All's Well That Ends Well shows strong women winning the battle of the sexes set against the backdrop of World War II.
YAT is based in South West London and we provide an opportunity, free of charge, for any young person, aged between 16 and 25, to acquire or enhance their acting and theatrical skills through on-stage performances. Now in its 45th year, we have produced over 130 major productions.
Tell us about your show
All's Well That Ends Well shows strong women winning the war of the sexes as they use wit and wisdom against foolish and frivolous men. It is a play focused on war so when thinking about themes and aesthetic for the show a backdrop of the Second World War appeared perfect. This is an abridged production and fast-paced so perfect for the Fringe!
Why did you decide to take your show to Space UK this year?
We have previously worked with The Space in 2011 and 2013 so it was a natural choice for us. The venue is perfectly located close to the mile and the technical crew are fantastic.
What are you most looking forward to at this year’s festival?
The atmosphere! Performing on the Fringe is an exhilarating experience, it is also extremely immersive and it is great having theatre, culture and performance literally everywhere you go. When we have visited before and seen work by particular companies we know we will see them again when we return. Showstoppers the Musical has been a show we see en masse every time!
What has been the biggest challenge in getting your show ready for Edinburgh?
As a community theatre company everyone involved has day jobs, university or other commitments, sometimes planning rehearsals can be a military operation. It has been inspiring to see the work and talent of the team, it is a true ensemble experience which is completely YAT’s signature style.
How did you create your show?
YAT has been around for many years yet All’s Well has not been tackled before. We were keen to perform and rehearse a Shakespeare play and really analyse the text and themes. The backdrop of war was apparent and we felt the Second World War was a period we could use to create something visually stunning. We also wanted to create a show that showed the themes of war and that Bertram could be seen as ‘proud’ and ‘scornful’ but also as a very young man wanting to run away and prove himself as a soldier. We also loved the themes of women plotting and planning to their own advantage, the 1940’s was a period of liberation for women who were involved in the war effort whilst the men were away.
Can you tell us a bit about your company’s background?
YAT is based in South West London and we provide an opportunity, free of charge, for any young person, aged between 16 and 25, to acquire or enhance their acting and theatrical skills through on-stage performances. Now in its 45th year, we have produced over 130 major productions.
Past members have provided us with valuable testimonials and narratives of how YAT has supported them, not only in their love of the arts but also pastorally. The Hobbit actor Martin Freeman has said "The five years I spent at YAT prepared me for my life as a professional actor... I always say that, great as my drama school was, I basically learned how to act at YAT".
Show Name: All’s Well That Ends Well
Production Company: YAT
Venue: The Space Venue 9
Dates: 17-22 August 2015
Times: 13.35 pm (50 mins)
Twitter Handle: @yat1970
