Students and staff help bring 12th century Game of Thrones play to the stage
A team of students and staff from The Northern School of Art are using their skills and talents to help a local theatre group bring a tale of Game of Thrones in the 12th century to the stage.
‘The Lion in Winter’ by James Goldman, a modern-day classic that features sibling rivalry, adultery, and dungeons, is being performed by Billingham Players from Monday 24 – Saturday 29 February 2020 at The Theatre Upstairs in Billingham.
As part of the lavish production that tells a tale of a family feud of imperial proportions, the Northern School of Art team has pitched in to make costumes and props as well as acting in and directing the play.
Ten students on the School’s costume design degree are making costumes that have been designed by course leader, Jane Havakin, whilst technician Kate Rigg from the School’s Textiles degree programme is dyeing fabric.
A production and set design degree second year student, Harry Leversage, has made a selection of authentic replica weapons (pictured left) whilst two others, Anabel Jollands (pictured below right) and Amelia Mitchell (pictured below left), have painted four detailed tapestries for backdrops.
The production and set design degree’s course technician, Mark Robinson, has made furniture for the set and course leader Tony Shaw has designed the programme.
The play also features one of the School’s second year acting degree students, Josh Dixon (pictured left, below), as one of the sons and Abby Dennison (pictured at the top, on the far right) from the School’s marketing team is playing the French king’s daughter.
Production design degree lecturer, Norman Austick, who is directing the play, said that it was a fantastic opportunity for The Northern School of Art’s students and staff to get hands-on with a production.
“The School has a wide range of stage and screen industry related programmes that encompass a huge amount of talent. We’re delighted to be putting it to good use by supporting a thriving community theatre company. It’s also invaluable industry experience for our students.”
‘The Lion in Winter’ by James Goldman is set during Christmas 1183 and tells the tale of King Henry II, his imprisoned queen (released only for the holiday), and their three entitled sons who vie for the throne in a double-dealing division of the kingdom.
Best known for the film adaptation starring Peter O’Toole and Katharine Hepburn, the play is described as a “viciously funny drama and an epic family takedown that is a high-stakes chess game where the pieces constantly change sides and no one is spared the sword.”
‘The Lion in Winter’ by James Goldman is at the Theatre Upstairs, Billingham from Monday 24 – Saturday 29 February 2020. Tickets are £10 and £5 for students. Further details are available at www.billinghamplayers.co.uk
For more information about The Northern School of Art’s wide range of specialist creative courses at the School’s degree and master’s level campus in Hartlepool visit www.northernart.ac.uk
