Raving Review for Orestes!

A truly vibrant and atmospheric production of a challenging play is on show at the Southwark Playhouse near, appropriately as it turns out, the London Dungeon. The play tells a story, ancient and modern, of murder and revenge, resistance and retribution, and of the arrival of law, order and democracy. But the arrival of 'civilisation' comes at a price, one that undermines the justice that it seems to bring about.

The play reworks Aeschylus's telling of the story of Orestes, of his murder of his mother, the avenging Furies, and the final reckoning of trial by jury and judicial settlement . It is called Orestes: Re-examined but the story is not just re-examined, it is also re-charged with amazing energy, insight and passion by Full Tilt Theatre Company under the direction of Emma Gersch.The Furies have become outcast Rebels. With these Rebels the young company succeeds where almost all modern productions fail in making a chorus that speaks, moves and sings with collective solidarity and yet also displays individuality. There is also room for the audience to act as individuals as they vote on whether a murderer can be allowed to run the state, and then to consider the actual outcome of their collective decision.

The characterisation of the other side, Authority, is weak. But this is a small shortcoming when compared with the achievement of the chorus of Rebels, victorious and victimised, disturbing and appealing. This is theatre at its best. Intellectually and emotionally this is a play and a performance that are not to be missed.

Bob Catterall

CITY: analysis of urban trends, culture, theory, policy, action

Only Connect (working with ex-prisoners)

http://www.onlyconnectuk.org/About-Us.asp

this is a really interesting company/ organisation; might be worth trying to reach their admin team... Chloe x

Production Images

All images by Tom Jewett

Review

An appreciative review on London's SE1 website! Click here to read.

Open for Business

Well and truly open for business, Orestes: Re-Examined has opened it's doors to our audience, last Wednesday 16th September. As ever, a mad rush towards opening night - but the company really pulled together, rooted themselves and gave a great first performance. It is always terrifying as a director watching an audience watching your show, and particularly with 'Orestes', as our audience is seated in traverse, in clear view of each other throughout! So I hid in the shadows, and tried not to mouth words, beat rhythms or nod appreciatively during the show.

On the opening of the show, it is always really important to give the show to the cast, so that they have total ownership over it. There was a real sense of buzz and excitement in the air, and it was clear that the cast were ready for an audience, ready to share and tell their stories. The first show was really tight, full of energy and purpose - I was extremely proud. We had a larger than expected house, and Orestes was acquitted. In fact - we are now at show 5 and he has been let off each time. We are left to wonder whether any audience might find him guilty. Thrilling that the cast are genuinely unaware of the outcome, and that they can experience the real feeling of anticipation and uncertainty.

And then we were storming ahead towards the heightened states of press night. Not before a cheeky birthday prank for Filip (our Deputy), who was lured into a believing that I wanted to change the pre-show speech into a jazzier, cabaret version. He took it brilliantly - a real sport!

After a warm up aimed to level everyone, I discovered queues of audience at the box office, the show had somehow been oversold, and there was a bit of a 'fraccas' regarding tickets, but we wedged, pushed and shoved, and there were quite a few folk standing at the back. But I'm pleased to say there was a real buzz in the air, and a truly engaged (albeit hot) audience. Talking to audience after the show, they reported on how immersive, clear and dynamic the show was. The show really lifted onto the performance plateau, and it was wonderful to watch the cast really starting to play, connect and try out new things. They weren't at all thrown by the size (and familiarity) of the house. In the bar after the show, lots of positive responses, questions and points for discussion.

And then the tough bit - where I have to slip away and leave the cast to do their thing. My least favourite part of the process, but really necessary. Back on Monday though - and from reports, the show has been going from strength the strength.

More soon...

It's Begun - The TECH!

I type from the tech desk at the Southwark Playhouse on day two of the big tech experience. All going well, slowly - but that is to be expected when you have a bunch of perfectionists creating a show!
We had a 12 hour day yesterday, the set looks fantastic, and Alex has done a grand job with the lighting conjuring just the right atmosphere and impact to frame and reinforce the play. The cast displayed amazing patience yesterday as they were required to stand still for hours on end as we plotted lights and sound around them. It's always difficult from where I am sitting to grasp the whole picture at this stage in production, when the show is spliced up into cues and technical chunks. Of course the artistic anxiety kicks in that all the beautiful rehearsal detail is lost in the melais of dry ice and parcans. But - deep down I trust that once we join up all the dots, it will fit back together again.

Adam Griffiths has very kindly joined the team and created the AV and film work for the pre-show, looking great - and we are most grateful to him. Our long day was concluded by a burst of song from our team of authorities who had put their long hours of sitting around to good use, and written a spoof song about 'Argos' - which was then performed in the style of a frog chorus to the rest of the company. A perfect way to end the day.

More soon....
Emma

Orestes - GET IN!

Well how exciting - our GET IN day at Southwark. Pleased to report that Mike and has team have everything in hand, and there was a real buzz in the theatre today as the scaffolders came in, the seating was built, the lights were rigged, and the set began to get dressed. Delighted to announce we have also managed to acquire two lovely ASMs (below) Maddie and Lillie, who watched a rehearsal and subsequently signed up! It's days like these that remind you what its all about. All hands on deck, music blasting, a buzz of activity and all working towards the same goal: TO GET THE SHOW ON THE ROAD!

(We were even treated to Mike on the piano in a tea break!)

Last rehearsals!

Can hardly believe we have finished rehearsals. Three weeks have flown by, yet also - so much has been developed and grown. We started running the show on Thursday, to see what we have. Really pleased to see how it all held together, but also discovered lots of areas to clarify and develop. Started now to really think about our audience, and how vital it is to distinguish their role and function. In participatory theatre, it is all too easy to 'tack' on the audience involvement, and forget to interrogate every interaction for believability and clarity. We have therefore spent the last two days working in minute detail on the text, re-writing and refining to improve again. We weren't helped by having to work in what I can only describe as a bright white airport hanger with intense echo - not ideal for working with focus on detail! So Friday will go down as my most challenging rehearsal yet, but miraculously, we managed to achieve a great deal in developing and improving the work.

Thursday night saw our first company night out! We were all very much ready to let our hair down and enjoy some socialising. Natasha, our very own events organiser (!) did brilliantly in coordinating 30 of us to go out for dinner and drinks, and much fun was had by all!

Final Unit

Dear all,

In thought of todays work, here are some areas of research that Philip directed me towards. 

Exodus: Vukover 1991

Srebrenica 1994/5

Harrowing echoes to our final unit.

The painting is called 'The Parting' by Alicia Melamed Adams (1991).

Thank you

Kitty

Rehearsal progress

Another successful day at the Southwark Playhouse, and - amazingly, we are nearing the end of the show! I don't want this week to go too quickly - and am trying to savour each moment of this wonderful rehearsal journey. More exploring, playing and risking from all. There is such a positive energy in the rehearsal room, and I come away each evening feeling so inspired and enhanced. This project has confirmed to me the profound impact that theatre can have on us - politically, socially, culturally. Having the opportunity to sculpt and create work that is absolutely up to date, relevant and resonant feels so critical. Being able to create with a group of artists who are so open, generous and ready to explore is a real privilege. It is rare to find yourself in amongst an ensemble that has an innate cohesion, total lack of ego, and a shared desire to make the work the best it can be. Horay.

Yesterday, we welcomed another seven cast members into the team; our ensemble of authorities, who are now working hard with Andrew Beckett to develop the key audience interaction for the pre-show. Stirling work going on. Kitty has also been developing wonderful movement work with the rebels, and Kat came back for more singing. A veritable hub of creativity. Some images below to try and capture the life of our day:

The end of week 2!

The Orestes company bid farewell to their Muswell Hill rehearsal space today, as we draw to the end of week 2 of rehearsals. Pastures new next week as we head South to the Southwark Playhouse, to begin getting the space into our bones. A hugely successful day today - lots of tightening, refining - work is blossoming each day. Finally got to welcome Athena into the play, and to develop more live music with Kat. A much needed weekend break for all, before we storm into our third and final week of rehearsals. On Monday, 7 more company members to join. Strength in numbers!

Until next time...Emma

Rehearsal update

Hello again!

Been a little while since my last entry, as we had an unexpected interruption. On Monday we returned to our rehearsal room to discover a fire had broken out over the weekend, damaging our costumes and plans for the day. All a bit shocking. So we used the day without a space as a chance to do some more bonding and picnicing in the park. Back to work on Tuesday, and even more developments. The company continue to take risks, explore and find even more personal connection with the story. Today we were lucky enough to rehearse in the space at Southwark, and it really helped to take the work to another level. The environment is key, and the rebel ensemble have had to work hard to ignore the shiny, clean, mirrored rehearsal room and imagine the dank, dark, cavernous space that is their home. Ellie Jones (Artistic Director at SP) came to watch some rehearsal today, and was pleased to see how the work is shaping up. We have now also gained our stage manager, Chandni - back from Edinburgh, and our sound operator Clare - so the company feels as if it is growing daily. Today we worked on the entrance of Menelaus to the dungeon, and explored the many complexities of having him agree to an audience with the mob. The presence of the International Delegation (in the shape of the audience) is key, we have found, to his agreeing to come. Some powerful work developed on the ritualised tormenting of Orestes - and Mat (our prince) is holding up well with what is proving to be a huge challenge for even the strongest of beings. Having 16 people torment, abuse, jeer and taunt - not an easy task. We always ensure much love is shared at the end of a rehearsal!

Phil Mathews, editor of the Drama Student Magazine came to watch and interview some of us today, and plans to run a feature on the production. He is interested particularly in the way our Bath Spa graduates have made the leap from student to professional domain.

Until soon....Emma

Burma VJ

I have just returned from watching Burma VJ and find I have no words.

I can try to explain but words are not enough. The bravery and hope of the people in the film; of those who risked everything to film the days of the protests; those who risked everything to be filmed; those who risked everything to demonstrate and call out for the East and for the universe to be free from fear, free from poverty; those who risked everything and when surrounded by the military, called for those not afraid to die to go to the front.

Please if you haven't already try to see as much as you can of this on the internet and visit the website.

Thank you

Kitty