The summer so far

Midsummer, mid-season and things are really hotting up at the Willow Theatre. Last week saw a visit from Nantmel Primary School who spent the day on the farm acting out Macbeth, the Willow Way Nature Trail coming into its own as we found the three witches in the Stone Circle, murdered Duncan by the 400 year old chestnut tree and then fought Macbeth’s last battle in the Turnaround field. Some of our more mature volunteers then saw the school acting out parts of the play in the Willow Theatre itself and all remarked that they wished they had studied the play like that when they were children!
The U3A came for a refresher on King Lear on the Thursday. They’re off to Stratford to see Greg Doran’s production. Again we acted out the first few scenes and reminded ourselves of the main characters, storyline and issues in the play. We were lucky that Brenda Bullock was photographing the Shakespearean Haymeadow that morning and agreed to include the U3A in one or two of her shots. She later took a helicopter trip for her husband’s birthday treat and persuaded the pilot to fly over Penlanole. The aerial shot on the Living Willow Theatre page of this site must be one of the most wonderful studies of the theatre. You really get a feel for the space.
Little Rumba played a brilliant gig on Friday night after we had held a Soundscape walk around the Nature Trail that afternoon. Under the guidance of Simon Fraser we walked silently, strictly no talking,  for forty minutes through the fields, orchard and woodlands, listening to the sounds of nature, the road (!), and our own footfall. Back to the Barn for tea, it was difficult indeed to start to speak again. Richard Knights had noted the variety of birds that had been calling. It was a very moving event - we’ll do it again.
And now we prepare for the weekend ahead. The forecast so far seems to be in our favour but we have cover against any rain in Barn, tent and stable. We’ve been rehearsing with the Mid Powys Youth Theatre and with The Living Willow Theatre Company. The Broken Willow Consort will be rehearsing tomorrow, The Lord Lieutenant Shan Legge Bourke and our AM, Kirsty Williams will be with us. Tim Carroll is back from Port Elizabeth with his vuvuzela and the beer is in. We hope to see you here.