Shakespeare Leaves Bath - Makes Waves Across the Pond
Terry D. Kester, Executive Producer for the Staunton Theater Festival has announced that the 2008 Theater Festival in Staunton, VA has been reshaped as a special “Theater Party” hosted by and featuring Full Tilt Theater Company from Bath, England. Full Tilt will inaugurate the annual Staunton Theater Festival with a special rousing radical “theater event” including the bard's Comedy of Errors – An Identity Fair.

“It is fitting, says Kester, E2that we are presenting this Full Tilt production because it is a festival in and of itself !” The pre-show party involves Greek dancing; BBQ banquet; Beach Volleyball; Palm Reading; a host of fun and games and . . . Frolicks! The audience is literally invited to become holidaymakers on a package holiday to a Greek island resort and then the cast, crew and audience are lead into and caught up in the actual comedy. The Cornishman, newspaper from Cornwall, boldly states,

“There are no errors in this Comedy of Errors!” and

“The Full Tilt Theater Company lives up to its name and throws just about everything and everybody – and there are lots of bodies -- it has at the bards play. (Cast of 21)

“This is a 'comic-play-with-in-a-fair'. There is so much vim and vitality here, before and during the action, it ought to be bottled and sold!'

“ A production which fully justifies its claim of being riotous, ridiculous, and rip-roaring from its busy pre-curtain war m-up to its soul sisters and singers, from its mistaken identities and misunderstandings to its assault by Adriana, generously played by Samantha Broad – one of the shows highlights.

“ It is impossible not to succumb to the total commitment, confidence and considerable charm of these many, mainly young, players.”

Full Tilt Theatre Company is resident at The Drama Department at Bath Spa University (www.fulltilt-theatre.com), in the United Kingdom. Formed in 2004, the company is renowned for creating radical, innovative, and ground breaking “event theatre.=E 2 “In the past three years, we have become known for our radical reinventions of Shakespeare, and our distinctive theatre whimsy and style – all the while being true to the Bard's works. The flavour is liveliness, vitality and reinvention. Plays have to mean something to the actors in order to mean anything to the audience, who we want to be pulled into the world of the play with an unusually strong tug.” (Gunduz Kalic, Artistic20Director and head of the Department of Drama).

This June Full Tilt was honored to have been invited to perform at the world famous Minack Theatre (750 seat amphitheater in Cornwall) where most of their shows sold out to holiday makers. As they cross the pond to the States, they are playing in Waterville Valley in New Hampshire on the 19th and 20th August, then move to the 2008 Staunton Theater Festival in Staunton, VA on Labor Day Weekend August 29th. to 31st.(Friday through Sunday), and end up in Toronto, Canada.

They are “keen to perform this piece for more communities as the tour wends its way through New England, and the Mid-Atlantic states and have a few more dates open – to book or for more information contact StauntonTheaterFestival@gmail.com Heather Johanson, Company Manager, unabashedly asserts “We can perform anywhere! And will!”

In Staunton, Full Tilt and its festivities will be presented at Stuart Hall School. Stuart Hall (K-12) was founded in 1844 and is one of the oldest Episcopal schools in Virginia. The schools history, The King Theater, it's Drama Department and the schools students and faculty will also be honored by The Staunton Theater Festival. This Theater Party is specifically arranged to introduce the Theater Festival to the0Aaudiences and citizens of Staunton, Augusta County, the Valley and the region. All income or funds raised will go towards continuing and growing the Staunton Theater Festival as an annual event.

The community of Staunton has already graciously extended its hospitality and support with volunteers of all stripes, with residents hosting in their homes the entire Full Tilt Company and with the Official Sponsorship of the Staunton News Leader and sponsors including North Mountain Winery and Scotto's Restaurant.</ span>

Kester adds that, “though we have struggled and adjusted to the realities of the times, happily this Theater Party for the Festival is bound to be a 'hoot' -- an d a memorable one at that!”