IN LONDON NOW

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 31 December 1940, Page 6

IN LONDON NOW

LUNCH-TIME SHAKESPEARE "REPRESENTS THE FIGHfING SPIRIT" (From a Special Correspondent) LONDON, 2nd November. Lunch-time Shakespeare, the boldest experiment of London’s war-time theatre and an outstanding success from the start, was the idea of Donald Wolfit, 38-year-old actor-manager. He wanted to put on a programme either so excitinj nr so amusing that it would make his audience forget war. Every day at the Strand Theatre he and a small cast of nine or ten players give a lunch hour show. They play three scenes, sing a few songs, and recite a sonnet or two. all from Shakespeare. Both prices and salaries are the lowest ever known at a London theatre. Even the front row stalls cost omy Is, because the West End actors and actresses are giving their services in return for a nominal expenses fee Thev work under difficulties backstage. Bombs have destroyed the dressingrooms. blown away costumes, and covered the stage kr.eedeep in debris. “ T scenes from Shakespeare because T thought they were the right enlertainment for the lives people are living in London now.” said Mr Wolfit this week. Shakespeare represents more than anything else the fighting spirit of our country. Only the best-is good enough for people who are striving and enduring as Londoners are to-day. On the way in our audiences buy sausages and sandwiches and coffee. They eat and drink during the show as did Shakespeare’s Elizabethan audiences

“You realise th<sy could not possibly concentrate on a long performance even if they had the time, but for the one hour they are here they forget everything but the stage They do not even rattle their cups, and they and clap tremendously. Sirens or even a time bomb exploding do not distract their attention.”