I Went to the Theatre in London

Yesterday I was at the theatre in London for the first time and I don’t know whether I am happy that it was a home-like experience or I am proud of the theatre and audience from Baia Mare.

Royal Court

On Bear Ridge by Ed Thomas

(more details can be found here https://royalcourttheatre.com/whats-on/onbearridge/)

In short, the play presents the last three people from Bear Ridge - a ghost town - and a captain/soldier who arrives at their store’s door by mistake. From here on all kinds of subjects are invoked - belonging to one place, love, death, life, time and, probably the most interesting, the old language. This thing about the old language is full of meanings and interpretations because, on one hand, it’s the technology that replaced animal labour during the Industrial Revolution (and now it replaces the human itself), on the other hand, it could be Welsh, the changes of society during times of war and even memories. The world is in a crisis because no one knows the old language anymore. Those who knew were killed or they have forgotten it, as we find out somewhere close to the end.

The set? Absolutely wonderful! In the beginning, there was a house on the stage, then one wall disappeared, two, three until we remained between cliffs. And it was snowing. The most effective… effect.

From subject to aspect and now I will tell you about the theatre itself. London theatre, Royal Court, not some obscure theatre at the corner of some street, I was expecting a huge hall and seats so far I will barely be able to see on stage. When I entered the small and cosy room in which even the last row was close to the stage I instantly felt that London is more homely than I thought. I sat somewhere on the fifth row and I felt as if the actors were right next to me. Okay, I have to admit that the connection they indirectly created with the audience was also extraordinary.

Also, the audience is part of Preconceptions about London theatre category. I got dressed normally, the way I was used to dress when going to the theatre. No heels, no fancy clothes or others, although a little part of me was saying that maybe I could be a little fancier. Good, I didn’t listen to it! No one, no one was dressed for a wedding, not even one lady with her Sunday fur or sparkling blouse. As if we had a telepathic agreement that daily clothes are fine. Honestly, I think that if the audience is in accord, some kind of collective brain is formed and everyone laughs and applauds and flinches at the same time. This happens a lot at home, at the theatre, but we still have to work a bit until going to the theatre is an activity perfectly integrated into our daily life and we won’t feel that we need to go out of our way when we go to the theatre. I spoke about this a while ago. The article is here, but for now, it is only in Romanian.

You have no idea how happy I am when Baia Mare and London collide. If Teatrul Municipal Baia Mare is comparable to Royal Court, I’d say my little town is quite fine.