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Thames Tales by Rachele FregoneseWhat is London? How is it changing? What does it mean to be a Londoner? People’s Company explores these issues in Thames Tales, a newly devised play that takes a closer look at issues such as social change and redevelopment.
In a imaginary street by the river in North Southwark, a wide variety of Londoners cross paths. They ignore, befriend, love and hate each other. They share their stories, which are our stories. A multitude of tales and experiences that are reshaping and re inventing London’s identity, and the community itself. On the process: Thames Tales is the result of a series of acting exercises developed by actress and writer Rachele Fregonese together with People’s Company. After deciding the theme and structure of the play, the group discussed the challenges and opportunities presented to people and communities by regeneration, and tried to answer the questions: What is London? What does it mean to live in a city that is constantly changing and reinventing itself? Every actor then developed a character through movement work and improv exercises. Rachele drew themes and characters together, developing a plot where each character is a symbol of a specific aspect of London. Through improv and devising work within this structure, the actors crafted their scenes, owning the characters and enriching the material with their own creativity and imagination. The result is an ensamble play about London, and about the 8 million people that live in it. |
WHAT IS LONDON?
This is the main question the company tried to answer during the devising of the show. Here’s some of the answers:
“When I arrived in North Southwark, I felt hammed in, oppressed by not seeing the sky. Now I love living in London – the global feeling of people from all corners living here – the chance to dip into such diverse cultures by visiting homes as a worker, making friends, walking the streets and attending cultural events – life is diverse in every sense of the word! London is very different place depending on your education, class, race and life experiences. I am very lucky.” Mina
“For me London represents different things, different stages in my life. The enormous quantity of inspiration that London gave me, makes me think that I am in the right place at this stage in my life. I still have to prove everything, but London is giving me the right energy.” Massimo
“London to me means dynamism. As its river, London never stops to move. I like watching the Thames, it makes me feel as if I were in those days where ships sailed up the Thames towards new Lands. All of this is still here, the international vein of this city, the links with the recent past and the link with its river.” Alessandro
“London’s ghosts are omnipresent in its buildings, streets and landscape; never to be forgotten and always inspiring. The skyline represents how London has always attracted the finest of everything and engrained them into its own future, constantly evolving..” Tiberius
“Home to poets, musicians and architects;
Painted and photographed for more years than you can count or know;
Lived in like a well-loved old coat of many colours.” Jackie
This is the main question the company tried to answer during the devising of the show. Here’s some of the answers:
“When I arrived in North Southwark, I felt hammed in, oppressed by not seeing the sky. Now I love living in London – the global feeling of people from all corners living here – the chance to dip into such diverse cultures by visiting homes as a worker, making friends, walking the streets and attending cultural events – life is diverse in every sense of the word! London is very different place depending on your education, class, race and life experiences. I am very lucky.” Mina
“For me London represents different things, different stages in my life. The enormous quantity of inspiration that London gave me, makes me think that I am in the right place at this stage in my life. I still have to prove everything, but London is giving me the right energy.” Massimo
“London to me means dynamism. As its river, London never stops to move. I like watching the Thames, it makes me feel as if I were in those days where ships sailed up the Thames towards new Lands. All of this is still here, the international vein of this city, the links with the recent past and the link with its river.” Alessandro
“London’s ghosts are omnipresent in its buildings, streets and landscape; never to be forgotten and always inspiring. The skyline represents how London has always attracted the finest of everything and engrained them into its own future, constantly evolving..” Tiberius
“Home to poets, musicians and architects;
Painted and photographed for more years than you can count or know;
Lived in like a well-loved old coat of many colours.” Jackie
