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Based in playwright William Shakespeare's
birthplace of Stratford-upon-Avon, the company, known as the RSC,
built the Lydia & Manfred Gorvy Garden Theatre outside its Swan
Theatre by the River Avon.
"The Comedy of Errors" had been due to begin performances in
April 2020, but the RSC, like theatres across Britain and
elsewhere, had to close its doors to live audiences due to the
COVID-19 pandemic.
The production has now been adapted by director Phillip Breen
for the new temporary open-air venue.
"It's a beautiful spot here ... right by the river, so we get
some heckling from some swans occasionally," actor Greg Haiste,
who plays Dromio of Ephesus, said.
Under Prime Minister Boris Johnson's roadmap out of lockdown,
entertainment venues in England have been welcoming audiences
back since mid-May though at 50% capacity. From Monday, they
will no longer face restrictions on numbers.
The RSC's garden theatre can sit 500 people - or 310 with social
distancing.
"I felt there were two really powerful reasons to build this
theatre, one of which was as a sort of symbol of regeneration
... but also as a transition so that people will feel very
comfortable sitting outside in the open air," RSC artistic
director Gregory Doran told Reuters.
"And that might then give them more confidence when we open
(musical) 'The Magician's Elephant' in October in the Royal
Shakespeare Theatre to move back indoors."
In London's West End, major productions including hit musicals
such as "Jersey Boys" and "The Lion King" have been waiting for
July 19 to be able to fully reopen as operating at 50% capacity
is not financially viable.
(Reporting by Mindy Burrows; Writing by Marie-Louise Gumuchian;
Editing by Lisa Shumaker)
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