Welcome to the Clearing: Actor, Director and one the original founding members (alongside his brother Mark) of "The Medieval Players" Carl Heap!
"Finding the method in Medieval Theatres" The Guardian
"The Medieval Players" were a pioneering British touring theatre company in the 1980's & 90's renowned and lauded for restoring a delicious vocabulary and experience of Medieval performance for us all, by re-introducing us to a different kind of Actor: An ensemble that is completely at ease talking directly to an audience and not hidden in the dark:
"If the audience is sharing daylight with the Actors it seems rather rude to ignore them!"
Indeed I had my 1st ever professional touring experience with The Medieval Players in a production called "Courage" in 1989 (as party of a 10 month tour) very shortly after graduating from The Bristol Old Vic Theatre School.
Renowned Theatre Director Emma Rice said of The Medieval Players: "Gasp makingly cheeky, so bloody funny, so bloody skilled!" as she witnessed the all juggling, all fire-breathing, all stilt walking Medieval Minstrelsy as one of her very formative theatre experiences.
Carl now writes, continues to act and direct as Artistic Director of Theatre Company, "Beggars Belief" (see what he's doing there?!) and he also sings on an epic scale with The Crouch End Festival Chorus.
Tune in next week for more stories of 'Distinction & Genius' from The Good Listening To Show 'Clearing'. If you would like to be my Guest too then you can find out HOW via the different 'series strands' at 'The Good Listening To Show' website.
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