Monday 5 January 2015

Muskets for the Three Musketeers

Any staging of The Three Musketeers is going to need swords and, of course, muskets.

Kevin Copping (Aramis) modelling one of the muskets

Fortunately there are people involved in this production who were able to source both. Ian Belcher, who plays Athos, is involved in LARPing (Live Action Role Play) which he described as like cross country pantomime. During a LARP participants dress up and physically act out their characters actions using props were appropriate. In this case Ian's beautiful Renaissance era muskets are very appropriate.

The detail on one of the muskets

Even though the muskets are only models they still have to be kept safely under lock and key while at the theatre. Alex McCubbin who has various roles on stage is also official armourer for the production. This means he has to make sure that as soon as the muskets come off stage they are whisked away and locked back in their box.

Dani Davies from Reading Between the Lines theatre group has been working on the production choreographing the fight scenes. She has lent her swords to the production and made sure that all the actors now how to perform a stage fight so it looks exciting but is not dangerous.

You can enjoy all the action and adventure in The Three Musketeers safe in the knowledge that you won't be threatened by a musket or hit by a stray sword.

If you are interested in what goes on at Progress Theatre then sign up to this blog. Enter your email in the box under ‘about us’ and click on subscribe. New postings are made roughly weekly so you won’t be swamped with emails. 




No comments: