:00:00. > :00:09.A chilly February morning in Stratford upon Avon,
:00:10. > :00:11.and in just eight hours' tile, six amateur actors from the Black
:00:12. > :00:16.Country will be making their debut at the Royal Shakespeare Thdatre,
:00:17. > :00:19.one of the most famous stages in the world.
:00:20. > :00:26.The most lamentable comedy `nd most cruel death of Pyramus and Thisby!
:00:27. > :00:29.They'll be performing A Midsummer Night's Dream,
:00:30. > :00:31.one of Shakespeare's most loved comedies.
:00:32. > :00:34.Oh Night! Alack Alack!
:00:35. > :00:39.But there's something uniqud about this production.
:00:40. > :00:41.As the play tours the country, in each venue, some
:00:42. > :00:45.My mistress with a monster is in love!
:00:46. > :00:47...Including the famous role of Bottom -
:00:48. > :00:49.When my cue comes, call me, and I will
:00:50. > :00:52.answer: my next is, 'Most fair Pyramus.' Heigh-ho!
:00:53. > :00:54.Will be played by different, local amateur actors...
:00:55. > :00:57.Ra-a-a! Uh!
:00:58. > :01:01...Who'll appear onstage alongside professionals.
:01:02. > :01:08.What did you say he does? Is a he a pub landlord?
:01:09. > :01:14.Acting is about movement. About grace and timing.
:01:15. > :01:16.On stage, actors enter new worlds, explore emotions
:01:17. > :01:20.And when it comes to theatrd, some say nobody does it better
:01:21. > :01:29.than the Royal Shakespeare Company, based in Stratford upon Avon.
:01:30. > :01:32.The greatest classical theatre company in the world
:01:33. > :01:35.I think this might be the bdst theatre in the country, yeah.
:01:36. > :01:38.2016 is a huge year for the RSC - it's the 400 year anniversary
:01:39. > :01:40.of Shakespeare's death - and this production
:01:41. > :01:52.Probably one of the most colplicated things the RSC has ever dond...
:01:53. > :01:55.It's always hard touring a production.
:01:56. > :01:57.You guys have been rehearsing the play for a long time
:01:58. > :02:01.But it's even harder when you have different actors in each venue.
:02:02. > :02:03.We will have 84 amateur actors from around the UK in 12 different
:02:04. > :02:09.productions alongside the s`me cast of 18 professional actors.
:02:10. > :02:11.No pressure there - you're auditioning for the RSC.
:02:12. > :02:14.With unprecedented access, this programme will show just how
:02:15. > :02:20.hard it can be to find The Best Bottoms in the Land.
:02:21. > :02:32.A Midsummer Night's Dream whll be the RSC's flagship production
:02:33. > :02:37.After a spell at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford -
:02:38. > :02:39.the home of the RSC - the production will tour
:02:40. > :02:45.The person charged with this gargantuan task is Erica Whxman
:02:46. > :02:50.Well, it was a collaborativd idea in the sense that I wasn't
:02:51. > :02:53.in the meeting where we dechded to do this, which is probably
:02:54. > :02:58.A Midsummer Night's Dream is one of Shakespeare's best loved comedies
:02:59. > :03:03.and Erica knows the pressurd is on her to deliver a hit.
:03:04. > :03:05.My reputation is definitely on the line because, meanwhhle,
:03:06. > :03:13.it's got to be the finest production the RSC can possibly deliver.
:03:14. > :03:15.With so many different actors to cast and oversee,
:03:16. > :03:19.12 venues around the countrx to visit and a production l`sting
:03:20. > :03:28.five months, Erica's certainly got her work cut out.
:03:29. > :03:30.It's 14 different companies she's got to work with
:03:31. > :03:35.Without even the amateur eldment, it's a very big and difficult job.
:03:36. > :03:38.A Midsummer Night's Dream is a play about four lovers,
:03:39. > :03:45.a group of amateur actors and some mischievous and magical fairies
:03:46. > :03:47.In the play, the amateur actors are all tradesmen - known
:03:48. > :03:52.as the Rude Mechanicals - and their star performer is Bottom.
:03:53. > :03:55.They've decided to stage a play for the King of Athens' wedding
:03:56. > :03:57.but, whilst rehearsing, one of the fairies transforls
:03:58. > :04:06.Bottom is one of Shakespeard's best loved parts.
:04:07. > :04:08.He is the amateur actor who wants to play every part,
:04:09. > :04:14.from the lion to the female to the romantic lead.
:04:15. > :04:18.So, finding amateur actors tp to the task won't be easy.
:04:19. > :04:21.I suppose the really daunting thing is we have no idea
:04:22. > :04:26.what the challenge is going to be until we get into the room
:04:27. > :04:30.We might have companies who've done a lot of Shakespeare,
:04:31. > :04:34.And then we come in and say we want to do it differentlx -
:04:35. > :04:38.I might find lots of brilli`nt actors who I'd love to work
:04:39. > :04:41.with but no one who could play Bottom or Quince,
:04:42. > :04:45.who are the leading roles in that group.
:04:46. > :04:53.It's March 2015 and the search for the Best Bottoms
:04:54. > :04:59.Amateur companies made up of six actors and a director have been
:05:00. > :05:03.invited to auditions throughout the UK.
:05:04. > :05:06.And shivering shocks Shall break the locks!
:05:07. > :05:11.Bottom, a weaver by trade, is supremely confident.
:05:12. > :05:14.Ready! Name which part I'm for and proceed.
:05:15. > :05:22.So, Erica will be looking for someone who can own the stage.
:05:23. > :05:25.You can tell already, lots of experience, and a confidencd.
:05:26. > :05:31.You will find that there will be people who will come and have really
:05:32. > :05:34.prepared something and it'll be slick and polished.
:05:35. > :05:37.And then there'll be other groups who come with something a bht
:05:38. > :05:47.rougher but that has an amazing energy to it.
:05:48. > :05:50.We're a bit more likely to go for the rough and ready grotp.
:05:51. > :06:01.For the amateurs, it's an incredible chance to work
:06:02. > :06:07.For Erica and her team, it's a chance to see what they've
:06:08. > :06:18.We do not come here minding to content you!
:06:19. > :06:21.With Bernard we tried just dnriching some of the choices.
:06:22. > :06:25.So, if you're in the red group, you're going to Room three to do
:06:26. > :06:29.voice and text with the legdndary Michael Corbage.
:06:30. > :06:31.As well as performing in front of the producers,
:06:32. > :06:33.the hopeful amateurs are put through a series of carefully
:06:34. > :06:43.The three workshops tell me different things - movement tells me
:06:44. > :06:46.if they're generally fit and most importantly whether they can play.
:06:47. > :06:49.Whether they're able to losd because that's an important skill
:06:50. > :06:51.in the rehearsal room - to be able to cope with failure
:06:52. > :06:56.The acting workshop I suppose tells me how well
:06:57. > :07:01.And how quickly can they take instruction.
:07:02. > :07:04.I got some really nice honex from that local shop.
:07:05. > :07:07.And the voice and text workshop we learn a lot
:07:08. > :07:10.from because we hear their voices but we also see them really engage
:07:11. > :07:12.an audience and play right round a circle.
:07:13. > :07:18.So to be able to be aware of everywhere the audience hs.
:07:19. > :07:23.Erica has to cast amateur companies from all over the country,
:07:24. > :07:26.but she needs one from the West Midlands to star in Stratford.
:07:27. > :07:30.And a group from the Black Country has caught her eye.
:07:31. > :07:36.You must name his name and half his face...
:07:37. > :07:40.I want to be the best Bottol I can be - but so will all the others
:07:41. > :07:42.I'm hoping they'll like the Birmingham accent.
:07:43. > :07:45.That it makes it a positive experience for everyone who's
:07:46. > :07:48.thinking, "Ooh, it's West Midlands..." We shall see!
:07:49. > :07:56.Over several weeks, the amateur companies are whittled down.
:07:57. > :08:03.And it seems that Erica approves of the regional accents.
:08:04. > :08:05.The Nonentities - a Kidderminster group of am`teurs -
:08:06. > :08:09.will have the honour of opening the whole production.
:08:10. > :08:15.Write me a prologue; and let the prologue seem to say...
:08:16. > :08:17.The Nonentities are a really gorgeous group.
:08:18. > :08:20.They feel to me what Shakespeare might have imagined -
:08:21. > :08:23.you get a very strong sense of place and the place that Shakespe`re grew
:08:24. > :08:26.The star of The Nonentities is Birmingham-born Chris Cl`rke
:08:27. > :08:32.drama teacher by day, murder mystery actor by night.
:08:33. > :08:37.He'll be playing the lead role of Bottom.
:08:38. > :08:40.We want to give the audiencd and the team the best show we can.
:08:41. > :08:45.I want to be the best Bottol I can be - for the group and for the RSC,
:08:46. > :08:47.basically - because they've put a lot of faith in us,
:08:48. > :08:51.The beating heart of The Nonentities is husband and wife
:08:52. > :08:56.Stephen and Sue Downing - funeral directors by trade.
:08:57. > :08:58.Stephen's been appointed associate director and will act as a point
:08:59. > :09:05.It is an absolute privilege to have been selected to be part
:09:06. > :09:10.For amateurs, no matter how talented, they never get to work
:09:11. > :09:20.Sue is playing the part of Puince - one of the most important roles
:09:21. > :09:25.And for a while you can forget about it, going
:09:26. > :09:32.And then you realise - something really special
:09:33. > :09:38.And that's how it feels - a dream come true.
:09:39. > :09:40.The rest of the group is made up of Simon,
:09:41. > :09:42.a drama student, Andy, an engineer, Alex, a graphic
:09:43. > :09:45.designer - and Patrick - now retired but a true veteran
:09:46. > :09:53.I'm up to about 130 plays that I've taken part in,
:09:54. > :09:57.just as well I've written them down because I couldn't
:09:58. > :10:03.When The Nonentities open the whole production
:10:04. > :10:06.at the Royal Shakespeare Thdatre in Stratford, it'll be a far cry
:10:07. > :10:13.from appearing in their homd theatre, The Rose, in Kidderminster.
:10:14. > :10:16.Having to rely completely on yourself to not screw it up!
:10:17. > :10:19.I do wake up in a cold sweat sometimes.
:10:20. > :10:28.I'll be bricking it, I suppose, is the best thing I can say...
:10:29. > :10:31.This is my first ever red c`rpet - and where to find it,
:10:32. > :10:41.It's still too soon to start rehearsing but Erica's arranged
:10:42. > :10:43.for the RSC's renowned voicd coach, Michael Corbage, to pay
:10:44. > :10:50.We want that sense of freedom in the body because we want
:10:51. > :10:52.to maximise the rib-lift and this idea of the diaphragm drop.
:10:53. > :10:59.She's also setting them a series of tasks to work
:11:00. > :11:05.Mainly, they're giving us work to do together,
:11:06. > :11:07.so we work as a team, and as actors you work as a team anyway.
:11:08. > :11:18.And this is one family that's going to have to learn to d`nce -
:11:19. > :11:22.Erica's asked them to choreograph and perform a routine.
:11:23. > :11:30.So, can I please ask you to take great care and have a stretch?
:11:31. > :11:33.It might look like fun but there is a reason.
:11:34. > :11:35.A Midsummer Night's Dream h`s a dance scene involving
:11:36. > :11:40.Dancing can cause even experienced actors concerns,
:11:41. > :11:43.and Erica needs to know if `ny of the amateurs are
:11:44. > :11:50.There is one member of the group who particularly seems
:11:51. > :11:52.afraid of the dancing. Young Patrick.
:11:53. > :12:10.Yes, Patrick really didn't dnjoy the dancing but I think he did
:12:11. > :12:16.His little solo dance piece was hilarious.
:12:17. > :12:19.No, it was good to just get on with it.
:12:20. > :12:22.I think five minutes would have been worse - but just getting
:12:23. > :12:30.With the dancing over, it's time to talk Shakespeare.
:12:31. > :12:36.Certainly, growing up I was never really introduced to Shakespeare.
:12:37. > :12:44.My worry is knowing how to perform in the space and on the RSC stage.
:12:45. > :12:47.Because it's going to be stdep learning curve for us to adhere
:12:48. > :13:01.I think they can definitely overcome their relationship
:13:02. > :13:06.They're really giving it their attention.
:13:07. > :13:09.I think the tools we use as a professional actor - wd just
:13:10. > :13:12.use that in an accelerated way and they are getting
:13:13. > :13:17.We won't get into the space until closer to the time,
:13:18. > :13:22.so we can talk about it but they won't know what we really
:13:23. > :13:25.mean until they get that opportunity and it'll be quite late in the day.
:13:26. > :13:30.Erica's particularly keen to work with Chris, as the leading lan,
:13:31. > :13:33.and asks him to perform somd King Lear.
:13:34. > :13:36.Weak and despised old man! Singe my white head!
:13:37. > :13:44.Brilliant. Very good.
:13:45. > :13:46.Glorious and enormous and ridiculous.
:13:47. > :13:51.That's the brilliance of it all - because having that
:13:52. > :13:54.direction is great...Sorry, my voice is just...
:13:55. > :14:01.I tell you why your voice is sore - and Michael will be cross whth you -
:14:02. > :14:05.there was a lot of tension, here, when you were yelling.
:14:06. > :14:11.So the trick is, it's not e`sy, is to have all that tension.
:14:12. > :14:14.But NOT where it's going to affect your voice.
:14:15. > :14:16.You can't have tension in your shoulders.
:14:17. > :14:23.I don't want your voice going the first time you do
:14:24. > :14:26.I guess it is something that a professional actor would be
:14:27. > :14:30.That if they really go for a speech like that,
:14:31. > :14:36.And doing it in a public sp`ce will make him start to think
:14:37. > :14:45.But I think getting carried away is a risk for a lot of our `mateurs.
:14:46. > :14:47.Giving it their all is not always the best thing.
:14:48. > :14:50.Because if you put your bodx or voice at risk, you won't
:14:51. > :15:03.You guys have been stretched and asked to think.
:15:04. > :15:05.Those of you under the microscope particularly.
:15:06. > :15:07.Very often in the amateur world it's just case of learning
:15:08. > :15:12.Acting isn't just about learning your lines though, especially
:15:13. > :15:14.if you're playing Bottom and your head gets turned
:15:15. > :15:17.into a donkey's, by a fairy, half way through the play.
:15:18. > :15:19.All the best method actors, including Robert de Niro,
:15:20. > :15:27.So if he is playing a homeldss person, he'll live homeless for a
:15:28. > :15:32.So I thought I ought to meet some donkeys.
:15:33. > :15:41.Coming out and doing this is great anyway. It gives you a sensd of what
:15:42. > :15:44.you are playing. I think soletimes you forget. They can just stick a
:15:45. > :15:52.head on me and beard donkey. I think if you do those little
:15:53. > :15:55.tricks, it's more fun Far past the wit of any
:15:56. > :16:05.man to see what my Methought I had, but there hs no man
:16:06. > :16:14.can tell me what my dream w`s. December 2015 and Christmas
:16:15. > :16:18.is approaching... And the RSC is focussing its full
:16:19. > :16:28.might on the production. These make it look romantic
:16:29. > :16:35.and magical and as it should be I wanted to set it in the l`te 940s
:16:36. > :16:38.to get a sense of a place With a staff of around 1000
:16:39. > :16:57.at the RSC, it's a real teal effort producing a play and there's even
:16:58. > :17:00.a dedicated donkeys' ears m`ker Meanwhile, in Kidderminster,
:17:01. > :17:03.the Nonentities need to makd sure they know their lines,
:17:04. > :17:08.because once Christmas is over, there'll be no time
:17:09. > :17:12.for tea and biscuits. There are now six weeks
:17:13. > :17:15.until opening night and it's time for the professional
:17:16. > :17:19.cast to come on board. No night is now with
:17:20. > :17:21.hymn or carol blessed. Therefore the moon, governess
:17:22. > :17:24.of floods, pale in her anger... Instantly, Erica is
:17:25. > :17:28.on more familiar ground. It does feel lovely to be
:17:29. > :17:40.in a room with people They can cope with the technical
:17:41. > :17:42.things I get them. It feels easier because I'm not having to worry
:17:43. > :18:00.about making them afraid. pros up to speed, in Kidderlinster,
:18:01. > :18:03.the amateurs are busy In this same interlude,
:18:04. > :18:09.it does befall... At times it does feel like laybe
:18:10. > :18:11.we're not getting complete attention but I thhnk
:18:12. > :18:14.we just have to trust that, eventually, at the right tile,
:18:15. > :18:17.they'll tell us what to do `nd it'll With just three weeks
:18:18. > :18:23.until opening night, Erica arrives in Kidderminster
:18:24. > :18:25.to lead a much-needed We are really getting our h`nds
:18:26. > :18:42.dirty. The amateurs put on a good
:18:43. > :18:57.show, but there's one There is a lovely facility with it
:18:58. > :19:02.My biggest concern is their confidence.
:19:03. > :19:04.They've got a real gift for it and there is something
:19:05. > :19:07.about the accents, so I havd a lot faith that they understand
:19:08. > :19:17.I've got faith that they sotnd great speaking these words he just had to
:19:18. > :19:20.believe it. -- I just have to believe it.
:19:21. > :19:22.The Nonentities have been summoned to Stratford.
:19:23. > :19:24.As the amateur with the biggest part Chris is whisked straight into
:19:25. > :19:33.I think I'm going to be in that piano in a minute.
:19:34. > :19:38.Not only will he have valuable time with the professionals,
:19:39. > :19:40.he'll also be trying on the
:19:41. > :19:59.They might be big ears, but Chris can't hear through them.
:20:00. > :20:03.While Chris is rehearsing, Sue and Alex are fitted for costumes.
:20:04. > :20:07.Never let it be said that A Midsummer Night's Dream
:20:08. > :20:20.I haven't got the right sizd bra, so I'm going to fit you with some cups.
:20:21. > :20:25.Just got to go for it and take it on the chin.
:20:26. > :20:29.For Andy and Simon, it's a far cry from the Rose in Kidderminster.
:20:30. > :20:41.Sure they won't mind you saying that.
:20:42. > :20:47.And Patrick's enjoying the perks of professional theatre too.
:20:48. > :21:04.And, after months of wonderhng and worrying, the Nonentitids
:21:05. > :21:20.So different to anything I've performed on before.
:21:21. > :21:32.Yeah, it's very different to be using a thrust stage like this.
:21:33. > :21:36.It's a bit of a concern. Hitting your marks on this stage is a bit of
:21:37. > :21:40.a worry. The enormity of what we've taken
:21:41. > :21:42.on is constantly with me The final few days are made up
:21:43. > :21:46.of 'technical rehearsals'. They're crucial to the succdss of
:21:47. > :21:49.the production, and they take time. The time you're not on stagd,
:21:50. > :21:54.the adrenalin drops. Even just sitting around
:21:55. > :22:08.watching bits of tech The big contrast as amateurs,
:22:09. > :22:16.we don't have the luxury If somebody misses something, you
:22:17. > :22:30.just say, come on a bit quicker Here, they change the whole thing
:22:31. > :22:43.and stop 30 people moving jtst It looks like the non-entithes will
:22:44. > :22:49.not get a dress rehearsal bdfore opening night and they are still
:22:50. > :22:53.being put through their pacds. Constantly tweaking. Constantly
:22:54. > :22:59.seeking to improve and fix things. I'm trying to work out how lany
:23:00. > :23:01.hours it is before we go on. I think it's about seeing the moment we have
:23:02. > :23:04.to manage. She never feels she's
:23:05. > :23:09.had enough rehearsals. I think they do that on purpose
:23:10. > :23:15.to keep us all on the ball. I'm not keen on too many
:23:16. > :23:20.deep vom movements. Of course, as amateurs,
:23:21. > :23:29.we're not used to that. We have a couple of dress
:23:30. > :23:31.rehearsals. Their anxiety levels have gone up,
:23:32. > :23:41.but I think a few, Chris included, are starting to get a littld tense
:23:42. > :23:48.and tight, and that's not great for their parts they're plaxing
:23:49. > :23:58.so I'm a bit worried about them I think the biggest thing is,
:23:59. > :24:01.are the audience going We hope they're going to like our
:24:02. > :24:07.Birmingham creations. It may be opening night,
:24:08. > :24:15.but not everyone's nervous. At the moment, I'm just thinking
:24:16. > :24:18.about my dinner because I'm hungry! As the actors wait for their calls,
:24:19. > :24:21.the audience arrives. The play finally begins,
:24:22. > :24:41.but with twenty minutes before they're on stage, it's a nervous
:24:42. > :24:54.wait for the amateurs. I guess I feel a terrific
:24:55. > :24:58.responsibility not just the amateurs but to the professionals, I'm hoping
:24:59. > :25:04.I'd left them in a place whdre they are safe in front of the audience.
:25:05. > :25:05.So yes, it's pretty nerve wracking watching it!
:25:06. > :25:07.The Rude Mechanicals, and Bottom in particular,
:25:08. > :25:11.provide much of the play's comedy, but it seems at first that the
:25:12. > :25:29.I think he was a little bit slow in his first scene.
:25:30. > :25:33.You Nick Bottom are set down for Pyramus.
:25:34. > :25:36.His brain was going ten to the dozen but he started
:25:37. > :25:59.But just when it's all going well for the Nonentities,
:26:00. > :26:02.there's nearly a disaster when Sue and Patrick miss their cue
:26:03. > :26:13.There was a horrible hiatus and I couldn't believe it.
:26:14. > :26:18.It was one of the cues we were rehearsing this aftdrnoon,
:26:19. > :26:33.Bottom is out! Has he come home yet? He's transported!
:26:34. > :26:36.We didn't realise that when you're in the wings,
:26:37. > :26:38.you can't hear the summons, as it were, so you're just looking
:26:39. > :26:41.at the screen and you can't hear directly anything
:26:42. > :26:43.and you just have to work out...
:26:44. > :26:48.In our theatre, someone would have pushed you on because a stage
:26:49. > :27:00.When you get in the wings, it's very hard to know exactly
:27:01. > :27:11.You'll remember it all right next time.
:27:12. > :27:14.But, like true pros, the Nonentities put the blip behind them and,
:27:15. > :27:18.when it's time to perform their most famous scene, the play
:27:19. > :27:37.for the Duke of Athens, they deliver a rousing performance.
:27:38. > :27:58.I started to trust that it was going to be alright but you're always
:27:59. > :28:12.It's just amazing - you can't put it into words.
:28:13. > :28:17.We started to feel emotional when we realised we had our
:28:18. > :28:29.It was an extraordinary night and I think the Nonentities really
:28:30. > :28:32.won us over and I think to hear that laughter at the end
:28:33. > :28:35.I look forward to seeing thdm do it again because I think they'll relax,
:28:36. > :28:41.and by the end of the show they were really going for ht.
:28:42. > :28:45.The Nonentities performed at Stratford for another three weeks.