Cardiff University Drama Society continues its season of main productions with Arcadia. The well-loved classic by Tom Stoppard, who is often hailed as BritainÔÇÖs greatest living playwright, is regarded as his ÔÇÿmasterpieceÔÇÖ.
The production will be running this week at Llanover Hall Arts Centre in Canton, from Wednesday 26 February to Saturday 1 March.
The plot is set in two time periods, the modern day and the early nineteenth century, and centres around two sparring modern academics as they try (and fail) to find out what happened in Sidley Park during a visit by the poet Lord Byron in 1809. The true story of the Regency occupants unfolds alongside the discoveries of their twenty-first century counterparts.
StoppardÔÇÖs amusing and absorbing play takes us back and forth between the centuries and explores the nature of truth and time, the difference between Classical and Romantic temperament and the disruptive influence of sex on our lives ÔÇô ÔÇÿthe attraction which Newton left outÔÇÖ.
Arcadia recently came fourth in a poll commissioned by the English Touring Theatre, with more than 7,000 theatregoers voting in the online poll. The Top Ten featured modern plays, such as Arcadia, sitting alongside established classics such as Oscar WildeÔÇÖs The Importance of Being Earnest.
A regional analysis of the poll revealed that voters in Wales preferred Arcadia, which bodes well for this Cardiff production!
The play was cast at the beginning of the Academic year in October, and comprises of twelve students – postgraduate and undergraduate – ranging across a variety of schools and colleges.
Director, third year English Literature student Charlotte Tigwell, commented:
ÔÇ£It has been a great journey shared with a hardworking cast so keen on engaging with this difficult, yet rewarding, text. IÔÇÖm very excited that many more people will now get to enjoy this modern classic.ÔÇØ
The cast and crew have committed to a demanding rehearsal schedule alongside their studies, with Vice President and Leading Lady Lizzie Fitzpatrick adding:
ÔÇ£Not only have we refined our acting and developed an understanding of StoppardÔÇÖs unique writing style; we have also learned to waltz and Final Year Music student, Andy Hawkins, has even composed an original score for the final scene.ÔÇØ
Arcadia will be performed at Llanover Hall Arts Centre in Canton from Wednesday 26 February to Saturday 1 March. Tickets will be available in cash or card on the door (subject to availability), or online at cardiffstudents.com/actone. Keep up to date on the activity by following the production on Twitter: @ActOne_Arcadia.
Lisa Childs
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