Stratford Press readers share their views. Photo / Unsplash
“I can no other answer make, but, thanks, and thanks.” - Twelfth Night.
Sometimes you just have to believe you can do it … I suspect this was the motto of the Stratford Shakespeare Trust Committee when they set out to create a festival that celebrated the unique cultural heritage of their town. A mall committee with big ideas and a serious amount of organisation conjured up a fabulous festival that achieved the goals of the trust’s Constitution - to provide educational and entertainment opportunities for all ages about things Shakespeare.
You might have been driven slightly loopy by your child returning from the Ugly Shakespeare event claiming to be a fairy or a hee-hawing donkey man. You could have indulged your desire to be another David Tennant or Judi Dench by attending a workshop or salivated just a little over the male beauty of Achilles in the RSC production of Troilus & Cressida, cringed slightly as metal-covered guys bashed each other to “death”, only to have them rise and fight again, or sat in your car with a “friend” and giggled at the Forbidden Planet movie set or held on to that forlorn hope Juliet would wake before Romeo died, even though you already knew at the beginning they both died.
You could have been amazed at the mercurial changes of character Michael Hurst and Katie Boyle performed … (I’m still breathless) or luxuriated in the flavours of spit roast pork at Baldrick’s Big Day Out, listened to Dawn Sanders explain how every second phrase you use came from Shakespeare or hummed away to Love Shack while the Barden Party, in a garden, egged you on. If you only took advantage of some of these opportunities, you were one of nearly4000 people who did.
Whatever bit of the festival you got to experience or read about was because a group of people cared enough to celebrate that special link to the Bard. The Stratford Shakespeare Trust would like to thank those people in our community who got involved, supported, sponsored and otherwise made sure it all happened.
Jo Stallard, SST Secretary (abridged)
From our socials: A recent article on the cost of vandalism in the town led to plenty of engagement on our Facebook page. One response warranted further questions to Council on the subject.
Can you do some investigating into the $13,000 the council have spent. This is far too much considering a nice man fixed Midhirst for free and the water tank hasn’t been included in this. Why are we paying Downers to plant berm trees? Surely we could have thought about this and saved money by hiring a Stratford local to plant a tree. Come on council, where is our money going?
Steph Wright (via Facebook)
Response from Stratford District Council:
Yes, Alan McCullough kindly painted the Midhirst Hall wall when this graffiti first occurred in 2019. Since then, we’ve needed to remove and paint over the message four more times. The price of a new tank is included in the cost as well as an estimate for removal and installation. Downers are our parks and open spaces contractor, therefore they replace street trees when the need arises. They have a local depot and employ local people. Other local contractors are very welcome to bid for this contract when it comes up next. Anyone unsure about where their rates money is spent can see a breakdown of this on our website Straford.govt.nz. This year we’ll be discussing our Long Term Plan, which looks at the next 10 years. Please participate in opportunities to have a say on the services and projects proposed for the next decade and the budget required. You can stay up to date on this process by visiting our website, reading our Central Link or downloading the Antenno App for free.
GUIDELINES: The Stratford Press welcomes letters to the editor. Letters to the editor should be sent to: The editor, Stratford Press, PO Box 300, Stratford, 4332. Email: editor@stratfordpress.co.nz Letters should not exceed 250 words and must carry the author’s signature, name and residential address. Emailed letters must include a full residential address and phone number, allowing a check on bona fides. Noms de plume are not accepted; names are withheld only in special circumstances at the discretion of the editor. Letters may be edited, abridged or discarded.