Six women who have made inspiring contributions to the Cornish community have been hand-picked to take part in the Royal Shakespeare Company’s (RSC) production of Julius Caesar, which premiered at the Hall for Cornwall (HFC) last night and runs until Saturday. 

Each performance of the touring production, from Newcastle to Norwich, has used a local community chorus. 

In Truro, this consists of Lisa McNally, dance teacher and owner of Cornwall Dance School and LA Studios; freelance performing artist and gift shop owner Molly Banks; Emily Kent, leading economic growth and employment and skills for Cornwall and Isles of Scilly at Cornwall Council; health coach Amy Rom; Laura Allen, a support worker for a learning disability charity; and Michelle Sudworth, a drama teacher who works with Ukrainian refugees. 

While some members of this eclectic group have backgrounds in the arts, others have never stepped onto a stage before, and are more familiar with singing in the car or the shower.

 Following rehearsals with local composer and choirmaster Matthew Thomason, they will participate in seven performances of Shakespeare’s timeless story, performing as an ensemble and tackling a score that relies much upon noise as music. 

“It’s quite avant-garde: modern, inspiring and challenging,” said Amy Rom, who helps people with a predisposition for diabetes to make sustainable lifestyle changes. “It’s definitely not ye olde English Shakespeare, it’s a bold retelling of a classic!”

Amy is no stranger to the stage, having performed with the community choir that backed Carleen Anderson’s futuristic opera Melior Opus Griot at the HFC in November. As a teenager, she spent most of her time at Cardiff’s Sherman Theatre in youth groups and summer schools, and had the opportunity to sing with Welsh National Opera. Now she sings with Falmouth Community Gospel Choir every Wednesday morning.

“I didn’t think for a minute that aged 46, I’d be rekindling my dreams of being on the stage, but look at me now,” she said. “I think women of our age really need opportunities like this, because we spend so much time ploughing our energies into our children making sure they have all the breaks. It’s wonderful to be offered the opportunity – and to be able to take it.” 

Laura Allen is a support worker for the Brandon Trust. “My first encounter of Shakespeare was Romeo and Juliet at secondary school, but I struggled to process and comprehend the written text due to undiagnosed dyslexia,” she said. “Watching live plays and now being involved is both educational and really entertaining.

“I love theatre but have no acting or singing experience, so I am both excited and nervous to be part of the production. It is completely out of my comfort zone, but a great challenge and a fabulous opportunity. I recently saw a show at the HFC and thought I would love to be up there on the stage having fun – so be careful what you wish for!”

Helen Tiplady, deputy creative director at the Hall for Cornwall, said: “When the RSC first mentioned a community chorus, we started thinking about all the fabulous women who make things happen here and quickly approached them. They are movers and shakers in their own right, doing amazing things in their communities. I hope they have a fabulous time.

“It’s brilliant that the RSC continue bedding into communities rather than just helicoptering in and out. There will also be workshops and all sorts of follow-up activities, so this is a legacy piece and a fabulous addition to our ongoing partnership work.”