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Exclusive Interviews
After their sold-out performance of Romeo and Juliet in April, the Southern California Shakespeare Festival Guild (SCSFG) is returning with a site-specific adaptation of The Tempest with a modern twist on June 17 & 18. The Tempest by William Shakespeare is a timeless story of power and corruption, set in the Casa’s picturesque gardens promenade-style. Ahead of the performance, Casa Romantica spoke with Sam Robinson, the director of the upcoming performance and president of the SCSFG, about his career, the guild, and how our site influences the production of the play.
Why and how did you get into theater?
Reading and storytelling have always been passions of mine. Curiosity – and learning about others, putting myself into someone else’s shoes, and understanding other people’s perspectives have always been important. As a child, I was inspired to take up theatre when I saw touring groups come to my Elementary school. Theatre was the backbone of my High School education and I was fortunate to attend theater school in college – the London Academy of Dramatic Arts in England, which solidified my interest in Shakespeare and the classics. I have performed and directed on stages around the world, but my primary focus has been here in Southern California. I spent years touring productions to schools – elementary to university, so touring productions are a huge part of my work as an artist.
What are some highlights from your career or the SCSFG?
Highlights in my theatre career include repertory theatre – where actors perform multiple plays in rotation at Summer Repertory Theatre in Northern California, the Texas and Colorado Shakespeare Festivals, and I got my Actors Equity card performing in theatres across Canada. Back in Los Angeles, I was hired by Will & Company to perform both full-length and adapted works with a focus on gender blind casting and working with performers who represent our diverse community. For the SCSFG, I have had the fortune of working both as a director and actor in the past few seasons – and have really enjoyed being in a place where I am able to perform or direct plays that I have worked on in the past such as Macbeth, The Tempest, The Comedy of Errors and A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
Who are your theatrical heroes?
SCSFG Artistic Director, Linda Bisesti, is one of the most generous and talented artists I have had the fortune of working with. She is inspiring as an artist, as a teacher and had the vision to create the festival 17 years ago.
Any advice for directors and actors just starting out?
To go to the theatre and observe actors and directors at work. By going to the theatre, you are introduced to playwrights and to get a feel for what works and what doesn’t. And, make theatre. Theatre does not have to have a big budget to be inspiring. It is all about storytelling and using your creative imagination. Take classes too – it is here where you can experiment and build your skills. One of the most inspiring classes I have taken is Impro Theatre – an improvisation group in Hollywood. They are famous for doing performances and classes in different styles. One session I took was improvising Shakespeare – imagine getting on your feet and creating original lines in iambic pentameter! Challenged my brain and was super fun.
What is your favorite Shakespeare play?
Usually, the one I am working on. Honestly, The Tempest is probably my favorite. I love the magic element. The struggles the characters face. The love it represents – both romantic and family-based. The language is exceptional too.
Why do you think Shakespeare’s work is still so iconic?
Shakespeare writes about the human condition. His characters have strengths and they have flaws. Audiences see themselves and people that they know in his characters. They are relatable to anyone regardless of the language they speak. Sometimes Shakespeare used history as a basis for his works, other times he used his imagination. He was a great storyteller across genres – comedy and tragedy too. In addition, Shakespeare’s command of the English language – his use of literary devices and of iambic pentameter, which has the rhythm of the heartbeat, all contribute to exciting theatre.
What is something that most people do NOT know about Shakespeare?
Hmmm… there is so much we don’t know about Shakespeare. Some interesting facts: Shakespeare and Cervantes both died on April 23. Another was that he had a son named Hamnet who died at age 11. He was 18 when he married Anne Hathaway – who was 26. Shakespeare introduced over 3,000 words to the English Language.
How does Casa Romantica’s site influence the way you set productions?
The house and the grounds of Casa Romantica are a perfect backdrop to Shakespeare’s plays. Whether they are set in a garden, in a castle, mansion, or inn, there is a variety of playing spaces that suggest different locations. These spaces are all roomy enough to handle the performers as well as audience members!
What excites you the most about performing at Casa Romantica again?
The community is super engaged. We appreciate being able to mingle with the audience – before the show, during the show, after the show. And the opportunity to create new performances that are site-specific both inside and outside Casa Romantic is really fun for us as artists!
