RSC Open Stages finale

What an evening and what a treat!
A party of over 20 set off for Stratford last evening, collecting 17 Kidderminster Nonentities en route to Stratford.  After refreshments at the Black Swan (Mucky Duck), the nearest hostelry to the Courtyard Theatre, we headed back to the theatre and took our seats.  There was a real buzz of anticipation from the audience.  Ian Wainwright, the producer of "Open Stages" welcomed us and introduced each of the groups.
X-centricity, with a large cast of 14 to 25 year olds, opened the show with a 13 minute production of "As you like it".  All the other groups performed classic Shakespeare, except Cumnor Players who enacted a tale about the man himself.
Geoffrey Speechly's rich tones introduced Bridgnorth Players and set the scene for "Macbeth".
For Bridgnorth Players, John Sugden led us word by word towards the tragedy of Macbeth as his wife, played by Debra Nash, cajoles and finally persuades him to kill King Duncan.  Macbeth believes himself well placed with the King and his peers and sees no need to take such a step, but Lady Macbeth is ambitious and impatient on his behalf.  Neither of them can anticipate the consequences of their actions.
In "The Taming of the Shrew" Petruchio brings his bride to his home.  Katherina is tired and hungry after a long journey but Petruchio has seen her fiery temper and plans to temper it.  Under the pretence that nothing is quite good enough for his new wife he sends away food and clothing  His aide, Grumio, played by Tim Crowson, is in on the ruse.  Liz Herdson played an affronted dressmaker, whose fashionable offerings, admired by Kate, are scornfully rejected by her husband.  David Bowgett and Kate Harris took the roles of the newly married couple.
The big stage could have presented a challenge to our actors who are used to small spaces in village halls, but they made the most of it.
The Nonentities brought the evening to a colourful and cheerful conclusion with "The Merry Wives of Windsor".

What a wonderful way to end the year.  Hearty thanks to Liz Fisher for getting us all involved with the Royal Shakespeare Company's outreach this year.