Ian gets head start for leading Shakespeare role (From Ledbury Reporter)
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Ian gets head start for leading Shakespeare role
3:30pm Monday 24th September 2012 in News By Neil Watts
Special effect: Steve Chambers, left, gets to work on a prosthetic mould of Ian Kier Attard’s head
A WELL-known tragedy will come with an added touch of realism when it is brought to life in dramatic surroundings next month.
Professional actor Ian Kier Attard had an unusual preparation ahead of his starring role in Shakespeare’s Macbeth in the Lady Chapel at Worcester Cathedral when a prosthetic mould of his head was created.
Steve Chambers, a special effects artist who has designed many of the prosthetics used on BBC1’s Dr Who, visited the Swan Theatre to ensure a head of steam was built up prior to the production’s run from Wednesday to Saturday, October 24-27.
Director Chris Jaeger said: “I wanted to create an exact replica of Ian’s head to make the murder scene as authentic and dramatic as possible.
“Macbeth is such an iconic tragedy, and performing it for the first time in the atmospheric setting of Worcester Cathedral; we want to make sure we do it justice.”
The process took an hour to complete and involved smothering the actor’s head in petroleum jelly before layering it with liquid latex and leaving it to set for 30 minutes.
Mr Kier Attard, who starred in As You Like It at the Commandery in June, said he was looking forward to seeing the 3D model of his own head.
“Steve covered me in this pink slimy custard which was quite nice and cooling. Then I sat there quietly listening to the muffled laughs coming from the Worcester Live team, who I could only respond to through thumbs up gestures as I wasn’t allowed to move my mouth.”
The production is presented by the Worcester Repertory Company in a new partnership with the cathedral, with a full cast of professional and amateur actors following Macbeth on his regicidal quest to become and remain the King of Scotland.
It will also be touring to Great Malvern Priory, with performances on Friday and Saturday, November 2-3.
For more information and tickets, call the box office on 01905 611427 or go to worcesterlive.co.uk
