Taste of London comes to Black Box stage

February 8, 2010 —

by James Fry

Several students practice line readings from Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.

by James Fry

Theater and political science sophomore Briana San Miguel, left, and theater freshman Mara Berton read through a script at Thursday’s acting workshop. Students paired up to practice rhythm, intonation and textual comprehension.

by James Fry

Students walk briskly in circles in a “balancing space” exercise. Workshop leader Geoff Lumb explained the warm-up activity improves movement, communication and body language.

About 30 theater students received an unexpected treat this week when an English thespian dropped by to lead an hour long acting workshop.

Geoff Lumb of Actors from the London Stage visited the Black Box Theatre Thursday afternoon during a break from rehearsals with his troupe.

Lumb and four other Shakespeareans were brought to Midland last weekend to perform Romeo and Juliet at the Midland Center for the Arts.

Clad in a navy blue hooded sweatshirt and jeans, Lumb gave off a personable and hip aura as he led the students through humorous acting games like “Murderer” and “Wink, Murder.”

“Remember, now, you’re coldblooded killers, so try not to smile so much,” Lumb cheerfully chided the many students who giggled at the games’ silly premises.

Actors from the London Stage, sponsored by the University of Notre Dame and founded by renowned British actor Patrick Stewart, is one of the oldest touring Shakespeare companies currently operating in the world.

While traveling, the actors reside on local campuses and devote a large part of their time to students through workshops, stage demonstrations and readings.

The workshops are not confined to theater students; Lumb said he has recently completed several workshops with management students at Northwood University.

A veteran of the Royal Shakespeare Company and the English Touring Theater, Lumb’s most recent role was Iorek Byrinson, king of the armored polar bears, in a stage adaptation of Phillip Pullman’s His Dark Materials.

The workshop was made possible by support from the Midland Center for the Arts and the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs.