Orestes Rehearsal Room

Hello bloggers,

Emma here - just wanted to share some responses from my director's perspective, on the progress of the rehearsal room. Only three days in, and it feels as if we have been working together for a long time. We have enjoyed an immersive and intensive start to the project, with in depth character and ensemble exploration, and a chance to really start scoping out the new contexts for the piece. The cast have been responsible for bringing their own responses to current world events, and the room has been awash with political debate, story sharing and an overall generation of critical resource and stimulus material for the work. I have been overhwelmed by the company's investment and commitment to the work, the passion and energy with which they engage with each exercise, and the quality and depth of engagement amongst a newly forged ensemble. It has been moving and humbling to watch the cast explore personal resonances and truths, and there have been many affirmations of why it is so vital to be creating work in this way. There is a great appetite for exploration, and a atmosphere of real respect and generosity for each others' work. We have worked in detail on the underlying themes of urgency, potency and 'need to tell'. Andrew (Assistant Director) has developed wonderful detailed work with characters, Menelaus and his Deputy, Orestes, Electra and Athena.

Tomorrow is our first day on the script 'proper', and I feel we shall now come to it brimming with character back story and imagination. The rebels have ow developed individual stories, drawn from/inspired by real life events and stories that have struck them.

Here's to more discovery...

Emma

Research blog...

Hello all,
I found this blog whilst researching and found it very interesting as an example of how a prolonged exposure to events such as the ones we have been looking at can really eat away at a person.....each month this blog seems to become (understandably) more angry and bitter. www.arabwomanblues.blogspot.com

Hope it's of some use....
Sarah x

Animal Farm and In Place of War

http://www.youtube.com/user/thefreedomtheatre
Thought this was interesting. Palestinian theatre company in the Jenin refugee camp doing animal farm. I especially like the former guerilla fighter saying "all theatre is revolution". Also the idea that the 'pigs' become like Farmer Jones when they start saying 'I' not 'We'.

The Freedom theatre was built largely with money made by a documentary called Arna's children. It is by a half Israeli half Palestinian actor who filmed the children he did drama classes with in the refugee camp. He returns years later after the battle of Jenin to find out what became of the children. Most of them are dead, either through fighting or becoming suicide bombers. In tracing the kind of life that can lead people to do such terrible and extreme things it is very interesting, and, of course, heartbreaking. If anyone would like to borrow it just ask me.

I recommend this as a general resource:
http://www.inplaceofwar.net/

"What is In Place of War?
In Place of War researches theatre and performance practice from sites of crisis and armed conflict. The first decade of the 21 st century has witnessed multiple wars and humanitarian crises - connected to the instabilities of economic globalization, historical political grievance, global structural inequity and new forms of ecological threat. While the events of our contemporary 'times of blood and crime' are not without historical precedent, they have never before had such evident global reach, impact and interconnectedness. "

Lastly - I met a man on a train once who was a refugee from Sudan. He said that in his village it was not safe to talk about politics. So, in the guise of theatre, they would perform to each other in mime. They had a set of complex physical symbols, so they could have political discussions, while to anyone watching it would look like they were just playing. Today i thought of him in relation to the non verbal communication between the rebels.

Clare

Religious police in Saudi Arabia arrest mother for sitting with a man

A 37-year-old American businesswoman and married mother of three is seeking justice after she was thrown in jail by Saudi Arabia's religious police for sitting with a male colleague at a Starbucks coffee shop in Riyadh.

Yara, who does not want her last name published for fear of retribution, was bruised and crying when she was freed from a day in prison after she was strip-searched, threatened and forced to sign false confessions by the Kingdom's “Mutaween” police.

Her story offers a rare first-hand glimpse of the discrimination faced by women living in Saudi Arabia. In her first interview with the foreign press, Yara told The Times that she would remain in Saudi Arabia to challenge its harsh enforcement of conservative Islam rather than return to America.

“If I want to make a difference I have to stick around. If I leave they win. I can't just surrender to the terrorist acts of these people,” said Yara, who moved to Jeddah eight years ago with her husband, a prominent businessman.

Her ordeal began with a routine visit to the new Riyadh offices of her finance company, where she is a managing partner.

The electricity temporarily cut out, so Yara and her colleagues — who are all men — went to a nearby Starbucks to use its wireless internet.

She sat in a curtained booth with her business partner in the café's “family” area, the only seats where men and women are allowed to mix.

For Yara, it was a matter of convenience. But in Saudi Arabia, public contact between unrelated men and women is strictly prohibited.

“Some men came up to us with very long beards and white dresses. They asked ‘Why are you here together?'. I explained about the power being out in our office. They got very angry and told me what I was doing was a great sin,” recalled Yara, who wears an abaya and headscarf, like most Saudi women.

The men were from Saudi Arabia's Commission for Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, a police force of several thousand men charged with enforcing dress codes, sex segregation and the observance of prayers.

Yara, whose parents are Jordanian and grew up in Salt Lake City, once believed that life in Saudi Arabia was becoming more liberal. But on Monday the religious police took her mobile phone, pushed her into a cab and drove her to Malaz prison in Riyadh. She was interrogated, strip-searched and forced to sign and fingerprint a series of confessions pleading guilty to her “crime”.

“They took me into a filthy bathroom, full of water and dirt. They made me take off my clothes and squat and they threw my clothes in this slush and made me put them back on,” she said. Eventually she was taken before a judge.

“He said 'You are sinful and you are going to burn in hell'. I told him I was sorry. I was very submissive. I had given up. I felt hopeless,” she said.

Yara's husband, Hatim, used his political contacts in Jeddah to track her whereabouts. He was able to secure her release.

“I was lucky. I met other women in that prison who don't have the connections I did,” she said. Her story has received rare coverage in Saudi Arabia, where the press has been sharply critical of the police.

Yara was visited yesterday by officials from the American Embassy, who promised they would file a report.

An embassy official told The Times that it was being treated as “an internal Saudi matter” and refused to comment on her case

Saudi Arabia -Women

— Saudi Arabia’s Mutaween has 10,000 members in almost 500 offices

— Ahmad al-Bluwi, 50, died in custody in 2007 in the city of Tabuk after he invited a woman outside his immediate family into his car

— In 2007 the victim of a gang rape was sentenced to 200 lashes and six years in jail for having been in an unrelated man’s car at the time. She was pardoned by King Abdullah, although he maintained the sentence had been fair

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article3321637.ec

Story of Malalai Joya

This is the story of an inspirational Afghan woman, who grew up in the refugee camps of Iran and western Pakistan. She returned to Afghanistan to set up a secret school for girls, an extremely dangerous endeavour under Taliban rule. Once the Taliban were toppled, she became involved in politics, and was elected an MP, but was voted out by the warlords she was seeking to expose and remove from Parliament. Now she continues the fight for women's rights in Afghanistan, albeit underground. She moves to a different safe house every day, and her life is constantly in danger.

She is an inspiration to all women, with an all-important cause.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/malalai-joya-the-woman-who-will-not-be-silenced-1763127.html

Useful Website for Rebel Ensemble

http://womenagainstshariah.blogspot.com/

The above website has articles from all over the world, many relating to the oppression of women.

Words from the front line: the bloody truth of Helmand – by a combat soldier

This is worth a read, one of the most truthful accounts of the front line.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/aug/23/afghanistan-soldier-diary-helmand-taliban

Iranian boy who defied Tehran hardliners tells of prison rape ordeal

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article6805885.ece

Rehearsal Day One

Day One: The beginning of something exciting!

Hello All, this is Andrew, the assistant director of Orestes Re-Examined. Over the coming weeks I'll be keeping a blog of the process of the project, from within the rehearsal room. Hopefully just as exciting for the reader as it i for the company.

Rehearsals got off to a great start today, the company met, shared, and learnt everyone's names. After a little encouragement, the company accepted that Philips name was not Steve and adjusted to it accordingly. We've explored the Southwark Playhouse with an attention to space, detail, and feeling. From the smoggy surrounding areas to the darkest vaults of underground London. Not to be confused with the London Underground. A promising start to a voyage of discovery.

Blog One, much more to come...

Show Announced - Southwark Playhouse Website

Click here for link to Southwark Playhouse Website, for details of the show...

Euripides - Orestes

For a useful background read, click here for a good translation of Euripides Electra.

Thanks,

Emma

The Remorse of Orestes by William-Adolphe Bouguereau

Very striking image...

Emma x

Panarama - link

Thanks Kitty for your recommendation:

If you have time before rehearsals start - please watch:

Panarama: What are we fighting for?

Thanks,

Emma x

Post Show Events

Hello!

Just getting set to start rehearsals on Monday - and raring to go! Just to let everyone know, we (the production team) are putting our heads together to plan various post-show events to compliment the show, and to create the buzz and stir for the run!

We are talking about a first night party/gala night for an invited audience, with a late night bar, and possibly Greek food!

We have also confirmed a post show Q&A on Wednesday September 23rd, after the evening performance. This will be led by myself, along with some cast members.

If you are not already aware, we are very lucky to have PR consultant, Rosalind Freeborn on board to support the show, who is doing stirling work with press releases, and ensuring we create as much noise with the show as possible!

That's all for now, but as of Monday 24th - this blog will be bursting at the seams with rehearsal news, images, thoughts, developments.....

Best,

Emma x

Rebel Research

Dear all,

Starting the research for Orestes has opened my eyes, mind and heart so wide. Here are some sites and other things I have found so useful:

www.burmacampaign.org.uk

www.burmavjmovie.com

www.Amnesty.org.uk

Panaroma: What Are We Fighting For? broadcast Monday 17th August, I think it is on BBC I-player. The episode reported on the women of Afghanistan now. 

This months edition of the 'New Statesman'.

Already I cant believe what is being stirred inside me through what I am reading, hearing and seeing. I really can not wait to meet you all again and begin this journey.

Kitty 

First Rehearsal - Time Change

Orestes Company!

Please note, we shall now be starting at 11am on Monday 24th instead of 10am, and finish at 5.30pm. The rehearsal will be at the Southwark Playhouse as previously posted.

Looking forward to seeing you there,

Emma x

Burma VJ - Cast Research

For interest to the Orestes Company - particularly the rebels.

You might be interested to learn more about the current human rights abuses in Burma, where innocent people have been imprisoned for making art, speaking their mind, or opposing the tyranny of the Burmese Government. These may provide very interesting and pertinent parallels for us as we develop the rebels' stories. Burma VJ is the documentary film made to record the fight for democracy by video journalists who risked imprisonment, torture or death.

The Co-op is running a campaign for this film to be seen by as many people in the UK as possible, and there is a screening at the Riverside Studios in Hammersmith, on September 2nd (while we are in rehearsal). I'd like to suggest as many of can get together to see the film. Check out the links for more info.

Cast - please feel free to post any further links and ideas on the blog.

Thanks,

Emma

Orestes Cast Announced!

I have pleasure in announcing the new cast for 'Orestes: Re Examined' . This is a stirling group of actors, and I can't wait to start working with them all on August 24th!
Orestes: Matthew Howard Menelaus: Adrian Francis Deputy to Menelaus: Philip Krenus Athena: Laura Fautley
Electra: Kitty Randle
Ensemble of Rebels: Andrew Wisbey Chloe Hooton Sarah Fullagar Florence Battersby Cassandra Harris Rebecca Travers Clare Quinn Sarah Calver Chiara Stampone Joanna Defendi Amy Newton Alessandra Fel Marie Rabe Shani Erez Natasha White Additional ensemble roles: Aimee Farey Grace Miller Peter Peasey Luke Murphy Robert Timbrell Kit Lessner
	Daniel Harland
	Aimee Farey
	Robert Timbrell
	Pete Peasey