Dream date with the RSC for popular local principal

4 May 2016

SCHOOL principal by day and amateur actor by night, Chris Darcy is used to playing to an audience.

But in an amazing opportunity to mark the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death, the Ballynahinch Primary School head is about to tread the boards with the most famous theatre company in the world.

The Royal Shakespeare company (RSC) is bringing A Midsummer Night’s Dream to the Grand Opera House at the end of May — and as part of the UK tour local amateur groups were invited to battle it out to perform alongside the professional RSC cast.

The south Belfast based Belvoir Players were one of the 14 amateur companies from across the UK eventually selected, with Chris and five of his Belvoir colleagues taking on the roles of the ‘Mechanicals’, some of Shakespeare’s best loved characters.

But not only is there the Opera House stage to look forward to, Chris and co will also be reprising their roles on the famous Royal Shakespeare Theatre stage in Stratford-upon-Avon.

Saintfield resident Chris is playing the part of Tom Snout amongst the ‘Mechanicals’ — characters which include the iconic role of Bottom the Weaver. This under-prepared, yet loveable bunch of craftsmen and women put themselves forward to entertain royalty at the end of the play, forming the famous ‘play within a play’.

Alongside them will be the cast of 18 professional actors and creative team, led by RSC Deputy Artistic Director, Erica Whyman.

Chris said he was thrilled to be playing Tom Snout the tinker, who he will be playing as a “bit of a rascal”.

“It really is a dream come true,” he said. “What an opportunity for an amateur actor to be appearing on stage with the most famous theatre company in the world.

“The pupils here at Ballynahinch primary are interested in what’s happening because of work they are doing in school. We would talk to them about Shakespeare’s life and a few of them are involved in the Belvoir Players Academy.”

Despite being a head teacher, Chris said he was often still hands-on when it came to school productions. In recent years he has also been involved in the writing and directing side at Belvoir. Productions have included One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest and his own play The BIG 30.

And now Chris and his team are “delighted” to be chosen for A Midsummer Night’s Dream, in a process that began before Christmas.

“They talked about us being a good team,” he said of the RSC auditions.

“So far we have filmed rehearsals for the RSC and watched others in rehearsal. Each of the groups are putting their own slant on it.

“At the minute we are rehearsing two nights a week. When the Royal Shakespeare Company assistant director comes over that will change.

“It’s hectic, but good strong coffee helps.

“In July we will finish the run in Stratford, and while I have seen plays there, I never dreamed I would be on the stage. We have a group coming over to see it from Belvoir and my wife and my mother-in-law, various people are coming to support us.”

Chris said he was pleased to find the RSC team, despite their huge professional reputation, were very supportive.

“They are really nice people, that is one of the things to note, they treat the amateurs the same,” he added.

What’s new for the local actors when they conclude the tour at Shakespeare’s home town of Stratford is that they will be surrounded by the audience on three sides — as they would have been 500 years ago.

“The opera house is a normal pavilion stage but there is a ‘thrust’ stage at Stratford,” Chris explained. “I don’t think I will get distracted. It’s not that daunting.

“I am most of all looking forward to the whole atmosphere. We can really play to the audience.”

A Midsummer Night’s Dream: A Play for the Nation visits the Grand Opera House in Belfast between May 31 and June 4. Tickets priced from £18.50 are available via telephone on 028 9024 1919 or by visiting www.goh.co.uk. The production is also in collaboration with the Creative Learning department at the Lyric Theatre in Belfast.

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