In this episode, Artistic Director Antoni Cimolino discusses his experience directing London Assurance—an unusual comedic creation from the 19th century—with host Jovanni Sy, director and co-playwright of Salesman in China. Listen as Cimolino provides an overview of 19th-century works while highlighting the achievements and accomplishments of Dion Boucicault, who wrote London Assurance when only 18.

Diving into the conventions of directing on the Festival’s famous thrust stage vs. directing on a proscenium like the Avon Theatre, Cimolino and Sy cover technique, creative inspiration and so much more! Watch or listen now.

London Assurance
By Dion Boucicault
Directed by Antoni Cimolino
Set and Lighting Designer - Lorenzo Savoini
Costume Designer - Francesca Callow
Composer - Wayne Kelso
Sound Designer - Ranil Sonnadara
Fight Director and Intimacy Director - Anita Nittoly
Choreographer - Adrienne Gould
Additional text - Richard Bean

00:00 Intro
01:12 What made Antoni want to program London Assurance, as well as direct it?
01:49 It says something about human nature
02:44 Plot Synopsis
03:23 What was the challenge of discovering the 18th century play?
05:21 Dion Boucicault creating the playwright royalty
06:28 How Antoni created the comedy bits in this production.
08:04 Working the production for the festival stage
08:57 Establishing the conventions
09:42 How to negotiate stretching the limits of concurrently without losing the audience
11:22 Reference to Shakespeare's career
12:42 Spoiler alert
13:25 Brian Bedford's production inspirations
15:11 Design challenges
18:21 Thrust stage vs proscenium stage
20:36 Antoni's director journey
21:55 Antoni's director mentors
23:14 A great thing about Stratford Festival
26:23 How's it going on Salesman in China
29:20 What Antoni hopes the audience will walk away with from watching “London Assurance”

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