Welcome Message

As you may know, this blog started life as a resource aimed at the members and Alumni of Birmingham University's Guild Musical Theatre Group.















Since then, I have realised that a great many artists I know could use a serious resource for discussion and debate of the major issues.















So, I open this network to any and all arts professionals who would like to use it. Over the years, I have seen some awe inspiring performances and productions by a great many talented and high ranking individuals, whose knowledge would be an asset to the artistic community. I invite these individuals and others to come forward, so that their achievements may be celebrated.






If you would like to write articles or make comments on this blog, please let me know. My contact email is on the link. Membership is free, and there are no obligations. Existing members are free to write as and when they want.








Its is also easy to forget, that we don't often have a chance to discuss or to think about the most serious issues affecting the arts. Despite all the progress made by online networks like Facebook and Twitter, there still needs to be a place where opinions can be viewed, and I hope that this will be such a place: a neutral ground, where all are welcome, and where knowledge can be shared.















Artists of all disciplines, I hope that this will assist your development and further networking. May this resource serve you well.















Best Regards,















James Megarry















Founder















Friday 24 August 2012

Et Tu Caesar?



What a birthday it was! When for a present, I was taken to see a production of Julius Caesar at the newly refurbished RSC, it took my expectations to a new level. The powerful play translates perfectly into a conflict set in modern Africa: no doubt inspired by Nelson Mandela's quotations from its most poignant passages. 

The political repercussions of a country in turmoil from the death of a dictator are all the more relevant today, with the deaths of Muammar al-Gaddaffi, Saddam Hussein; and even Osama Bin Laden, fresh in our minds. When Caesar’s statue falls, the cross reference to the iconic felling of Saddam’s statue couldn’t be clearer. Considering the many revolutions in countries throughout the world in the past few years, Shakespeare’s themes of national pride, identity, have lost none of their significance.

Yet it isn’t just the staging and production that made the play for me. The energy and passion of the performances made the characters as raw and timeless as they ever were. I hate to name names, but Paterson Joseph made an excellent Brutus.  He pretty much stole show for me.

Above all, it was great to have seen the play at last. World class performances were given by all. And Brutus was indeed an honourable man.