Shakespeare on the Lawn: Meet Ferdinand, Berowne, Longaville and Dumaine
A certain indicator that it is summer time in School, Year 9’s Shakespeare on the Lawn rehearsals are now in full swing, and as usual we’ll be meeting up with students over the next few weeks, to hear how they’re feeling about their characters and the performance of Love’s Labour’s Lost on 1 and 2 July.
This week we joined rehearsals and met up with Rufus, Seth, Oscar and Albie, who play Ferdinand, Berowne, Longaville and Dumaine respectively.
Ferdinand, King of Navarre, Played by Rufus
Ferdinand, King of Navarre, prefers to hide away and study rather than taking care of his kingdom, hoping to make his realm an intellectual powerhouse. Sharing his century’s opinion of women, he bans them from the court as he thinks they will distract his courtiers from their studies – something he himself is guilty of, particularly when the Princess of France is around!
Rufus shared,
“As the leader of the group including Berowne, Longaville and Dumaine, King Ferdinand is very powerful, and quite keen on demonstrating his authority over and against others, it’s great fun to play him.”
He continued,
“I find it quite funny how, in the play, the men have sworn not to have anything to do with women, to focus on their intellectual progression – and yet that changes very soon after taking that oath!”
Talking about how he feels rehearsals are going so far he said,
“I’m really enjoying working with everyone on the play, rehearsals are great fun – we’re about to go off script soon though and that’s probably my biggest challenge, but I’m going to work hard and memorise my lines!”
Berowne, Played by Seth
A Lord of the court of Navarre, and one of the King’s best friends, Berowne is one of three who agree to the King on his scholarly retreat, although he’s not convinced it will be successful! Berowne has a well-earned international reputation for mockery, and is looked up to by most, including the King himself.
Talking about the character he’s been chosen to play, Seth explained,
“Berowne is obviously in the gang with the King and the other Lords, but he’s definitely more of his own person that the others, knows his own mind and has his own ideas. He doesn’t tend to suck up to the King as much as the others, he stands out for me because of this alone.”
He continued,
“I’m really enjoying playing this character, there’s a lot of ground to cover, lots of expression needed and I’m loving that.”
Sharing his thoughts ahead of performing in July he said,
“There are always a few nerves, especially just before the first performance, but with enough rehearsals and hard work I know it’s going to be really good, and I’m looking forward to performing.”
Longaville, Played by Oscar
Another of the three Lords who join the King of Navarre’s court on his scholarly retreat, Longaville feels that three years without good food or women won’t be so bad – or so long. Another well-regarded Lord, he is blunt in manner and can be sharp-tongued, and also infatuated with Maria to whom he shares a great deal of (terribly bad) love poetry; it seems time away from her might not be as easy as he thought.
Playing the part of Longaville, Oscar shared,
“I’m having lots of fun playing this character, along with Dumaine he’s part of a sort of double act, sucking up to the King and agreeing with almost everything he says, he just wants to be on the King’s good side – always! I was pleased to get this part and so excited to start rehearsals.”
Oscar says he’s always wanted to take part in Shakespeare on the Lawn and said,
“It’s something I’ve always wanted to do, and I’m so excited to be involved this year. I think my only challenge is learning all of the lines, I want to make sure I have them completely nailed so that I can give my best performances in July.”
Dumaine, Played by Albie
The third of the Lords at King of Navarre’s court, Dumaine is a terrible poet, who insists on inflicting his verses on Katherine when he falls for her. Mocking Berowne for falling in love, he’s not the brightest, and feels affected greatly by the fact that the ladies think he and his fellow Lords are merely playing at love.
Playing the character of Dumaine, Albie explained that he’s quite a cheeky chappy,
“He’s definitely one of the Lords that is trying most to please the King, he agrees with everything he says and doesn’t seem to have his own thoughts on anything. Although this play is obviously centuries old we’re playing it as though it was set in the 50s, so it’s much more modern and that makes it easier to play than traditional Shakespeare I think.”
Feeling the same challenge as our other young actors, Albie said,
“The only thing that really worries me is going off script, and I know that’s true for everyone – in this play and possibly every play ever performed – but we’ve plenty of time and I’m loving rehearsals, so hoping to have my lines memorised soon!”
Join us in School on Tuesday 1 and Wednesday 2 July for Love’s Labour’s Lost, tickets will be on sale soon so pop the date in your diary, and we’ll share the link to get those booked as soon as we can.
