The Government Inspector - Cast Meal Photograph, 2002
Title
The Government Inspector - Cast Meal Photograph, 2002
Date
14 September 2002
Description
The Government Inspector Cast Meal, Punchinello's Restaurant, Forman Street, Nottingham
What's the story?
One of the many traditions with any show and any theatre company is the last night cast meal. This is an opportunity for a company to share their war stories, recount those missed cues or even make that last attempt to start a potential romance. The Royal Company community production of The Government Inspector in September 2002 was no different.
The chosen location was Punchinello’s Restaurant on Forman Street, right opposite the Theatre Royal. Punchinello’s claimed to be Nottingham’s oldest restaurant, with a restaurant of some kind on that site since 1890. There was always an air of fading grandeur about Punchinello’s, especially with its dusty framed signed head-shots of performers who had once graced the Theatre Royal boards.
At some point in the noughties Punchinello’s closed and the place re-opened as Café Nero. Yet another chain coffee shop in the city centre.
The Government Inspector team took over the upstairs room at Punchinello’s for their cast meal. What comes through from this picture are the shiny happy faces. This is not just relief from many months of hard work and rehearsals but a company that had genuinely bonded together and were having fun.
The production had sold out and was a genuine critical and public success. Would those faces be as happy if this was different?
The chosen location was Punchinello’s Restaurant on Forman Street, right opposite the Theatre Royal. Punchinello’s claimed to be Nottingham’s oldest restaurant, with a restaurant of some kind on that site since 1890. There was always an air of fading grandeur about Punchinello’s, especially with its dusty framed signed head-shots of performers who had once graced the Theatre Royal boards.
At some point in the noughties Punchinello’s closed and the place re-opened as Café Nero. Yet another chain coffee shop in the city centre.
The Government Inspector team took over the upstairs room at Punchinello’s for their cast meal. What comes through from this picture are the shiny happy faces. This is not just relief from many months of hard work and rehearsals but a company that had genuinely bonded together and were having fun.
The production had sold out and was a genuine critical and public success. Would those faces be as happy if this was different?
Type
Photograph
Location of item
Theatre Royal & Royal Concert Hall
Rights
Theatre Royal & Royal Concert Hall
Contributor
David Longford
