RSC RELEASES FULL PROGRAMME FOR COSTUME DAY
RSC RELEASES FULL PROGRAMME FOR COSTUME DAY
THE ROYAL SHAKESPEARE COMPANY WILL HOST A SERIES OF FREE POP-UP PERFORMANCES, WORKSHOPS AND FAMILY ACTIVITIES TO CELEBRATE THE COMPANY’S COSTUME-MAKING HERITAGE
STRATFORD-UPON-AVON
FRIDAY 20 AUGUST 2021
12NOON – 8PM
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On Friday 20 August 2021, the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) will host Costume Day, a day-long festival takeover of the Bancroft Terrace and Gardens in the heart of Stratford-upon-Avon, celebrating the newly opened Costume Workshop and the RSC’s costume-making heritage, bringing it to life for locals and visitors alike. The day will include a series of free pop-up performances, workshops and family-friendly activities taking place across the town.
Costume Day is part of the RSC THREADS project, a programme of events that celebrate the heritage of costume-making in Stratford-upon-Avon, supported by National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Highlights include:
- Behind the Seams – visitors are invited to join some of the teams from the RSC Costume Workshop in the Costume Day marquee, situated on the Bancroft Gardens. RSC costumes will be on display and visitors will be able to speak with the costume makers who created them, discovering the variety of skills and many techniques they use to produce our magnificent costumes for the stage.
- Makers’ Market – visitors are invited to discover local craftspeople from Stratford-upon-Avon and the surrounding area. These artists will be selling their wonderful creations and demonstrating their unique skills as they make their pieces at the Market along Waterside.
- Costume Craft – the RSC will provide the opportunity for visitors to try their hand at costume-making. Colouring, activity packs, crafts and a chance to have creations woven into a costume will all be on offer throughout the day to all ages and abilities.
- Story Boat – a chance to spend a summer’s afternoon on the RSC story boat, listening to tales of the people behind the scenes in the Costume Workshop and the creations they made. Voyages are running for free throughout the afternoon.
- Pop-up performance: Georgie the Knight and the Armour Too Bright – a joyful pop-up performance where audiences can join Georgie as they discover what it means to be a Knight (and how to really look the part). Each performance lasts approx. 25 mins, followed by a 25-minute craft workshop. All performances will be BSL interpreted.
- Music on the Bancroft Terrace - relax with a drink from the RSC Riverside Cafe and soak up the sights of the festival in the Bancroft Gardens and along Waterside whilst enjoying live music from great local talent.
- Mannequin Trail - A trail of beautifully costumed mannequins from the RSC Costume Department and the RSC Collection will be on display in shop windows all around town.
Costume Day will conclude the RSC’s summer programme of family activities, a series of free pop-up performances, interactive workshops and outdoor performances for families, running for four weeks starting this week, from Tuesday 27 July – Friday 20 August. These events will take place on the Bancroft Terrace and in the newly constructed Lydia & Manfred Gorvy Garden Theatre, situated in the Swan Gardens flanked by the River Avon.
COSTUME DAY
All activities will abide by government guidance, including any required social distancing, at the time of the event.
LISTINGS INFORMATION
Behind the Seams
12 - 8pm: Marquee, Bancroft Gardens
Come and join some of the teams from the RSC Costume Workshops in the Costume Day marquee on the Bancroft Gardens. Visitors will get the chance to see some of our amazing costumes up close and meet the people who made them. Discover the variety of skills and chat with our skilled and creative costume makers about the many techniques we use to produce our magnificent costumes for the stage.
Makers’ Market
12 - 8pm: Waterside
Come and take a stroll through our Makers’ Market and discover craftspeople from Stratford-upon-Avon and the surrounding area. These crafters will be selling their wonderful creations and demonstrating their unique skills as they make their pieces with us at the Market.
Costume Craft
12 - 8pm: Various locations on the Bancroft Gardens
Colouring, activity packs, crafts and a chance to have your creations woven into a costume will all be on offer throughout the day to all ages and abilities.
Story Boat
While away part of your summer’s afternoon on our story boat, listening to rich stories of the people behind the scenes in the Costume Workshop and the fabulous creations they made, as you cruise along the Avon. Voyages will last 20-30 minutes and are running for free throughout the afternoon.
Book your place on the day at one of our information stands.
Pop-up performance: Georgie the Knight and the Armour Too Bright
1pm: Amphitheatre, next to the Tramway Bridge
2.30pm: Henley Street, outside Shakespeare's Birthplace
4.30pm: Bancroft Terrace, outside the Royal Shakespeare Theatre
Join Georgie as they discover what it means to be a knight (and how to really look the part) in these fun and energetic pop-up performances.
All performances will be BSL interpreted.
Music on the Bancroft Terrace
12pm, 1.30pm, 3pm, 5.30pm
Bancroft Terrace, outside the Royal Shakespeare Theatre
Relax with a drink from our Riverside Cafe and soak up the sights of the festival in the Bancroft Gardens and along Waterside whilst enjoying live music from great local talent.
SUMMER FAMILY PROGRAMME 2021
LISTINGS INFORMATION
All activities will abide by government guidance, including any required social distancing, at the time of the event.
Tuesday Comedy Time
Inspired by themes in The Comedy of Errors, join the RSC on Tuesday afternoons for funny, energetic, and silly performances, suitable for all the family.
Performances last 30 minutes and are suitable for all ages.
Free, no booking required. Spaces are limited and subject to current government guidelines.
Syrovy by Artizani
Tuesday 27 July
2pm and 3.30pm
Bancroft Terrace, outside the Royal Shakespeare Theatre
Syrovy enters the space and everyday objects conspire against him: newspapers become sails, there is a waterfall of cutlery, he dances with chairs and clothes confound him. Eventually, he finds balance on a wobbling bouncing rope.
Bonkers Balloon Show by Balloonatic
Tuesday 3 August
2pm and 3.30pm
Bancroft Terrace, outside the Royal Shakespeare Theatre
The Bonkers Balloon Show is a completely off the wall, unique show filled with comedy, circus fun, music, magic and lots and lots of balloons. A simple balloon gets turned into an alien, a helicopter and an air guitar and audience members are transformed into balloon creatures in front of your very eyes.
At Your Service by Ian Marchant
Tuesday 10 August
2pm and 3.30pm
Bancroft Terrace, outside the Royal Shakespeare Theatre
Walter the Waiter is always “At Your Service” and ready to please.
Conjuring up feats and clever tricks with his many accoutrements, always poised to deliver plenty of fun. From the confines of his mobile serving station, he’ll command carrots to dance, swing saturation around and around, manipulate champagne bottles as you have never seen, do things with spoons you can only dream of.
The Giant Balloon Show by Dizzy O’Dare
Tuesday 17 August
2pm and 3.30pm
Bancroft Terrace, outside the Royal Shakespeare Theatre
Infectiously energetic, anarchic and unashamedly silly; add an award-winning entertainer, an 80’s soundtrack, and twist that into an hilarious show for the whole family.
Pop-up performances: Georgie the Knight and the Armour too Bright
Wednesday 28 July, 3, 11 and 18 August
10.30am, Bancroft Terrace, outside the Royal Shakespeare Theatre
The below performances will all take place at 2.30pm:
28 July: Amphitheatre, Stratford Canal Basin
3 August: Pavilion, Stratford Rec
11 August: Henley Street
18 August: The Band Stand, Stratford Rec
Join Georgie as they discover what it means to be a knight (and how to really look the part!) in these fun and energetic pop-up performances, created and directed by Nicky Cox. After each performance, the audience will be able to make an item inspired by the show.
All performances will be BSL interpreted.
Each performance lasts approx. 25 mins, followed by a 25-minute craft workshop. Free, no booking required.
Drop-in Craft Workshop
Wednesday 28 July, 3, 11 and 18 August
Bancroft Terrace, outside Royal Shakespeare Theatre
Join us on the Bancroft Terrace for craft activities inspired by costume-making techniques. Drop in for as long as you like to add your creative mark to our mannequins, then come back and see them on the 20 August as part of Costume Day.
Free, drop-in, no booking required (limited capacity). Suitable for all ages.
Music on the Bancroft Terrace
4.15 – 6pm
Bancroft Terrace, outside the Royal Shakespeare Theatre
29 July: Antonia Kirby
5 August: Taylor-Louise and Levi Washington
12 August: Sugar Sweet Duo
19 August: Hannah Woof
Enjoy a drink or an ice cream from the Riverside Cafe as you listen to a free music gig on our terrace outside the Royal Shakespeare Theatre.
Free, no booking required (limited capacity).
An Actor’s Workout
Friday 30 July, 6 and 13 August
10am – 11am
Lydia & Manfred Gorvy Garden Theatre
Start your day like an actor in the rehearsal room! Join our workshop leaders for a weekly warm up in the Garden Theatre. These fun, interactive sessions are the perfect excuse to get on your feet and join in the fun with family and friends.
All workshops will be BSL interpreted.
£5 each or £15 family ticket, suitable for ages 5+
Costume Day
Friday 20 August
12noon – 8pm
To celebrate the newly re-opened Costume Workshop on Waterside, the RSC will host a festival style take-over of the Stratford-upon-Avon town centre, celebrating the company’s costume-making heritage. The day will feature a series of free pop-up performances, workshops and family-friendly activities taking place across the town, giving audiences an opportunity to share their connections and memories of the Costume Workshop in a variety of ways.
-Ends-
For further information, please contact:
Kate Evans (Media and Communications Manager) kate.evans@rsc.org.uk, 07920 244434
Or
Bethany Arnold (Media Relations Officer) bethany.arnold@rsc.org.uk
Notes to editors:
The RSC is supported using public funding by Arts Council England
The work of the RSC is supported by the Culture Recovery Fund
The RSC is a recipient of the Weston Culture Fund
THREADS and the Costume Day are supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund
National Lottery Heritage Fund
Using money raised by the National Lottery, we Inspire, lead and resource the UK’s heritage to create positive and lasting change for people and communities, now and in the future. www.heritagefund.org.uk. Follow @HeritageFundUK on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and use #NationalLotteryHeritageFund
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