CLASSICS RECLAIMED:
A Monthly Rehearsed-Reading Event feature Female-Identifying Artists
Whilst the theatres remain closed, many artists and theatre makers are flocking to the internet to continue to tell stories, practice our craft, and connect with audiences. While we love all the heart and hard work that’s going in to learning how to “theatre” in this new digital medium, the pressure to produce content can be stifling. We are all in this together, and just because we can’t be making the live-and-in-person theatre that we love, it doesn’t mean that we have to stop creating spaces that encourage us to continue growing and challenging ourselves as artists.
That’s why Tiger’s Hearts Collective are starting a monthly rehearsed-reading event we call Classics Reclaimed. We’re passionate about continuing to create exceptional classical content and supporting women in the arts, but we also understand that there is a delicate balance to creativity in quarantine. We’re all facing different challenges right now: some of us are racking up the screen time at work and may be having trouble finding the energy for more Zoom rehearsals; some of us are dedicating hours to supporting our families and time for ourselves is scarce; some of us are struggling to find the motivation to be creative at all. And that’s all ok. We want to be here for you with a long-term platform for connection and creativity that is both flexible and reliable, that celebrates female-identifying artists and explores exciting classical material.
The Classics Reclaimed series will offer monthly rehearsed-readings by female-identifying artists. We’ll explore lesser-known classical works as well as some reimagined favourites and female playwrights/translators. These plays will be cut down to sixty-minute to keep them snappy and streamline and will be shared live on Facebook on the Third Thursday of every month. Each performance will be followed by a discussion about the play as well as our continuing experiences with online performance.
Each month, audiences will be able to vote between TWO Contenders in a poll that will run for ONE WEEK. Once the winner has been decided, rehearsals will be held every Monday and Thursday from 7-8:30pm for a maximum of 6 hours including performance (3 hours per week over two weeks). So whether you’re super keen to challenge yourself or prefer to dedicate fewer hours, there’s room for everyone. This includes performers but also directors who want to try out an idea, playwrights inspired by the classics, set/costume designers who want their artwork featured, composers interested in exploring the soundscape of a story, etc. This event will offer remuneration for all participants that reflects their involvement.
The Classics Reclaimed Contenders for JUNE are about as opposite as you could get:
1. Fair Maid of the West by Thomas Heywood: Bess spends her days pulling pints down at the bar, but after being named heiress to a wealthy fortune, she turns pirate and commands a crew that sails Mediterranean. A comedy featuring romance, adventure, cross-dressing and bad-ass lady pirates! This is the escapism option.
2. Women Beware Women by Thomas Middleton: Based on true events, this more familiar revenge-tragedy revolves around Bianca, a young wife whose husband locks her away for fear of losing her. This ultimately fails and she unwillingly becomes mistress to “The Duke”. Features a fantastic chess scene where two women play a dangerous game for control of the people around them. Everyone dies horribly in the end. This is the dramatic option.
If you’re interested in being a part of this months Classics Reclaimed series, please get in touch via email at tigersheartscollective@gmail.com before the poll closes on June 1st. Make sure you also head over to our website (www.tigershearts.com), or our Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram stories to vote for your favourite contender!
