Aquila Theatre troupe: modern day gypsies
The Aquila Theatre troupe acts out their life on the road
Liz Essley
Issue date: 10/22/09 Section: Arts
A single actress waits in the wings of the stage, sipping bottled water, watching the action of the play in progress. Long minutes pass. Finally she picks up a large floppy shoulder bag, approaches the curtains, crouches low to stretch her legs, then steps on stage, where boisterous British accents greet her.
This is Aquila Theatre - seven actors, two directors and seven stage crew members traveling the country performing two plays, Henrik Ibsen's "Enemy of the People" and William Shakespeare's "As You Like It."
The scenery is sparse, the performances polished. According to their Web site, Aquila's mission is to bring "the greatest works to the greatest number." The players live the life of nomads to bring theater to the people.
"You're a gypsy, basically," says Owen Young, a native of Oxford who plays Orlando in "As You Like It" and Hofstad in "Enemy of the People.
The actor describes a life of long car rides, clothes never moved from suitcase to dresser, shared hotel rooms.
The nomadic life gives the actors the chance to work and travel simultaneously.
"It feels like we're getting to see the real America," says Leandra Ashton, a London resident who plays Rosalind in "As You Like It" and Katrine in "Enemy of the People."
The company visits many small communities; both actors recall times when locals have come up to them in restaurants and asked what they were doing in town, then decided to come to the performance that night.
And then comes the work that both actors find so much joy in. After each company member warms up according to their own style, it's lights, lines, seconds-long costume changes, and bottled water.
"When you're in work, you're so happy, and when you're not working you're miserable," says Ashton.
Though both Young and Ashton have degrees in acting, they say they've both worked many other jobs in between landing roles.
"There won't be an actor out there who hasn't got back-up job unless you're Hollywood A-list," Young says.
Getting there hasn't been easy though. Young says just landing roles in Aquila's cast is difficult.
So performing with Aquila is a blessing for both actors. Ashton, age 30, is playing her dream role: Rosalind. She's wanted to play the comedic heroine since she was 16.
The company opened "As You Like It" at the Aegean Festival in Greece in June of 2008. "Enemy of the People" premiered at Hillsdale College on Oct. 13.
Ashton and Young say it's worth it's worth the work and traveling. They have a passion for acting.
"If you're hoping after fame and glory you're not going to be happy. But if it's about connecting to an audience..." Ashton trails off. "You've got to be tough but still keep a soft heart."
"Stay passionate," Young says.
This is Aquila Theatre - seven actors, two directors and seven stage crew members traveling the country performing two plays, Henrik Ibsen's "Enemy of the People" and William Shakespeare's "As You Like It."
The scenery is sparse, the performances polished. According to their Web site, Aquila's mission is to bring "the greatest works to the greatest number." The players live the life of nomads to bring theater to the people.
"You're a gypsy, basically," says Owen Young, a native of Oxford who plays Orlando in "As You Like It" and Hofstad in "Enemy of the People.
The actor describes a life of long car rides, clothes never moved from suitcase to dresser, shared hotel rooms.
The nomadic life gives the actors the chance to work and travel simultaneously.
"It feels like we're getting to see the real America," says Leandra Ashton, a London resident who plays Rosalind in "As You Like It" and Katrine in "Enemy of the People."
The company visits many small communities; both actors recall times when locals have come up to them in restaurants and asked what they were doing in town, then decided to come to the performance that night.
And then comes the work that both actors find so much joy in. After each company member warms up according to their own style, it's lights, lines, seconds-long costume changes, and bottled water.
"When you're in work, you're so happy, and when you're not working you're miserable," says Ashton.
Though both Young and Ashton have degrees in acting, they say they've both worked many other jobs in between landing roles.
"There won't be an actor out there who hasn't got back-up job unless you're Hollywood A-list," Young says.
Getting there hasn't been easy though. Young says just landing roles in Aquila's cast is difficult.
So performing with Aquila is a blessing for both actors. Ashton, age 30, is playing her dream role: Rosalind. She's wanted to play the comedic heroine since she was 16.
The company opened "As You Like It" at the Aegean Festival in Greece in June of 2008. "Enemy of the People" premiered at Hillsdale College on Oct. 13.
Ashton and Young say it's worth it's worth the work and traveling. They have a passion for acting.
"If you're hoping after fame and glory you're not going to be happy. But if it's about connecting to an audience..." Ashton trails off. "You've got to be tough but still keep a soft heart."
"Stay passionate," Young says.
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Joy Pavelski
posted 10/23/09 @ 10:18 AM EST
Ah. That's got the Liz Essley polish. Well done.
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