A belated Happy New Year. We’re pleased to announce our 2012 schedule which sees us debuting two new productions and reviving two popular favourites.

In March we present a new version of the earliest and greatest of the Greek tragedies, Agamemnon. We will perform this new adaptation by director Richard Spaul and the cast at St. Andrew’s Hall, Chesterton in North Cambridge.

June sees the return of our epic production of King Lear to the wide open spaces of Wandlebury Country Park in collaboration with Cambridge Past Present and Future. (Read author Una McCormack’s review).

In July, we return to Wandlebury Country Park with another new project, Wild – an original in situ: work incorporating elements of theatre, dance, performance art and installation work. This challenging new performance promises to be quite unlike anything you’ve seen before.

Finally, we move to the Leper Chapel for a revival of our ever-popular violent and bloody, two-person Macbeth, featuring the acting talents of artistic directors Richard Spaul and Bella Stewart and a cast of dismembered dolls. If you still have not seen this “shocking and atmospheric” production, it is returning for three nights only. Don’t miss it this time around.

Author: Richard Hare Post: Agamemnon, Wild, King Lear and Macbeth for 2012 Blog: in situ:

After several months of design and development, in situ:’s new website is now on-line.

Do let us know what you think in the comments.

Author: Richard Hare Post: New in situ: website released Blog: in situ:

We are running Learn To Act I and II weekend classes this autumn.

Full details are included below, so if you have never acted before and always wanted to try, or if you just want to brush up your skills, you’ll find a course which suits you. For your convenience, we now accept PayPal.

We look forward to hearing from you soon.

Kind regards,

Richard and Bella

LEARN TO ACT with in situ:

Learn To Act is a series of weekend workshops introducing people to a broad range of acting techniques. It has been running in Cambridge for nearly twenty years and has been attended by hundreds of people of all ages and backgrounds, many of whom go on to do more advanced courses, and some of whom later become part of in situ:’s performance group, which performs several times a year in a number of different venues and has an excellent reputation for high-quality ensemble work.

Learn To Act reflects in situ:’s deeply-held belief that with time, effort, encouragement and good teaching, everybody is capable of becoming an effective performer, regardless or age, background or previous experience. This has been proved again and again over the many years that Learn to Act has been running. All we need is your time and enthusiasm.

LEARN TO ACT I: THE BEGINNERS’ COURSE is ideal for people who have never acted before, although more experienced performers are extremely welcome. The emphasis is on having fun, freeing the imagination, and feeling comfortable on stage, while working creatively with others. The course consists of lots of theatre games and improvisations, an introduction to physical theatre, an exploration of breathing, voice and emotion, and techniques for creating a stage character.

Here are the details of the next LEARN TO ACT I courses, a weekday course taking place in October/November and a weekend course taking place in October.

LEARN TO ACT I:

Saturday 22 & Sunday 23 October

Times: 10 am – 4.30 pm (Saturday) & 12.30pm – 5pm (Sunday)
Venue: Main Hall, St. Andrews Hall, St. Andrews Road, Chesterton, Cambridge CB4 1DH

This is a new and well-equipped space in Chesterton, about 20 minutes from the centre of Cambridge, with some parking on site. Detailed directions will be supplied on booking.

All courses cost £75 (£55 concession).

LEARN TO ACT II: THE ADVANCED COURSE is attended by many people who complete LEARN TO ACT I and want to go further, but it is also open to people who already have performing experience and are in search of something more demanding. It is entirely up to you which one you want to do.

One of the main themes of LEARN TO ACT II is THE VOICE, and you will encounter many games, exercises and techniques designed to widen the range, power and flexibility of the voice, that most versatile of all instruments, which so many people are reluctant or unable to use to its full potential either in performance or in other areas of their lives. This theme is closely related to the exploration and interpretation of TEXT.

All participants will be asked to choose and learn a text, which they will have a chance to perform in all sorts of contrasting ways as the course progresses, with a view to discovering how the written word can be made to come alive in performance. We will also work on a text by a major playwright, such as Chekhov or Ibsen.

There’s an Advanced Course in November/December which is a weekday course and then a weekend course in November.

LEARN TO ACT II:

Saturday 19 & Sunday 20 November

Times: 10 am – 4.30 pm (Saturday) & 12.30pm – 5pm (Sunday)
Venue: Main Hall, St Andrews Hall, St Andrews Road, Chesterton, Cambridge CB4 1DH

All courses cost £75 (£55 concession).

At the end of the course, participants will be in a position to perform for an audience and will be invited to take part in in situ:‘ s performances, which are professionally-directed, high quality ensemble productions, working with non-professional performers.

We do a wide range of performances, some are devised, some are adaptations of classic texts, often in striking and unusual venues, and always in a spirit of daring and experiment.

Last year we did two new productions – a devised piece on the subject of extinction, created by the group, called made on another day and an adaptation of Mary Shelley’s famous horror story – Frankenstein, plus revivals of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, King Lear and Macbeth.

This year we have started on two new projects – a production of Agamemnon by Aeschylus and a devised piece about ‘Wilderness‘, both of which will be performed in 2012.

Whichever course you may wish to do, you will find the atmosphere friendly and relaxed, the work hard and energetic, and the teaching sympathetic and skilled.

If you wish to participate, please fill in the form below and return it to me along with your participation fee. Your place will be confirmed in writing, or, if the course is full, your cheque returned.

Should you wish to cancel your place on the course, your fee will be returned (minus an administrative fee of £10), providing you contact us at least two weeks before the course is due to start. No refunds are possible after that, although it may be possible, if necessary, to transfer you from one course to another.

If you have any questions or would like to know more, please feel free to give me a ring on: 01223 211451. I would be delighted to talk to you.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Best wishes,

Richard Spaul

If you would like to participate, please return the form below to:

in situ: 23, Wycliffe Rd, Cambridge, CB1 3JD

For more information on LEARN TO ACT, and to find out about in situ:’s performances, workshops and residencies, please call us on: 01223 211451

email us on: info@insitutheatre.co.uk

or visit our website at: www.insitutheatre.co.uk

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Participation Form (please detach and return)

Yes, I would like to participate in LEARN TO ACT I

Please book me in for the course starting October 22

Yes, I would like to participate in LEARN TO ACT II

Please book me in for the course starting November 19

I enclose my participation fee of £75/£55

NAME:

ADDRESS:

TEL:

E-MAIL:

Please make your cheque payable to: in situ:Theatre Company

Return this form to: 23, Wycliffe Rd, Cambridge CB1 3JD

Author: Richard Hare Post: Learn to act 2011 – weekend classes this autumn Blog: in situ:

Author: Richard Hare Post: Cambridge News reviews Macbeth Blog: in situ:

Author: Richard Hare Post: Cambridge Quy Mill previews Macbeth Blog: in situ:

Macbeth opens on Wednesday July 6, running until Saturday July 9 in the unique and mysterious atmosphere of The Leper Chapel, Barnwell Junction, Newmarket Road, Cambridge.

This is a frighteningly intense exploration of violence and its effect on the human soul. Claustrophobic, bloody and unmissable.

Unlike some in situ: performances, Macbeth is all indoors and seated throughout. The seats are unnumbered and space is limited, so book in advance or get there early.

Tickets will be available from 7.30pm. The performance begins at 8.00pm.

Tickets are £12 (£10 concessions), available in advance from our website.

Hope to see you there.

Richard, Bella and the in situ: team

For more details of these performances and all other in situ: events give us a ring on 01223 211451

Author: Richard Hare Post: Macbeth: opens Wednesday July 6 Blog: in situ:

Author: Richard Hare Post: Eastern Daily Press previews Macbeth Blog: in situ:

Author: Richard Hare Post: Review: King Lear Blog: in situ:

King Lear

It’s an outdoor walk-around performance, so if you want to check the weather and come on the night there will be plenty of tickets available from 7.30pm. The performance begins at 8.00pm.

Bring a folding chair if you wish, plus umbrella and insect repellent. It is not difficult terrain, but involves some walking – check the route with us if you’re unsure. You can bring a picnic, but this is strictly before the show not during. This is not champagne and strawberries Shakespeare – it’s experimental, challenging, tragic and extremely exciting!!

Tickets are £12 (£10 concessions), available in advance from our website.

Hope to see you there.

Richard, Bella and the in situ: team

For more details of these performances and all other in situ: events give us a ring on 01223 211451

Author: Richard Hare Post: King Lear: opens Wednesday June 22 Blog: in situ:

King Lear

June 22 – 25: King Lear takes place in the majestic setting of Wandlebury Country Park, Cambridge. This is a walkaround performance, following the old King through woods, meadows, thickets and ditches as he makes his harrowing journey of loss, destitution and madness. An extraordinary environment for Shakespeare’s greatest tragedy.

Tickets are £12 (£10 concession). You can get tickets in advance or check the weather and come out on the night. It’s an outdoor walk-around performance, so you are very likely to get a ticket on the door. Get there a little earlier to be absolutely sure. Bring a folding chair if you wish, plus umbrella and insect repellent. It is not difficult terrain, but it does involve some walking. Check the route with us if you’re unsure. You can bring a picnic, but this is strictly before the show not during! This is not champagne and strawberries Shakespeare. It’s experimental, challenging, tragic and extremely exciting!!

We will be performing in all weathers unless conditions are dangerous, in which case the park will be closed. So, barring hurricanes, if you turn up, we will perform.

Macbeth

July 6 -10: Bella Stewart and Richard Spaul are doing their two-handed performance of Macbeth, in the unique and mysterious atmosphere of the Leper Chapel. This is not for wimps either it’s a frighteningly intense exploration of violence and its effect on the human soul. Claustrophobic, bloody and unmissable. Unlike some in situ: performances, Macbeth is all indoors and seated throughout. The seats are unnumbered and space is limited, so book in advance or get there early.

For both performances, tickets are available from 7.30 pm on the evening of the performance.

Hope to see you there.

Richard, Bella and the in situ: team

For more details of these performances and all other in situ: events give us a ring on 01223 211451

Author: Richard Hare Post: Summer 2011 Programme Blog: in situ: