This is the Eightieth article in a semi-permanent column for Stroud Arts that appears in the Stroud American. The mission of these articles is to inform, educate and inspire you, the reader, to Make Art Happen in your life and the life of our community.
Over the next few weeks, this column will focus on preparing local volunteers for the 2nd Annual Stroud Arts Medieval Faire. The first step a volunteer must take to create a character that fits into the setting of 1000 A.D. is; learning about the physical environment, customs, politics, economy and folklore being reenacted.
The next CAST MEETING for the SAF will be on Saturday, August 21, from 1pm to 3pm at The Stroud Arts Building, 214 West Main Street.
The Stroud Arts: Arts & Sciences Medieval Faire The SAF was introduced in 2019 at Foster Park in the City of Stroud. Its debut showcased 9 Games, 8 Street Characters, 4 Activities, 2 Performance Groups and 2 Merchants, with over 100 Guests Attending. With the 2020 event being cancelled due to Covid-19, the 2021 Faire looks forward to increasing our Street Performer Cast and Activities for the public to participate with.
Performance Dates for the 2021 event are: September 4, from 10am to 2pm.
As a cast member of the SAF, you are a representative of Stroud Arts and we ask you to be polite, friendly and gracious in your interactions with your fellow cast members and our guests. Your actions will enhance the experience for everyone… including yourself, so make it a great, fun time for all!
After all, no single performer is more important than any other single performer.
Faire Performance Roles
Royal Court
The Royal Court represents our cast members either recreating historical personages or creating fictional but authentic Nobles of the Holy Roman Empire or Neighboring Countries and Kingdoms.
The clothing of the Nobility should be of high quality (and real-world expense) and their personal possessions should be of equal quality.
These characters must maintain the elegance expected of the Nobility and should be able to converse about regional politics, economics, warfare and laws. This is your opportunity to play ‘Game of Thrones’ in front of an audience.
This isn’t the standard game of Dungeons and Dragons where 30th level Barbarians can smart off to the 4th level King and his 20 or so 1st Level Guards. We are creating a REAL-WORLD ENVIRONMENT where all actions have real consequences.
Those who are not of the Nobility MUST show the proper deference and respect inherent of their station! Bow, Curtsey, speak politely and remember, your character could be jailed, or exiled for their inappropriate behavior.
Street Performers
When guests arrive at the Faire, meeting with the characters will shape their overall Faire experience. Street Performers playa to the Faire guests with both prepared and improvised “bits” of entertainment. The objective of the Street Performer is to provide a more up-close-and-personal experience for the guests. Street
Performers, with thorough awareness of their character, use direct contact with the guests and fellow performers to, not only amuse them, but to provide the “ambience” that ties all aspects of the faire together.
These individuals have the freedom to perform prepared “bits” on the stages they can create amidst the moving audience. Bits can incorporate the guests and can be used over and over again as another stage is created and a fresh audience watch. Support other performers by greeting, groveling, etc., as this strengthens the illusion of the Kingdom’s reality and by interacting with fellow cast members you can spontaneously engage in scenes and improvised bits that no one, especially the cast anticipated.
Each street performer is encouraged to investigate a skill or talent you wish to perform. This talent allows additional bits based on the specific thing you are doing. Musicians can inform the audience about their specific instrument as well as play on it. Merchants can instruct on the creation or acquisition of their unique crafts. Singers and Dancers can teach guests their skills. The talent or skill gives you an easy built in reason to interact with guests and other performers.
If you would like to be involved then please come to the Cast Meeting this Saturday and follow Stroud Arts on Facebook and look for more information in next week’s column!
Let’s make art happen!