There’s a fascinating play that is coming on soon at the Reginald Theatre in the Seymour Centre. The work is British playwright Tanya Ronder’s play TABLE.
The play’s title refers to a handcrafted table that was built by a master craftsman Mr Best for his new bride in 1898. The table is passed on from one generation of the Best family to the next generation over the space of some 115 years. As one can imagine a lot of changes take place over this long span of time.
From the time that she first read the play director Kim Hardwick has wanted to stage the work and she is very excited about the upcoming production. “TABLE is an epic piece, epic in time and in emotion. We are witness to many different conversations that take place around the table.”
The play is epic in nature but not in running time. The show runs in two Acts of an hour each. Hardwick went on to say, “Ronder’s play is a beautifully crafted, detailed and richly theatrical work. There are nine cast members who each play multiple characters, playing in all some twenty six characters. The age group of the characters varies from a child of five years of age to a sixty year old adult.”
Hardwick said that a highlight of the production is going to be the music. “There are touching choral songs through the production. They are going to be beautiful to listen to, especially in an intimate venue like the Reginald. As well Nate Edmondson has composed a very atmospheric soundscape for audiences to enjoy.”
The show’s journey is from Lincolnshire in 1898 to South London in 2013. The family in 2013 is thinking of getting rid of the table and finding a new table from IKEA but in the end they change their mind. “The table remains sacred”, Hardwick said.
It sounds like TABLE is going to be a special night in the theatre. Hardwick ended our conversation by saying. “TABLE io going to be an uplifting experience . The play is about redemption, about forgiveness, and there’s plenty to reflect on.”
Tanya Ronder’s TABLE is playing the Reginald Theatre at the Seymour Centre between the 25th July and the 15th August, 2019.
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