Big stage awaits Rugby Theatre

Buy photos » Romeo is a cage fighter by day in Rugby Theatre's Anglo-Polish production. (s). All photos courtesy of Martin Pulley.

ACTORS from Rugby Theatre are preparing to tread the illustrious boards of the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford this weekend.

The company's Anglo-Polish version of Romeo and Juliet has been chosen from hundreds of productions to be staged in Shakespeare's home town as part of the country-wide project for amateur groups under the banner of RSC Open Stages.

The ground-breaking production, seen by Rugby audiences in May, features members of the town's Polish community acting alongside the theatre's own members.

Many of the Polish actors had never even set foot on stage before, let alone perform in a Shakespeare play.

The Polish actors were given the chance by director Robert Sloan to deliver some of their lines in their native tongue, and others in English, as part of a modern twist on this remarkable play.

Robert said: "We are absolutely thrilled to be given the chance of a lifetime to perform on the world's greatest stage.

"We took a really big risk with this production but thankfully our cast and crew and the skill, the determination and most importantly, the passion to get the RSC. We still can't believe we have done it. From start to finish this project has been a massive challenge, so we are delighted that our dreams are coming true.

"From the minute we began rehearsals it was important to keep the pace of the piece rocketing along. This is a great story, it shouldn't feel laboured. It should race along towards the ultimate conclusion.

"It's a big stage, a really big stage! We need to lift our jaws from the floor and start rehearsing for this brand new stage."

The production can be seen on the RST's main stage on Sunday (July 22).  Visit www.rsc.org.uk/whats-on/open-stages/romeo-and-juliet.aspx for further details. Tickets are available from the RSC online via www.rsc.org.uk, or by calling 0844 800 1110.

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