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