Ancient ruins of Peel Castle to show Shakespeare 'as intended'
He said one of the seabirds attempted to upstage the actors in a key scene during a previous production of Romeo and Juliet at the site, which was built between the 11th and 14th centuries."I had to chase one off the stage that actually was determined to sit on the balcony," he recalled.He said venues on the tour ranged from ruins to stately homes and the logistics of performing in castles were sometimes "pretty tricky" because ultimately castles were "designed not to get into".Stebbings has strong links to the island through both family connections and his involvement in several previous productions.Those include writing and directing the Ghost of Illiam Dhone, portraying the life and times of Manx martyr William Christian, in conjunction with the Manx Heritage Foundation a decade ago.
His latest Shakespearian endeavour, being staged in conjunction with Manx National Heritage, is set in Messina and revolves around a plot to make two friends fall in love.He said using Peel Castle as the setting allowed the cast to get closer to the audience, in turn allowing those watching to see the play as the writer had "designed"."The actors get up close so the audience see the whites of their eyes, which I think is important," he said."These play were not designed to have clunky big scene changes," he added.The production by TNT and the American Theatre Group is set to get underway in the grounds of Peel Castle at 18:00 BST, with a repeat performance a Rushen Abbey at 14:00 on Sunday.
Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Guardian
30 minutes ago
- The Guardian
The Rise and Fall of the Clash Redux review – screen encore for punk's raging heroes
Here's a downbeat, slightly miserable documentary about the Clash, a 'redux' in fact by director Danny Garcia of his 2012 film The Rise and Fall of the Clash. Perhaps that earlier version had more to say about how the Clash came raging out of London's punk scene in the 1970s; this one only really gets going in 1982 when Joe Strummer boots drummer Topper Headon out of the band for heroin addiction, then a year later kicks out guitarist Mick Jones. Rise and Fall Redux is a portrait of the band as a sinking ship, finally disbanding in 1986. It is a film groaning with talking heads. Pick of them is Viv Albertine of the Slits who sums the Clash up nicely when she says: 'They were best when they were small and angry … when they were hard and angry and poor.' Others indulge in a bit intellectual waffle. The only member of the classic lineup to appear is guitarist Mick Jones, not taking it too seriously. Asked about the secret of the band's success, he grins slyly: 'It was a mix of luck and fortunate timing.' There are interviews too with the disgruntled drummers and guitarists hired in later years to replace Headon and Jones, poorly paid and seemingly badly treated by the band's svengali-like manager Bernard Rhodes. In the end this a film for Clash fans, with little in the way of explainers; there's not much, for example, about where the band came from or what it was like in the early days. There's no recap of the stories about how Strummer met Jones and bassist Paul Simonon in a London dole queue, or how they were so frequently spat at on stage that in 1978 Joe Strummer contracted hepatitis from an audience member. It would benefit from a little more of the glory days, a little rise with the fall. The Rise and Fall of the Clash Redux is in UK cinemas from 8 August.
Telegraph
30 minutes ago
- Telegraph
Championship predictions: Frank Lampard's Coventry promoted, Watford relegated
The English Football League Championship kicks off on Friday night, when relegated Ipswich Town travel to promoted Birmingham City. England's second tier produced drama all the way to the final day last season and the new campaign promises more of the same. Ipswich Town and Southampton are this season's favourites for automatic promotion, while in-crisis Sheffield Wednesday are favourites for relegation. Celebrity investors have distracted from the football this summer. Ipswich minority owner Ed Sheeran gave himself a squad number, rap star Snoop Dogg bought into Swansea and Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney's Wrexham are attempting a fourth consecutive promotion. That is without mentioning Tom Brady starring in a fly-on-the-wall Birmingham documentary. There are 11 new managers, exciting new signings, famous owners drawing what is certain to be record viewing figures and the expectation of high drama and entertainment. Here are Telegraph Sport's predictions.
Daily Mail
30 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Kate Middleton's favourite handbag brand has a hidden outlet store with up to 65% off - but stock is selling fast
Daily Mail journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission - learn more Aspinal of London has earned its place as one of the Royal Family 's go-to accessory brands. Founded in 2002, the label is best known for its elegant handbags, regularly spotted on royal style icons, including the Princess of Wales, Zara Tindall, Princess Beatrice and Queen Camilla. While the brand's premium quality comes with luxury price tags, few shoppers know about the hidden outlet section on its website - home to a range of must-have bags and accessories at significantly reduced prices. A standout piece is the embroidered velvet edition of the iconic Midi Mayfair, a style beloved by Princess Kate herself. For a more understated look, the Portobello Crossbody in taupe - reduced by 50% - is a personal favourite. Its soft neutral shade makes it an ideal choice for any summer occasion. Looking for a small yet stylish buy? The zipped coin and card holder in soft sage green is a lovely pick - and perfect for gifting or treating yourself. Jetting off soon? The deep shine heritage blue croc-effect luggage tags add an elevated touch to any suitcase. When I'm out and about, I rely on my phone pouch - and the bold red London version is both practical and eye-catching. Even better, it's currently 65% off. And yes, it might feel early to mention Christmas - but the cosmetics bag and buttery-soft leather gloves would make fantastic gifts for the season ahead. Browse these finds and more below.
