What a reminder that live theatre is LIVE, that things can go wrong and that that’s all part of the excitement.
At the Omnibus Theatre last Wednesday, Blood Wedding‘s 7.30pm start time was delayed as one of the actors was trapped on a broken down overground train. I was already there to chair a post-show Q&A with adapter/director George Richmond-Scott so we decided to make it a pre-show Q&A.
This turned into a fascinating, impromptu interview with George – carefully avoiding spoilers – about how his (and the highly engaged audience’s) love of Lorca, how this new version came about, the key role that Google Translate played in the adaptation, the importance of a full-time movement director, the rise of fascism, the intricacy of set models, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie (yes, the West End musical – George is also associate director on it) … and much more.
After an hour’s discussion, the actor’s train still hadn’t moved and the performance had to be cancelled – much to the disappointment of the audience, who, seemed like they could have gone on talking for another hour to buy more time! Happily, all the theatregoers who were available to have been rebooked for another performance. What’s certain is that they’ll now be watching Blood Wedding with far greater insight now. Listen to the full, unedited podcast of the discussion below.
Terri’s Yerma post-show Q&A is on Friday 9 November 2018
I hope this evening’s “Lorca lesson” has also energised them to join me for the Cervantes Theatre’s production of Yerma, Lorca’s next play in his renowned 1930s Spanish rural trilogy. That event is on Friday 9 November.
Meanwhile, back at the Omnibus, Blood Wedding has been winning rave reviews and continues until 23 September. George Richmond-Scott has relocated the action from rural Spain in the 1930s to cosmopolitan London today, where a bride’s wedding is disrupted by an ex-lover. What happens when it’s too late to escape – will she open the door and run? A play for our fractured times, this new version of Lorca’s 1932 classic also explores cultural divisions and the power of community.
Maria de Lima, Yorgos Karmalegos and Racheal Ofori lead the seven-strong cast at Omnibus Theatre, and are joined by Miztli Rose Neville, Ash Rizi, Camilla Mathias and Federico Trujillo. Told in a bold physical style, the production also features original live music by Camilla Mathias and movement by Patricia Suarez.
Blood Wedding runs until 23 September 2018 at the Omnibus Theatre, 1 Clapham Common North Side, London SW4 0QW.
Q&A podcast
Terri Paddock founded WhatsOnStage.com and the WhatsOnStage Awards, running the company and its events from 1996 to 2013. Terri is also the author of two novels, Come Clean and Beware the Dwarfs, and has previously written for the Evening Standard, Independent, The Times and other national publications. She is renowned for her 'legendary' post-show Q&As and also produces the annual Critics' Circle Theatre Awards and acts as a digital, content strategy and event consultant for theatre, producers and other clients. She tweets about theatre at @TerriPaddock.
