Bringing new perspective to an old tale, Michael Corbridge, of the Royal Shakespeare Company, and the Lyric’s fantastic Creative Learning Department bring you Shakespeare’s, ‘The Two Gentlemen of Verona’, on Sat, 30th July.
A talented cast of energetic young actors bring life to an array of honourable, humorous and underhand characters where the search for true love drives this speedy plot. Audiences can expect a modern, contemporary take on this story with references to Madonna’s ‘Vogue’, ‘The Lion King’ and Snoop Dogg. On ‘The Two Gentlemen of Verona’ Michael says “this is a play for young people, which suits this cast…it tells the story of young people, and stories never change, so this classic story of ‘boy meets girl’ is still relevant for a modern audience.”
The Lyric’s Creative Learning department has had an association with Michael in the past and invited him to direct this year’s Summer School production at the theatre - a two week long workshop for 16-25 year olds. Of the cast, Michael has said they are “extraordinary, incredibly gifted and hugely talented young actors” who have helped realise this fantastic production in such a short time. He has also praised the Creative Learning team at the Lyric for “gearing people to be world class” and giving them the tools and foundations to make a career as professional actors.
Michael has had a “lifelong love affair with Shakespeare” and has been an avid theatre goer since he was a boy. His career has spanned from his early performance as Lysander, in ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream” (alongside his twin brother as Demetrius, much to the audience's confusion) to his training as a classical actor at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. He has trained as a lecturer in Shakespeare Studies, Voice and Classical Text. He currently works as the Senior Voice and Classical Text Associate at the Royal Shakespeare Company, where he travels the world working with schools, universities, graduating and professional actors.
2016 marks the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death and as such is an important year for Shakespeare’s works. Michael feels that this production is a great way to honour him.
The Two Gentlemen of Verona is on show at the Lyric on Saturday 30th July, at 3pm and 8pm. All tickets are £6 and are available from www.lyrictheatre.co.uk / 028 9038 1081.
A talented cast of energetic young actors bring life to an array of honourable, humorous and underhand characters where the search for true love drives this speedy plot. Audiences can expect a modern, contemporary take on this story with references to Madonna’s ‘Vogue’, ‘The Lion King’ and Snoop Dogg. On ‘The Two Gentlemen of Verona’ Michael says “this is a play for young people, which suits this cast…it tells the story of young people, and stories never change, so this classic story of ‘boy meets girl’ is still relevant for a modern audience.”
The Lyric’s Creative Learning department has had an association with Michael in the past and invited him to direct this year’s Summer School production at the theatre - a two week long workshop for 16-25 year olds. Of the cast, Michael has said they are “extraordinary, incredibly gifted and hugely talented young actors” who have helped realise this fantastic production in such a short time. He has also praised the Creative Learning team at the Lyric for “gearing people to be world class” and giving them the tools and foundations to make a career as professional actors.
Michael has had a “lifelong love affair with Shakespeare” and has been an avid theatre goer since he was a boy. His career has spanned from his early performance as Lysander, in ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream” (alongside his twin brother as Demetrius, much to the audience's confusion) to his training as a classical actor at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. He has trained as a lecturer in Shakespeare Studies, Voice and Classical Text. He currently works as the Senior Voice and Classical Text Associate at the Royal Shakespeare Company, where he travels the world working with schools, universities, graduating and professional actors.
2016 marks the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death and as such is an important year for Shakespeare’s works. Michael feels that this production is a great way to honour him.
The Two Gentlemen of Verona is on show at the Lyric on Saturday 30th July, at 3pm and 8pm. All tickets are £6 and are available from www.lyrictheatre.co.uk / 028 9038 1081.