LADS and the Royal Shakespeare Company

We were thrilled that The LADS were accepted into the 2014-16 programme of RSC Open Stages.

The Royal Shakespeare Company’s Open Stages has been the UK’s biggest amateur theatre project: a programme of skills exchanges and mentoring, designed to transform the relationship between amateur and professional theatre.

Over 150 amateur companies applied from across the UK for Open Stages 2014-16, and we were chosen to be one of the 90 successful companies. Each amateur company benefited from many months of training, director mentoring, feedback and support. We were invited to attend weekend workshops with directors and practitioners from the RSC in their world famous theatres and rehearsal rooms; we have also welcomed RSC practitioners to Llanymynech. The cast of LADS' 'The Taming of the Shrew' even got to perform on stage at the Swan Theatre, Stratford!

2016 marks the 400th anniversary of the death of William Shakespeare. As well as having members involved in several local events, LADS will be staging their own production of 'Twelfth Night', again supported by RSC practitioners.

We have benefited immensely from the Open Stages project, and so has the RSC. Here's what one of their leading practitioners had to say:

"I’ve met energized, passionate, dedicated, like-minded theatre-makers and I have to say it’s been one of the most profound and moving experiences of my entire 35-year career...[The LADS] are ambassadors and flag-wavers for the Open Stages ethos because they have seen how transformative it can be. They have seen the benefits of really exploring with professionals, upping their game, stretching themselves and not being frightened of the challenges...

They work with such integrity, such common sense, and with a sense of wonder and imagination that anything ‘can be’ but the play-time is so important. They know how to play, laugh, commune, share and love the work.

It’s been both a pleasure and a joy. Thank you."

Michael Corbidge
Senior Voice and Text Associate
The Royal Shakespeare company