where the Stratford theater crowd hangs out
This is the streetside patio at the Dirty Duck, right down the street from the RSC’s Courtyard Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon... and it’s where lots of actors stop by for a pint after the show. There wasn’t a theater crowd the night I took this shot, but a few nights later, the patio was mobbed by a bunch of cast members from the current production of The Merchant of Venice (which I did not see, but I wish I had -- this morning there were several people having breakfast at my B&B who’d seen the show the night before and liked it very much). I didn’t stop by after the performance of Hamlet that I saw, but I might do after Love’s Labour's Lost on Thursday night -- I’m thinking it might be a less of an insane mob scene than the entire area was both before and after Hamlet. Oh, and how’s this for crazy? I got recognized at Hamlet... or after, really, after leaving another nearby pub, when I ran into reader Samantha from Iowa, who had been at the show too and had waited (successfully) around the stage door to get David Tennant to sign her program. That was kinda cool. support
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Sun Sep 28 08, 6:54PM categories: easter eggs maryann buzz permalink 6 pre-Disqus comments Disqus comments tip jarshare
read morerelated· David Tennant’s ‘Hamlet’ tomorrow night on PBS · off to England again · the further adventures of Nigel (Saturday) · Stratford-upon-Avon photo of the day: the Black Swan pub (aka the Dirty Duck) · Stratford-upon-Avon photo of the day: Shakesbear · Stratford-upon-Avon photo of the day: free-range eggs · Stratford-upon-Avon photo of the day: dessert at the Dirty Duck · everything’s topsy-turvy here today · a few last bits of Nigel the Charity Pig · the further adventures of Nigel (Saturday and Sunday) bloggyprevious post: David Tennant as Hamlet (not a review!)... next post: a few random thoughts from England |
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posted by Mimi (Sun Sep 28 08, 8:14PM)
"Might do!" You're turning British on us, Mary Ann. Not that that's a bad thing.
Congrats on your moment of fame! I can't imagine I'd ever recognize you in the real world... your photo is pretty small. Well done Samantha.
posted by Lisa (Sun Sep 28 08, 8:38PM)
LOL I was at the show with Samantha from Iowa (hi, Sam)! The Duck was PACKED afterward but we managed to carve out a place to sit and enjoy a drink. What a fabulous performance it was! I will be at Love's Labour's Lost next week. I'll look forward to your review.
posted by Jan Willem (Mon Sep 29 08, 9:52AM)
For all of you prospective Flick Filosopher spotters: a bigger version of the MAJ picture (plus another one) may be found on the website of photographer David Speranza. Follow the link in the upper right corner and choose "Headshots".
posted by Poly in London (Mon Sep 29 08, 9:58AM)
The Dirty Duck is a lovely country pub and part of the experience of going to Stratford to see an RSC production. It's low key and intimate, and almost inevitably you end up talking to the actors who show up after the performance without fail.
Some of the pleasure of seeing Hamlet this year was that the Courtyard theatre, the space, its location, the surroundings, challenge and defie all the hype. The production was front page news, and subject to so much media coverage, but when you get to Stratford, you find yourself in a small country road, next to a counrty pub, in a unimposing building. The theatre itself, while having capacity for 1000 people, never looks that big. It is warm and perfect in every practical aspect, but also has no artifice, it's all nuts and bolts. Props are visible before and after the performance. The space itself shakes off the hype and focuses the theatrical experience.
posted by ted de stratford (Mon Sep 29 08, 3:56PM)
You should be drinking in the Vintner in sheep st. Saturday around 1.(ish).
The Duck used to be fab but is now a bit of a tourist trap. Ask a stratfordian about the glory days of the Dirty Duck
posted by MaryAnn (Tue Oct 07 08, 10:03PM)
The Duck didn't feel like a tourist trap to me, but I didn't just hang out there: my other local was Barroom on Guild Street, which couldn't be more different from the Duck. I'm not sure if there was a single other non-Stratfordian there any of the several times I was at Barroom. And Harry the bartender is an absolute doll. :->