Anglo Pacific has recently handled the movement of sets, costumes, props and technical equipment for the Theatre Royal Bath’s tour of The Caretaker starring Hollywood legend Jonathan Pryce.

Eugene Hibbert, General Manager of Theatre Royal Bath, explained that for The Caretaker tour it was necessary to ship a 40ft container from the UK over to the Curran Theatre in San Francisco, onto New York’s Brooklyn Academy of Music and then back to Bath.  “If we don’t deliver on time, apart from actors acting with no scenery, a disappointed paying audience of thousands and my P45 landing on my desk, there’s also a large contractual penalty clause for Theatre Royal Bath Productions.  Thankfully, we know we’re in safe hands with Anglo Pacific and everything went very well, to schedule and to budget.”

Eugene initially worked with Anglo Pacific back in 2003 when Theatre Royal Bath embarked on its first venture in overseas touring.  “As you can appreciate, the first time you tour abroad the experience is filled with a lot of anxiety and unknowns, not to mention a lack of experience on my part,” he explained. “The production in question was As You Like It, directed by Sir Peter Hall, so expectations were high from the producer, director and cast to get it exactly right.  Several industry colleagues recommended Anglo Pacific and they delivered a fantastic, and very patient, service in setting up all the moves and paperwork.  It was a good learning curve for me and I felt reassured with Anglo Pacific at my side.  The relationship has continued in the same vein ever since.”

Harold Pinter’s The Caretaker is not the only production that Anglo Pacific has teamed up with Theatre Royal Bath on in 2012.  Their portrayal of Shakespeare’s The Tempest, starring Tim Pigott-Smith as Prospero, also required a 20ft container of props, puppets, costumes and musical instruments to be hired from across the Atlantic from The Old Globe Theatre in San Diego.

Photos:  Top: Peter McDonald as Aston and Jonathan Pryce as Davies; Above: Jonathan Pryce as Davies and Tom Brooke as Mick.  Photos courtesy of Helen Warner.