmed in the course of the production! 

Could you give us some insights into how you’ve adapted the play to fit the outdoor environment and engage the audience?

The Director and actors will come together on 4th July to begin an eight-day rehearsal period.  It is during this intense period that we will ‘block’ the play (i.e., figure out the movement around the performance space). A large part of the rehearsal time will be taken up with this and exploring imaginative ways of using our particular amphitheatre and unique set in a way relevant to this play.  There are numerous opportunities to use the several entrances and exits around the amphitheatre.  Much of the play is set in private gardens, so again our space will lend itself to that. 

We intend involving any primary school age children on the development who would like to participate.  We are encouraging younger children to attend in fancy dress (of any kind!) to lend a festive atmosphere, which is very much in keeping with Twelfth Night.

What can our neighbours expect from this production? Any surprises or twists?

Our director likes to work collaboratively with the actors, which makes the rehearsal process very creative.  Hopefully this will mean that under his guidance we will come up with an imaginative production, which appeals to a wide audience. Of course, we will be looking to surprise and entertain you throughout.  But it won’t be a surprise if we tell you now!

How has the Cambridge Riverside community supported or contributed to the production?

We have been absolutely overwhelmed and delighted by the outpouring of enthusiasm from our neighbours – with offers of support ranging from stewarding, costumes and stage management to the making of cakes, publicity, seeking out sponsors and donating towards meeting the costs of the performers.

Lastly, what do you hope the residents of Cambridge Riverside take away from experiencing this production of Twelfth Night in their own neighbourhood?

We hope to create a memorable weekend for all our neighbours, one where we can feel proud about where we live.  We would be thrilled if it could be the impetus for future theatre productions or concerts by our residents, with any surplus funds being used to help fund future projects at the amphitheatre or indeed at other locations around the development.  As the Bard himself might have said, all of Cambridge Riverside is a stage!