A Winter's Tale

The first show is the venue. A beautiful Spiegeltent, or Mirror Tent, one of only eleven left in the world. This is a beautiful structure, originally built in 1908 and called "Idolize" these tents were originally used as dance halls or drinking halls at fairs around Northern France and Belgium. Here, the tent, strangely situated in the car park of the Cowley BMW factory, is set out as a 288 seat venue with everyone sitting at tables and able to enjoy the food and drink available either from the internal bar or the hot crepe stall outside. Blankets fo your knees, heating and highly decorated mirrored walls all go to making this a spectacular venue. The show, done centrally in the round, can be viewed directly or in the mirrors and feel like an intimate performance as the players move amongst the audience and across the circus-style stage. Very enjoyable and I hope to see more in this venue in future.

The second show, "A Winter's Tale", is provided by Creation Theatre Company directed by Justin Butcher. A small company double up to provide all the parts and give us a most enjoyable performance. The first act is somehwta turgid as Shakespeare sets up all the angst and confusion for the second act and, at times, I felt the delivery was somewhat 'samey' and over projected, but once the second act started I was able to just sit back and enjoy myself. The comcx side of the play was well pointed and the delivery more assured than in the first act with the normal twists and turns of the plot easy to follow and the language being delivered cleanly and with obvious relish. Great teamwork from the cast.

I wish this company well. They have taken a very creative approach to theatre; creative venue, creatively located, creative sponsorship and a creative production. They deserve to succeed, if you in the area go and enjoy yourself!