Rugby School, Warwickshire

Drama

Poor Geoffrey Chaucer, master wordsmith of the Middle Ages, has fallen into a coma and needs to be re-vitalised before he drifts off into obscurity. How can this happen? By a company of jobbing players performing three of The Canterbury Tales with such slick humour, slapstick and comedy that he will sleep no more, that’s how. “The Wife Of Bath”, “The Pardoner” and “The Miller’s Tales” are vulgar, funny and fast-moving and if anything can stir Geoff, then they are it. Come along and watch this modern version of the greatest narrative in English Literature and let your laughter and participation in the show bring the poet back to life!

Memorial Chapel
Tuesday 3pm, Thursday 3pm, 5pm
Directed by Lizzie Beesley and Adam Naylor

Double Bill: Hang Up/Watermelon Boats

Two performances that delve into the pyschological development of varying relationships, one an intense and brilliantly realised study of a love affair, the other a tender and heartfelt look at the effect of age on friendship. Contrasting emotions are brilliantly conveyed by two absorbing performances from Emily Wilson and Alesha Sethia in 'Watermelon Boats', while Anthony Mingella's 'Hang Up' produces moments of intense emotion through convincing and truthful performances from Abi Ribbans and Hugh Johnson-Gilbert.

Macready Foyer
Tuesday 3pm, 5pm, Thursday 3pm
Directed by the players

Darwin on Trial

"The Scopes Trial" is often called the "Scopes Monkey Trial". It was an American legal case that tested the Butler Act. This Act made it unlawful, in any state-funded educational establishment in Tennessee, "to teach any theory that denies the story of the Divine Creation of man as taught in the Bible, and to teach instead that man has descended from a lower order of animals." The teaching of any aspect of the theory of evolution was banned. The case was a critical turning point in the United States' creation-evolution controversy.

After the passage of the Butler Act, the American Civil Liberties Union financed a test case, where a Tennessee high school teacher named John Scopes intentionally violated the Act. Scopes was charged on May 5, 1925 with teaching evolution from a chapter in a textbook which showed ideas developed from those set out in Charles Darwin's book On the Origin of Species. The subsequent trial pitted two of the pre-eminent legal minds of the time against one another: a three-time presidential candidate, congressman and former Secretary of State headed up the prosecution; a prominent trial attorney famous for winning cases spoke for the defense.

FLT
Tuesday 3pm, Wednesday 3pm
Directed by Nick Fisher

Sketches in the Sun

The James Pavilion is the place to be for, potentially, the riskiest comedy ever to be performed in the Arts Festival. This production is directed by three (and a half) members of the LXX (perhaps thinking more of their Section Ten than the arts). Our creative dream is in the lap of the mighty weather gods who could destroy our play on a whim. Be prepared to see some new acting talent as well - House Play legends from the upper years have been joined by F-blockers, who one day may have their names in lights on the dizzying stage of the Macready. Only here will you see the comic genius of Chapman and Cleese juxtaposed to our very own Sardeson and Badwan; so please come along for laughter and general enjoyment, yet remember: be kind!

James Pavilion
Tuesday 5pm, Wednesday 5pm, Thursday 5pm
Directed by Russell Fancourt (K, LXX)

Black Comedy

Brindsley Miller is a struggling young artist who has finally managed to convince a millionaire art collector to see his work. But it is on the same evening that he is due to meet his formidable father-in-law-to-be for the first time. To complicate matters further, his glamorous ex has arrived back in town. And, in an attempt to improve the appearance of his flat, he has ‘borrowed’ heavily from his over-amorous neighbour. The last thing Brindsley needs is for the lights to fuse, throwing the flat and its occupants into total darkness…

Macready
Tuesday 7.30pm, Wednesday 3pm, 5pm, Thursday 5pm
Directed by Emma Moyle and Richard Smith

A Night at the Oscars

"Be kind, rewind"

Come along to OBS and see the cinematographic début of future stars of the silver screen re-creating classic moments from the movies. Lower and Upper school students will delight and amaze you with their on-screen talents, and perhaps even bring a tear to your eye.

The MFL Oscars Ceremony: the Great Escape from your boarding house.

OBS
Tuesday 7.30pm only
Directed by Andrew Maguire

Trio: Low Level Panic/The Maids/Waiting for Godot

The first play in this trio, performed in the TSR loos, is about three women who talk about their insecurities and other unmentionable things. Next is a play outside the Modern Languages Centre about two sisters, Solange and Claire, who plot the murder of their mistress. Finally, on the Close, a pair of tramps wait for someone who never comes. Murder, tramps and rape for a strictly 16+ audience only.

TSR
Wednesday 3pm, 5pm
Directed by the players

The Festival of Dionysus

A production featuring wine, women and song and drama and … all the fun of the festival. Thrill to the rollercoaster ride that is Greek tragedy. Laugh along to the clown that is Aristophanes. Marvel at the magnitude of the talent (and the modesty) of the Classics Department. There will be dancing; there will be satirical topical humour; there will even be a smattering of real hardcore Greek for grown-ups. Aristotle himself may even put in a personal appearance and he hasn’t been seen for 2500 years. Has the Old Quad ever seen anything like it? Not since the days of Flashman!

Old Quad
Wednesday 3pm, Thursday 3pm
Directed by Tim Day

Monologue Competition Final

GRAND FINAL ‘DRAMATIC MONOLOGUE COMPETITION’
FOR ONE NIGHT ONLY!!!!

Rugby School's first ever Dramatic Monologue Competition is on Wednesday 1st July at 7.30, in the Macready Theatre. Come and witness the raw courage – or some might say blind insanity – of the twenty-nine finalists as they perform in the Macready Theatre before our eminent judge. A monologue is a long speech from a play or can be an extract of dialogue spoken by a character in a novel. Actors often learn monologues as audition pieces. Sixty-nine brave souls entered the Competition. The Heats, which were performed before three judges, were held in March. In the Grand Final we have a rich assortment of pieces for you to enjoy, ranging from tragedy to outrageous comedy. Finalists can choose to wear costumes and use props – or not !! It takes a very special kind of actor to walk out onto the stage and compete by performing entirely on their own in front of a judge and a large audience. Tickets are limited to 250. If you want to be a member of that audience at this inaugural event you had better move fast or you will be left despairing that you missed such a great occasion.

Macready
Wednesday 7.30pm only
Directed by Helen Lawson