Shakespeare at Sunset
The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) is a global leader in its field. For over 20 years, RADA Business has translated this excellence to the business arena, transforming the workplace performance of individuals, teams and organisations around the world.
RADA Business welcomed their clients to experience the world of Shakespeare at an exclusive event with dynamic performances from their acting alumni including scenes from A Midsummer’s Night’s Dream and Julius Caesar.
Setting the scene
Stationers’ Hall is a historic venue which formed the perfect setting for his event, with guests able to visit the archive to view original documents from the time of the First Folio’s publication. The beautiful courtyard garden provided many ideal staging moments for performances with the iconic plane tree at its centre.
Planted in 1835, the plane trees of London were reported to be the “lungs of the city” – they have a unique bark that acts like an air filter, literally cleansing the air around them.
It’s all in the details
Part of our collaboration on this project was to bring the world of Shakespeare to life, incorporating all the senses in the theming and production, and working with the venue and client, to provide those moments of wonder and surprise.
To welcome attendees into the live event, guests walked through a hidden entrance into the garden, where our team used projection in the vaulted tunnel to create an immersive experience at the start of the evening. A series of sonnets were recreated as a kinetic projection — animating as written text onto the walls with the spoken words being played through concealed speakers, synced to the animation.
The garden was transformed into the‘Forest of Arden’ with romantic festoon lighting and love notes among the trees. Guests were encouraged to help themselves to the love notes that were printed on seed paper that could be planted at home as a sustainable giveaway.
A bespoke menu was created by Searcy’s, with every dish inspired by quotes from Shakespeare’s plays including an‘O that brave Caesar’ salad and ‘Tis an ill cook that cannot lick his own fingers’!
Performances moved through the crowds to make full use of the garden. Broadsword’s sound set-up enabled this movement, freeing actors to really enjoy the full space whilst ensuring all dialogue was clearly heard by the audience.
Throughout the night, actors performed among the guests and led them around the venue from canapés in the garden to a central stage in the Court Room where speeches were given to thank clients and end the night with a“cheers to Shakespeare”!