The pillar outside the Chapter Arts Centre
Firstly, I have to open with a confession. This post is not strictly about film. In fact, it’s about a play. However, It’s a play that I think most films fans would be particularly interested in, I know I am. Hitchcock Blonde at the Chapter Arts Centre in Cardiff is a production by the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and is directed by Bruce Guthrie. The play, written by Terry Johnson, is inspired by films most famous cinematic thrill maker, director Alfred Hitchcock. It is not simply an adaptation of one of his films, nor is it his life story but rather a thriller in its own right which plays with all of the conventions of a Hitchcock classic: the twists, the turns and, of course, a blonde.
The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, or RWCMD, is a higher education performing arts institute with a rich history. Established in 1949, the college sits in the grounds of Cardiff Castle, making it very much a part of the city. It teaches practical skills for the music and drama industries, with the aim of bringing their students to a high professional standard. It is that aim that makes productions such as Hitchcock Blonde stand out. For those who might be a bit wary of a drama student production, I would reassure that the level of performance is by no means amateur. “The ethos is so right” says director Bruce Guthrie “They want to do things for the right reasons; it’s not about fame.”
Director Bruce Guthrie
Originally training as an actor for three years in Guildford, Bruce Guthrie became a director almost by accident when a friend wanted to put on a play and thought Bruce would be good at directing. After setting up a small production company with some of his fellow actors in Guildford and taking a production of Someone to Watch Over Me by Frank McGuiness to the Edinburgh festival, Bruce realised that being a director was what he wanted to do.
Having worked in the role for the past six years, how did Bruce find himself directing Hitchcock Blonde for the RWCMD? Whilst working on the Lord of the Rings musical as an assistant director, Ruth Carney who was working on the project as associate director was also directing a production at the RWCMD. Having been to see the play, Bruce met with Head of Acting Dave Bond and continued to take an interest in their productions. “I came and saw August: Osage County here” he recalls “and they were astonishingly good, and I was just like ‘I wanna come and work here'”
In Hitchcock Blonde, the plot centres around the discovery of a supposed missing Hitchcock film, An Uninvited Guest and moves between the present day story of the two characters trying to piece together the fragments of the reel and the origins of the footage in 1919. In the past, Hitchcock is featured as a character, making him a part of the type of macabre tale he is famous for. The play is full of references to Hitchcock films, which makes you wonder whether it would appeal to those unfamiliar with the directors work. “When you watch a Hitchcock movie for the first time, you don’t necessarily have to have researched Hitchcock” says Bruce “If people come to it with an open mind and this is their first experience of anything remotely Hitchcockian, then I would never presume to say ‘Oh, by the way, this is an Alfred experience.”
Bruce Guthrie on Hitchcock Blonde by ajgrierson
Hitchcock Blonde is worth seeing if only to see the high level of skill and professionalism at which the RWCMD students are working at. The College is an important part of the performing arts scene in Cardiff, turning heads towards the city who might not otherwise look. Productions such and as these are a chance to bring the RWCDM closer to the community and bring professional directors to Cardiff. “I think this has been quite successful, so it would be lovely to come back.” says Bruce who believes that the choice of ambitious projects and pulling them off is what will “attract up and coming directors, as well as established ones, to come and work with these great students.”
Details for any other up coming shows can be found on the RWCMD site as well Chapter Arts Centre.
the 180 degree rule 