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Friday 24th & Saturday 25th September 2010 There can't be many more suitable, spooky and stylish places to stage readings of ghost stories than Lancaster Castle. Following the great success of last year's inaugural event we are delighted to present another evening every bit as spine tingling and disturbing as the last. Four more actors from our ensemble will be reading a fresh selection of classic tales of mystery and imagination in different parts of the building, so you get to hear them all in sequence. The stories range from a dark yet ultimately uplifting parable, 'The Roaring Tower' by Stella Gibbons, to the witch cursed revenge saga conjured up by M.R. James in 'The Ash Tree'. While who can resist the ultimate in 'beware what you wish for' ghost stories that is W.W. Jacobs' 'The Monkey's Paw'? “The four readers told their stories evocatively and clearly, and with effective pauses and changes of vocal register to enhance the narrative. The audience was palpably spellbound at every turn, and the power of the writing of these excellent tales, and the ability of the readers to generate such an intense atmosphere made for a wonderful and memorable evening .....” From Michael Nunn's 2009 review in the Lancaster Guardian So come and join us, if you dare, in the low lit rooms of the ancient castle's awesome Shire Hall as night falls and the shadows lengthen ... Tickets go on sale at Shire hall from Mon. 2nd August priced £7.50 Adults & £5.00 for accompanied children over 11. Book in person, or over the phone (10 - 5 every day): 01524 - 64998 |
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We continue to build on the connections initiated last year with our colleagues on the staff of HMP Lancaster Castle. Our mutual aim has been to harness the company's dramatic creativity to support and enhance the prison's ongoing life skills training and drugs rehabilitation work. Hence our latest project on the nature of prejudice and justice as expressed in The Merchant of Venice. Zariah Bailey (reprising his role as the Prince of Morocco and taking on Shylock as well) played opposite our original Portia Gemma North performing three key scenes from the play to an audience of 30 prisoners and staff in the Prison Chapel. A wide ranging in depth discussion on the issues and their relevance to contemporary life and morality followed each scene. Our thanks to the governor and prison staff for making this event possible and we look forward to staging appropriate educational projects of this nature in the wake of future public productions at Shire hall. |
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Demi-paradise's tenth year anniversary production of THE MERCHANT OF VENICE Another Shakespeare production marking yet another undisputed artistic success for the ongoing rolling ensemble project that is demi-paradise. Capacity audiences were universally fulsome in their praise of the company's achievement in making a challenging and complex play come alive for a contemporary audience in a clear, intelligent and emotionally engaging way, imaginatively utilising every performance area to maximum effect along with clever and subtle use of live music to deepen the emotional impact and carry the action forward. The company returns in the Spring of 2012 with the next Shakespeare promenade production. There will be other projects presented in between so make a return visit to this site to check out what we're up to ... |
  Antonio & Bassanio
(Arthur Bostrom & Richard Hand) |
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Gallery: A selection of company photographer George Coupe's dress rehearsal photographs of The Merchant of Venice  Bassanio & Portia (Richard Hand & Gemma North)  Nerissa (Clara Darcy) CAST Antonio Arthur Bostrom Bassannio Richard Hand Shylock Patrick Bridgman Portia Gemma North Nerissa Clara Darcy Jessica Kate Gilbert Gratiano Richard J Fletcher Lorenzo / Arragon Lewis Marsh Morrocco / Tubal Zariah Bailey Launcelot / Balthasar Gareth Cassidy Solanio / Old Gobbo Joe Fairclough Salerio / Duke David Findlay CREATIVES Artistic Director Sue McCormick Musical Director Jude Glendinning Producer & House Leader Stephen Tomlin Costume Consultant Ruth Caswell Make Up & Hair Design Meg Roberts Lighting Design Mark Alexander Set & Property Design Clare-Louise Hall Costume Design & Wardrobe Debbie Eala Rose Publicity & Programme Design Andi Chapple Asst Director Holly Ross Stage Manager & Asst Director Eve Burton Asst Stage Manager Ruby Clarke Asst House Leader Emma Rucastle Asst Costume & Wardrobe Linda Hamilton Photography George Coupe |
 Nerissa & Gratiano
(Clara Darcy & Richard J Fletcher)  Old & young Gobbo
(Gareth Cassidy & Joe Fairclough)  The Prince of Morocco
(Zariah Bailey)  Jessica & Lorenzo
(Kate Gilbert & Lewis Marsh)  Shylock in exile
(Patrick Bridgman)  Salerio
(David Findlay) |
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A big thank you to our generous sponsors. The company's long term supporters The Duchy of Lancaster together with design and print specialists Graphic Design were joined by two of our neighbours on Castle Hill; long established solicitors practice Oglethorpe, Sturton & Gillibrand and newly refurbished historic cellar bar Merchants 1688. Last but not least we were delighted to welcome aboard a big company with a strong regional base, KPMG, one of the UK's top accountancy firms. |
 
 
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