Thursday, 26 November 2009
First Night
What a beautiful performance! Sitting back and watching everything come together was incredibly gratifying. The audience were audibly impressed by the set; they were sad in the right places, and laughed in the right places too. Audience members talking after the show spoke about how impressed they were by the levels of professionalism in the production. Congratulations to everyone involved - keep sane for one more night, people!
Wednesday, 25 November 2009
Rehearsal Room Notes: Week 10
Final Week!
What a week so far. Lots of extra rehearsals as expected but thankfully lots of those biscuits too. With no time to waste we got straight to work. After our tech on Monday we spend most of this rehearsal practiaing cues and scene changes. As expected, only small mistakes were made but these were perfected by the end of the night.
As the rehearsal came to an end Kelly went through her notes and all rushed home to get a good night's sleep. Yes, that's right: no after-rehearsal drinks at Swiss Cottage this time.
As Kelly said at the end of her notes, everyone has worked so very consistently hard. After our final run this evening, it was more than clear that she was right and that all the work has paid off.
Every last little prop has been set, all costumes have been hung and pre-set, lists after lists about where everything and everyone should be have been plastered around back stage... and all is finally ready!
What a week so far. Lots of extra rehearsals as expected but thankfully lots of those biscuits too. With no time to waste we got straight to work. After our tech on Monday we spend most of this rehearsal practiaing cues and scene changes. As expected, only small mistakes were made but these were perfected by the end of the night.
As the rehearsal came to an end Kelly went through her notes and all rushed home to get a good night's sleep. Yes, that's right: no after-rehearsal drinks at Swiss Cottage this time.
As Kelly said at the end of her notes, everyone has worked so very consistently hard. After our final run this evening, it was more than clear that she was right and that all the work has paid off.
Every last little prop has been set, all costumes have been hung and pre-set, lists after lists about where everything and everyone should be have been plastered around back stage... and all is finally ready!
Wednesday, 18 November 2009
Rehearsal Room Notes: Week 9
It's all so intense!
The cast have had lots of extra rehearsals this week, and this Wednesday we ran until 11 o'clock. We're off script now, and most of rehearsal was spent running each scene. Grace and Doc's first intimate encounter was focused on and has become very moving. It wouldn't be a play without drama, and drama there was: Doc (Tom Ross-Williams) managed to put his all into jumping on a box and fell through it, cutting his leg and spent the rest of rehearsal looking like Sinbad... While Tom hardily refused to go to A&E, we’re pretty sure Doc would have called himself an ambulance. What a day! Tomorrow the cast are to be off book. We have high hopes!
The cast have had lots of extra rehearsals this week, and this Wednesday we ran until 11 o'clock. We're off script now, and most of rehearsal was spent running each scene. Grace and Doc's first intimate encounter was focused on and has become very moving. It wouldn't be a play without drama, and drama there was: Doc (Tom Ross-Williams) managed to put his all into jumping on a box and fell through it, cutting his leg and spent the rest of rehearsal looking like Sinbad... While Tom hardily refused to go to A&E, we’re pretty sure Doc would have called himself an ambulance. What a day! Tomorrow the cast are to be off book. We have high hopes!
Friday, 6 November 2009
Rehearsal Room Notes: Week 8
Updated scripts in hand and straight to work!
As the writers came fluttering in with new scripts we all sat down, had a read-through and discussed the new developments. Following this each actor went through their character: their history, personality and general facts about their lives. Going through each character in such detail was vital and as we went on to read through the play again a stronger understanding was clear to see.
At the end of the rehearsal questions were raised about the ending and Grace's final decision. The writers are going to go home and have a think.
All is going well, but with two weeks until opening night there is a lot to perfect. More rehearsals and biscuits please!
As the writers came fluttering in with new scripts we all sat down, had a read-through and discussed the new developments. Following this each actor went through their character: their history, personality and general facts about their lives. Going through each character in such detail was vital and as we went on to read through the play again a stronger understanding was clear to see.
At the end of the rehearsal questions were raised about the ending and Grace's final decision. The writers are going to go home and have a think.
All is going well, but with two weeks until opening night there is a lot to perfect. More rehearsals and biscuits please!
Rehearsal Room Notes: Week 7
WE HAVE A SCRIPT! At 7.30pm the cast were handed warm, messy scripts, and the first read-through began. The casting had mysteriously taken place in the night - presumably to save tears - but everyone was happy with the overall result! The read-through was brilliant; the new material is incredibly funny in a heartbreaking way, and it really makes us question the subjective nature of lunacy. Afterwards, the writers were whisked off to do something writerly amd the actors did some intense characterisation work. We debated whether the retreat would be fully private or partly NHS funded, and discussed how this would make an impact on characterisation. To end the session in line with the play, we played a weird game about patterns!
After the rehearsal we went to see a Q and A session with the cast of What Fatima Did, a play written by Heat&Light member Atiha Sen Gupta, which Kelly has been directing in the main auditorium. The play received a 5-star review from the Sunday Telegraph and Kelly has bought herself some very nice boots to celebrate. Well done!
After the rehearsal we went to see a Q and A session with the cast of What Fatima Did, a play written by Heat&Light member Atiha Sen Gupta, which Kelly has been directing in the main auditorium. The play received a 5-star review from the Sunday Telegraph and Kelly has bought herself some very nice boots to celebrate. Well done!
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