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Loughborough College presents powerful and moving performance of Shakespeare’s bloodiest play

Posted: 25th May 2017 - 1:56pm

Loughborough College has created a powerful and moving presentation of Shakespeare’s most bloody play - in a theatre transformed into a sand-filled arena.

‘Titus Andronicus’ sees audiences seated close to the action for an outstanding student performance of the famous tragedy, telling of the violence and corruption emerging from a cycle of revenge between the Roman army general of the title and the Queen of the Goths, Tamora.

“The play includes murder, mutilation and sexual violence, so we approached it very carefully. But although we have been selective in what we have chosen to show, we have ensured the play loses none of its power,” said Emma Ledsam, Performing Arts lead at Loughborough College.

“We shipped in tons of sand and seated the audience in the round to give the theatre the feeling of a gladiatorial arena and we have done a lot of combat training with the cast – both with weapons and hand to hand. Our art teacher, Gary Stefanetti, has even cast some body parts for us …

“Our dance specialist Graham Ireland has worked extensively with everyone to choreograph the contrasts between the militaristic movements of the Romans and those of the tribal Goths, there is live drumming throughout from another creative arts lecturer, Adam Weikert, and some of our cast march relentlessly behind the audience, all compounding the unsettling atmosphere and sense of tension and dread.

“But the important thing is that the students have taken this 450 year old play in Shakespearean language and produced a performance capturing a depth of human relationships and reactions which is timeless.

“There is such power - they hold the audience throughout. The moment Taylor Leak appears as a blood-soaked Lavinia, after she has been abused and tortured, is incredible. I think everyone in the theatre was holding their breath.

“All the students have really done us proud.”

The 'Titus Andronicus' cast: Jennifer Stanton, Emily Ballard, Taylor Leak, Niamh Melton, Lauren Glasgow, Shannon Gamble, Amber Payne, Sophia Wallis, Lauren Glasgow, Natasha Ryan- Ormiston, Emilia Fortuin, Emma Merrey, Joseph Obaje, Brandon Preston, Milko Hristov, Rob Singh