In the first of a series of discussions on the historical uses and abuses of myth, By Jovian classicist Alexander Woodward takes a look at the tragedies and comedies of ancient Greece. Welcome to By Jove Theatre – we turn myths into plays relevant for our contemporaries. I’m Woody. Hello. I am one of By Jove’s resident Classicists, a role which chiefly involves providing cultural and historical background to the ancient myths and feeling Read more
So, gay men and lesbians may soon be able to be married in the UK. What’s all the fuss about? By Jove co-founder Lauren Green looks at some of thearguments against same-sex marriage, and is a little stumped by what she finds… As a gay person, I can’t understand why gay marriage is still illegal in many countries. This seems a fairly obvious statement, given that I would naturally be extremely biased on the matter, but Read more
I should probably introduce myself first. I’m Woody, I’m By Jove’s most bearded member. Every young artistic collective needs at least one unequivocal beard and I’m ours. To give you a bit of an idea, I look like a Pokémon that might one day evolve into Brian Blessed. Good, that’s that sorted. Hello. How are you? I’m fine, thank you for asking. It’s always nice to be polite, but I have things to talk about, Read more
Contributor Alison Brown discusses the reasoning behind our upcoming production. Did you know the pantomime can be traced back to the middle ages? Oh yes it can! The morality plays performed in village greens had much in common with es of theatre and it has evolved over hundreds of years. Before asking what makes Jane Austen’s novels so fit for the purpose of pantomime, first we must ask: what is pantomime? In early 16th century Read more
So, one of the questions I’ve been asked most often since we embarked on Pride and Prejudice: The Panto is: ‘doesn’t By Jove only work with myths?’ This is completely true. But here’s the thing: Pride and Prejudice is, in fact, mythic. I should explain. The way we define myth in the company is a narrative that transcends a single medium to the extent it is known in multiple forms and has gone through successive interpretations. Read more
Well, that title may be misleading because we have plenty of wonderful actors in our production. However, we do also have a starring cast of puppets, traditional and non traditional alike. But you’ll have to wait for some of those surprises when you come and see the show! Today we are talking to our designer, co-writer and now puppet maker, Heather Rimington. (Who is finding this experience very metaphysical indeed as she is writing this Read more
So, George Lucas did the unthinkable. After pledging that there would never be any more Star Wars films (to the extent he would leave a clause to that effect in his will!) and doggedly overseeing his franchise for decades, Lucas has sold his company LucasArts to none other than that corporate titan, Disney. Uncle Walt’s now vast conglomerate wasted no time in announcing not only one new Star Wars film, but three (of course!), boldly Read more
Warning – Rant oncoming. In everyone’s television viewing life there’s that classic moment we’re all familiar with: an overwhelming feeling of furious indignation at what we are seeing on our screens. Sometimes it’s a missed penalty shootout, sometimes it’s someone getting a really, really obvious question wrong – but the cause of this rant, I’m sorry to say, was something far worse. What was being transmitted was a shameless throwback to what I hoped was Read more
In the coming months we’ll be keeping you up to date with all the latest goings on at By Jove, including rehearsal updates on our upcoming Christmas spectacular Pride & Prejudice: The Panto! But that’s not all! No… We’re not ashamed to say we’re a politically minded theatre company. It’s plain to see that there’s still a lot of inequality and intolerance in Britain today. The society we want to see is one where everyone Read more