A production of Joseph K and the Cost of Living (After Franz Kafka) will appear at Twickenham’s Mary Wallace Theatre, 100 years after it was written, from the 31st May to the 7th June.
This Emily White adaptation follow four diverse characters who face parallel experiences while battling discrimination and injustice with the complexities of modern day living.
This Richmond Shakespeare Society (RSS) production has been directed by Maxina Patterson and is a multi-role play consisting of eight actors.
Actress of K3 (the third incarnation of Joseph K) and ensemble roles, Anastasia Babich said: “We’ve got some things that people don’t usually do in amateur theatre because they’re complicated.
“The diversity of what we are doing on stage is pretty unique.”
K3 deals with misogyny at church and at work and Babich said that the main challenge is getting into the right mindset for each part without blending the roles together.
Babich said: “Some things seem absurd and something very far from us.
“But sometimes if you look at them and have a think, you can find something around you that might remind you of that absurdity.”
Babich added how theatre makes a situation big and grotesque but it can also make you reflect on what you see daily.
Dominic Upton plays four roles, and secured the part of K1 which dives into Joseph K’s corporate life following his arrest.
Upton said that the play’s physicality was challenging due to this being an amateur production which resulted in many hours being put into perfecting unison movements.
Patterson said: “I learned a way of working with actors to find through their ability and their imagination, how we would put the movement pieces together.”
Patterson’s directing technique involved recording the actors so they watch it and learn as well as see their progress.
Upton said: “It’s been a good challenge, but it has been mentally taxable.
“It definitely gave me an appreciation for people who do one man shows and play multiple characters.”
Guidance is advised due to the play’s sexual nature, depictions of violence, bad language and flashing lights.
The RSS charity was founded in 1934 by former dancer and actress Gladys Erickson.
With many of their previous shows like While The Sun Shines being sold out, ticket pricing starts at £16.
Upton said: “We’re just itching to get it off the ground and have an audience come in.”
The RSS regularly hold open auditions for actors of all levels and for this play, auditions begun with a physical workshop to give the actors a feel of what the rehearsals would be like.
Babich enjoyed the freedom in the rehearsals due to Pattison letting the actors devise the script and figure out how their character would behave.
Patterson said: “I really enjoyed the process of sitting with the actors and taking about the differences as well as how they changed their physicality to play those characters.”
The RSS performs plays all year round including two Shakespeare plays.
They have a Young Actors Company which is taught by a professional actor and director with the aim to improve confidence and build on performance skills.
Upton join the Young Actor’s Company at age 12 which resulted in an exchange trip to perform in Malta.
Within the theatre, there’s state-of-the-art lighting and sound control technology, along with an induction loop for hearing-aid users.
There are volunteer vacancies for in lighting and sound, stage management, costume making, set designers, and acting.
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