THEATRE The thirty year walk in the park
Louise Bryning on three decades of pioneering promenade productions at the Dukes Theatre in Lancaster
When venturing out on The Dukes walkabout production of Treasure Island this summer, the cast will follow in footsteps first taken 30 years ago. For it was back in 1987 that Lancashire’s only professional producing theatre decided to vacate its building and relocate up the hill to an Edwardian park for the summer.
In doing so, it began a tradition which has lasted three decades and attracted more than 500,000 people, making it the biggest theatrical event of its kind in the UK.
And such is its reputation that last year’s Dukes production of The Hobbit in Williamson Park received the UK Theatre Award for Best Show for Children and Young People.
The 30-year milestone is being marked with a photographic exhibition – 30 x 30 – in The Dukes gallery featuring photographs from the original 1987 production together with behind the scenes shots from the award winning Hobbit show and pictures of preparations for Treasure Island which runs from July 4-August 12.
Director Joe Sumsion said: “Treasure Island is a fantastic story and our version offers an amazing journey for a child – in fact, for anyone – to go on. I think people love the idea of adventure on the high seas and, for us, theatrically, there’s lots of exciting potential.”
And Joe should know as he’s directed more of The Dukes promenade seasons than anyone – eight – and his links to them go back to 1988.
“They’ve been a big part of my life” said Joe, who was The Dukes artistic director from 2008 until last January.
While still a student, he spent his summer as Assistant Stage Manager on As You Like It directed by Johnathan Petherbridge who initiated The Dukes walkabout shows and later took the idea to London Bubble.
Joe was also ASM in 1991 when The Dukes first staged a version of Treasure Island outdoors.
Appearing in that show, as a pirate, was a young Cherylee Houston who now plays Izzy Armstrong in Coronation Street.
An honorary patron of The Dukes, Cherylee describes her experience of appearing in three park shows as amazing.
Cherylee is not the only Dukes Honorary Patron to have fond memories of appearing in the outdoor walkabout season.
Setting the pace in that very first production in 1987 was Andy Serkis who played Lysander in A Midsummer Night’s Dream before going on to big screen success, most famously as Gollum in the Lord of the Rings film series.
“It was a total adventure” said Andy. “I learnt a lot about acting for lm, actually in that experience - relating with a real environment rather than being behind a fourth wall on a stage.“
Christine Mackie, also an honorary patron, and currently appearing in Coronation Street as Dr Gaddas, has four park shows under her belt.
“Many people who would never go to the theatre in a building have a real commitment to these shows. For The Dukes to be able to offer them that opportunity makes it very unusual and a very special,” she said.
While acting in an outdoor promenade production is a challenge, it’s arguably more so for the production team.
Past shows have featured a real horse pulling a gypsy caravan, goats, pigs and sheep, which once made a successful escape!
Puck appeared on a scooter in the very first show and in the 1993 version of Robin Hood, our hero was rescued on a jetski. A more mundane form of transport – a 50-year-old milk oat – is driven about 200 miles around the park in a season, housing the lighting and sound control panels. Williamson Park is on the site of a former quarry so provides plenty of scope for setting scenes in a variety of locations including a lake and the park’s centrepiece – The Ashton Memorial – once described as the grandest monument in England.
For 25 years, Lighting Designer Brent Lees has had the opportunity to create the most beautiful effects which add such a unique atmosphere as the sun goes down on each performance.
“Working on the park show is quite a physical challenge and at the end of the season we all feel pretty exhaust- ed,” said Brent.
However tiring it may be, it hasn’t stopped hundreds of people volunteering to be part of this rare theatrical experience. Over the years, they’ve played in bands, sung in choirs and some of The Dukes Young Actors even perform alongside the professional cast.
The Dukes outdoor walkabout theatre season has made memories for so many people, some of whom have attended every production over those 30 years.
One such is Bernard Gladstone who volunteered on security in 1987 and went on to become the theatre’s honorary archivist.
“A Midsummer Night’s Dream in 1987 was something entirely new and it was magic” said Bernard. “The scene I remember best was the one where Puck came roaring up the hill on a scooter and I thought, this is going to be unusual!”
So as The Dukes celebrates 30 years of creating magical memories, perhaps the last word should go to Puck who was played by Bev Willis. “It was a stunning company to be part of, all those amazing people doing so many different jobs, who began what is now a fantastic Lancastrian occasion.”