What you need to know about Brecht in a church

What you need to know about Brecht in a church

17 September, 2012
by: Spoonfed Team

The Theatre Team preview The New Rep Company's take on Caucasian Chalk Circle at St Leonard's Church

The New Rep Company, formed by Cecilia Colby and Mari Cameron in 2010, is putting on Brecht's re-telling of the story of Solomon in a church! Genius. Although this goes against Brecht's ideas about the distancing effect which asserts that his works should be performed in a way that moves away from any obvious interpretation, we can appreciate the challenge that New Rep pose to that with their residency which happens to be in a Church. If they pull it off, there's a lot to celebrate here. 

For one, it's making use of the brilliantly atmospheric St Leonard's Church in Shoreditch, where they are now resident artists. This, Cecilia tells us is the place where Shakespeare reputedly worshipped and where the Burbage family are buried there. But more interesting than its history is its architecture. Not exactly pristine but a little worn, St Leonard's is all the better for it. Particularly for a play like Caucasian Chalk Circle which centres on collectivisation and the notion of working together to make things better.

It is itself a dramatic artefact following the dilemma faced by a judge when two women both claim to be the mother of a child. It's emotionally powerful and intellectually challenging as it looks at love and belonging but also addresses how we divide and use land.  Being a Brecht play, it'll be a task to remove the preachiness, but the setting conveniently means that's not such a big deal. It's easier to take preaching in a Church. Not so much in a theatre. 

New Rep also gives us a chance to step back and appreciate repertory theatre for a moment. As seen in the excellent New Diorama Theatre, when you invite a company into a space not just because they have a hot play on their hands, but because you're interested in their ideas, you get a chance to see more of their repertoire. This model of presenting a collection of work and staying in one place to develop it is fading from London theatre, it's nice to see it highlighted. 

If you're still not convinced, there's always the huge plus that Caucaisian Chalk Circle actually has a happy ending! The existence of compassion in a world full of war gets a big yes from Brecht. 

Caucasian Chalk Circle runs at St Leonard's Church until 30th September


 
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Spoonfed Team