Bermudian actor a hit in Eastern Europe
Bermudian actor Jason Eddy never thought his work in Croatia would attract so much attention.
He was used to walking around unrecognised in London and New York, despite having performed in both places for years.
The 33-year-old was in Dubrovnik for its Midsummer Scene Festival this summer.
He had not been there long before people who saw his performance as Duke Orsino in William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night started chasing after him.
“Dubrovnik is a very small city so it didn’t take long before we started getting recognised,” he said.
“A few times I would be walking down the street and someone would yell ‘Orsino!’ and come running up to tell me how much they had enjoyed the show.
“We had a lot of brilliant feedback, which is always very rewarding to hear.
“It means a lot to know that you have done your job well and have affected someone enough for them to come up and tell you that they loved the show.
“I also started to get given free gelato at one of the local ice cream parlours once they recognised me, which was a particular highlight for me.”
Twelfth Night is set in ancient Illyria — the same region as Croatia.
The area is also famous for a more modern bit of artistry — it is the backdrop for King’s Landing in the hit HBO series, Game of Thrones.
“I am a massive fan so I had a lot of fun recognising some of the buildings and locations from the series,” Mr Eddy said.
From the moment he set foot in the country, he was mesmerised by its beauty.
“To get to Dubrovnik from the airport you have to drive along the coast,” he said. “It was all clear, deep blue water dotted with islands and then we could see Dubrovnik below us.
“Dubrovnik is a medieval walled city right on the sea and a Unesco world heritage site. Its walls, churches, streets and buildings are built of limestone from the region with red-tiled roofs. It’s a stunning sight.
“We had a tour of the city as soon as we arrived and I was overwhelmed by how beautiful the architecture is and the warm welcome we received from the locals.
“They are very proud of their city and were keen to point out its attractions and history to us.
“We had a couple of nights off in the run, so the producers organised for us to have day trips as a cast to some of the nearby pleasure islands, which are absolutely beautiful.”
The actor said he “knew very little” about Croatia before he got the job.
“I did a lot of reading up before I left and it’s a really fascinating country with an ancient and impressive history,” he said. “The thing I learnt that was most surprising was how important Dubrovnik was in the history of the Mediterranean, from the time of the Romans through to the Renaissance. Dubrovnik was at the forefront of innovations in maritime trade, lawmaking, shipbuilding, culture and democracy.”
The troupe’s evening performances were at Fort Lovrijenac, a fortress situated outside the old town on a rock overlooking the sea.
Mr Eddy described it as an “absolutely magical performance space”, but one that had its challenges.
The actors were exposed to the elements and had to work extra hard to be heard over the sea, wind and summer rainstorms.
They also had to make sure they spoke clearly so that the audience could understand the Shakespearean language.
“A lot of our audiences were English-speaking tourists but we were aware that we would also have a lot of Dubrovnik locals watching as well, so we had to be extra clear with what we were saying and how we were telling the story,” he said.
All in all, the experience is not one he will soon forget.
Here are Jason Eddy’s recommendations for what to see and do in the city:
• Walk the old city walls. “The city walls are what protected Dubrovnik for centuries,” the Bermudian actor said. “You can walk the entire length of them and there are spectacular views of the ocean and the city. The red-tiled roofs look incredible from above.”
• Visit the Rector’s Palace. Rebuilt after the earthquake of 1667, the palace was the opulent residence of the head of the government. “The palace is a mix of Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque architecture and is now a museum holding art and historical artefacts from the city,” Mr Eddy said.
• Lokrum. This Adriatic Sea island is a short ferry ride from Dubrovnik and a great day trip. “It was the home of a Benedictine monastery and, according to legend, Richard the Lionheart was shipwrecked here on his way back from the crusades,” Mr Eddy said. “The ruins of the monastery are beautiful and it is populated by peacocks, has a botanical garden, a restaurant and cocktail bar, and is a great place to relax.”
• Get lost. “The old town of Dubrovnik is so beautiful that you can have a great time just wandering around looking at the buildings, wandering into churches and little cafes and discovering the little nooks and crannies of the medieval streets,” he said. “Ditch the map and see where you end up with your feet and your eyes as a guide.”
• The War Photo Museum. Mr Eddy said visiting the museum was the most memorable thing he did during his trip. It has photographs documenting the Dubrovnik siege of 1991, during the Croatian War of Independence. “It was incredibly moving,” he said. “I visited after I had already been enjoying the beauty of the city for a week or so and walking out of the gallery and back on to the streets I had just seen in the photos was a really intense experience. It was hard to believe it was the same city in the photographs and it was impossible to look at the city quite the same after.”
