A PRODUCER took centre stage when he popped along to talk to musical theatre students at Stratford College.
Ian Page, founder of Night Project Theatre, gave a presentation on Tess, a new musical adaptation of Thomas Hardy’s Tess of the d’Urbervilles.
It stars former college student Jessie-Mae Thomas in the lead role and is being premiered at the Royal Shakespeare Company’s Studio Theatre at The Other Place this weekend.
Ian, an architect by profession, wanted to combine his long-held passion for singing and his experience of amateur theatre by embarking on his own independent productions, and five years ago set up Night Project Theatre with the aim of presenting new or rarely-seen musical theatre in small, intimate venues.
He said: “We want the intimacy of having an audience sitting a metre or two away from the cast. Our productions are very raw and the cast is very exposed which we think makes it very exciting for the audience.”
Having founded Night Project Theatre, Ian produces all its shows and takes on the role of either director – he is directing Tess – or performer.
Also in the Tess cast are Hugo Montgomery, who is currently studying musical theatre at the college, former student Rebecca Shaw, and musical theatre lecturer Alex Dengate is playing in the band.
Tess can be seen today (Friday) and tomorrow 7.30pm at The Other Place. Tickets cost £12.50 and are available from Visit www.rsc.org.uk/tickets/tess for tickets, priced £12.50, and further details.
