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Interview: Connor Wray of Off the Ground

Interviewer: Laura Marriott

This summer Off the Ground (OTG) theatre company have returned to outdoor venues across the UK and Ireland with their new version of Much Ado About Nothing. Each summer sees them put together a tour that will take in unusual venues, thousands of audience members, and many, many miles. How do they manage to pull this off every year? The Review’s Hub Ireland sat down with OTG member Connor Wray, to find out more.

Connor Wray, fresh from playing Benedick in some of the most beautiful venues, explained how they choose their summer play.

Planning outdoor summer shows is a different beast to putting on a play in a more traditional theatre space. For one thing, it is very important to choose the right play. Throughout the year there are many opportunities to delve into gritty, psychological plays, (their first ever studio play was Look Back in Anger) but this isn’t the time. The chosen play must be family friendly and able to incorporate a lot of fun. Past productions such as The Ballads of Billy the Kid (a personal favourite for this interviewer) incorporate positive messages without being overtly political. It is a delicate balancing act.

The summer tour is designed to appeal to a different audience. It is common for people to turn up with picnics and a bottle of wine ready to enjoy the evening with family and friends, hoping for humour and happiness as the sun sets. It is one of the rare occasions where you will see 8 and 80 year olds enjoying the same thing. OTG go out of their way to create a joyous, lift you out of yourself, great night out. Thankfully, they always excel. This writer remembers her first OTG show vividly. The sun setting over Kilruddery gardens, the players and props the only things lighting up the night, and a buoyant audience jumping to their feet to applaud.

However, the weather is not always on their side. One danger of outdoor theatre: rain. One goes to an outdoor play with a coat or umbrella in hand, knowing that the weather can always turn. But what is it like for the cast?

As Wray explains, it can be great experience. Unless there are health and safety issues, the weather will not stop them. If it rains they get wet. If the wind picks up, they speak louder. It is great experience for younger cast members who don’t face scenarios like this during their training. They prepare as much as possible, for example by investing in waterproof equipment, but in the end, and weather is something that just has to be dealt with. Something that has been surprising, is the audience response. As the rain comes down it is almost as though the wellspring of positivity from the audience increases. Seeing the players out there giving it their all, the audience often cheer and applaud, the rain becoming a part of the experience. As they say, the show must go on.

The summer tour takes in a wide variety of venues. This year has included St Luke’s Bombed Out Church, Gordale Garden Centre, Gawthorpe Hall, and Bantry House. Performing in different venues can raise challenges. Each place is different and they must be prepared to make changes for each venue. For example, the theatre space at Kilruddery Gardens is relatively small, with only one entrance exit. In addition, the audience are on three sides and it is important that one side doesn’t feel left out. However, the more the challenges, the more creativity it inspires. Wray explains that the changes make it interesting for the players; the nerves start to come back and they can enjoy each show in a new way. Experiencing it almost like it is the first time keeps the show really fizzing and this energy is felt by the audience. The summer tour is a different beast to performing each night in the same theatre space and no one takes for granted the privilege of performing in such stunning and unusual performance spaces.

OTG are committed to opening up theatre to younger audiences, especially those who might otherwise miss out. They have an innovative youth theatre branch which includes established members providing workshops to the young people of north west England. Further to this affordability ensures that a diverse audience come out each time. They are dedicated to offering under 21 tickets, and to showing that good quality theatre doesn’t have to cost the earth (take note west end musicals). The success of this can be seen both in the wide age range of the audience members, and also in the diverse cast. It is unfortunately rare to see such a mix of ages on stage in the one production. Wray is an example of OTG’s commitment to encouraging young people into theatre. Like many others he started out in the youth theatre, taking part in weekend and evening workshops, before graduating to the main theatre where he is often seen in the lead. Now also a writer and director, the other year he had the surreal experience of seeing his play Zorro touring across the UK and Ireland.

Much Ado About Nothing has proved to be very popular making this year’s summer tour another sell out success. A play about love, chaos, gossip, comedy, with a happy ending, it had all the ingredients needed to create a good night out for all. The action has been moved to the immediate aftermath of World War Two. Emotions are heightened as friends, lovers, and family members are reunited after such a long time apart. The excitement and fun of a VE day celebration carries through to the rest of the play until calamity strikes and the wedding falls apart. Excellent costume design and staging ensured that the play was both appealing and accessible; something that anyone could enjoy. As the ending approached, and our lovers were back on track, the audience were able to share in their happiness as a happy ending is celebrated by all.

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The Reviews Hub - Ireland

The Ireland team is currently under the editorship of Laura Marriott. The Reviews Hub was set up in 2007. Our mission is to provide the most in-depth, nationwide arts coverage online.

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