Arcadia

Arcadia had their get-in on Saturday at the Spotlights Theatre housed at the Royal Society in Edinburgh. Below are some photos from their tech rehearsal, as well as some photos of the cast from the magnificent Scott room.

On Camdram you can read the following about the play:

‘The universe is deterministic alright, just like Newton said, I mean it’s trying to be, but the only thing going wrong is people fancying people who aren’t supposed to be in that part of the plan.’

In the schoolroom of a country estate in the 1800s, Thomasina Coverley is discovering the truth about carnal embrace. In the same room about 200 years later, a group of academics are still trying to work it out. While thirteen-year-old Thomasina complains to her tutor about algebra and rice pudding, in the present day, Bernard Nightingale arrives at the house in his red Mazda, and both, in turn add more than a little disorder to the lessons learned at Sidley Park.

The story of the precocious Thomasina and her tutor begins with the style and flair of a Wildean farce, but quickly develops tension as the stakes rise. Cutting insults, love rivalries of Byronic standard, and poetry of a much lower one fly across the schoolroom table. Meanwhile, Bernard, a literature academic, has both ‘Romantic’ and romantic endeavours of his own. He believes he has found a note that suggests Byron was involved in a duel at Sidley Park, and which might explain his mysterious flight to the continent. With the begrudging help of fellow expert, Hannah, he attempts to piece together the evidence that would prove his theory correct.

“As her tutor it is your duty to keep her in ignorance”

“Do not dabble in paradox, Edward, it puts you in danger of fortuitous wit.”

Thomasina: ‘Tell me more about sexual congress … Is it the same as love’

Septimus: ‘Oh no it is much nicer than that’

“One does not aim at poetry with pistols. At poets… Perhaps…”

“The universe is deterministic all right, just like Newton said, I mean it’s trying to be, but the only thing going wrong is people fancying people who aren’t supposed to be in that part of the plan.”

“Is the universe expanding? Is it contracting? Is it standing on one leg singing ‘When Father painted the Parlour’?”

For more photos from Edinburgh Fringe, check the Fringe tag on the blog.

Cast
Septimus – Will Peck
Thomasina – Daisy Jones
Bernard – Colin Rothwell
Chater/Valentine – Os Leanse
Chloe/Jellaby – Elise Limon
Hannah/Noakes – Xanthe Burdett
Lady Croom – Helen Vella Taylor
Brice – Harrison MacNeill

Production Team
Director – Cassia Price, Nathan Miller
Publicity Designer – Hannah Taylor
Producer – Florrie Priest
Assistant Producer – Gemma Pimlott
Assistant Director – Patrick Brooks
Executive Producer – Robert Eyers
Costume Co-ordinator – Susanna Worth
Assistant Stage Manager – Adele Kreager
Stage Manager – Daisey Friend
Deputy Stage Manager – Charlie Morgan
Technical Director – Chris L
Photographer – Johannes Hjorth