I have just realised that I didn't post the This View of Life time-lapse on the blog. Given that you've already seen the set model and the great polystyrene vertebrae taking shape, this is the most logical ending to the series. Tomorrow is actually our last day of the tour and our hard-working cast will wend their way home for a well deserved rest (hopefully!).
This time-lapse was captured for us by a great company called Design is Central. It shows Moley Campbell's awesome design transitioning from a pile of components to a fully erected set. You can see the last minute dress rehearsals and finally the arrival of a local school group to see the play.
Well cool.
Hx
Thursday, November 05, 2009
Thursday, October 22, 2009
"It hits your heart. Your lungs. Everywhere."
Holla amigos! This is my second blog so please, bear with me. I'm here to tell all you fine people about the Citizens Theatre Young Co.'s latest production, Lend Me Your Ears, and my own personal thoughts on the performances over the course of the three nights we were performing.
In the beginning, I wasn't very confident in the whole concept. We were to be performing Shakespeare's ''Greatest Hits'' and given the few rehearsals each piece had, I was really worried that we would fumble and taint the Bard's works with idiocy and lack of focus. I feel that Shakespeare's works are the most beautiful and powerful pieces of theatre in existence and I didn't think that we were going to be able to do them the justice they deserved. We had so little rehearsal time, my Romeo and Juliet piece only had three rehearsals before the actual performance nights. I realise this was necessary and all, but it didn't help the great frustration I was feeling. My confidence in the performance was lowered still with the improvised scene: ''Lear Luvies''. I honestly thought that this scene was not funny and that the audience wouldn't laugh. All these things gave me great tension and worry before the actual performance nights.
The first night was quite an experience for me. For many reasons. One being that I was to begin the performance out in the main foyer, which in itself isn't very conventional and was quite nerve racking. I wasn't confident that my voice could fill the hall and that the audience would switch off to mine and Rehanna's performance. These thoughts were racing through my head before we suited up in costumes, and were actually making me really worried. I had to do a massive vocal and body warm-up before the performance to calm me down, if that makes any sense. When I started the performance I couldn't have been more nervous, I jumped up on that chair and saw the whole audience staring at me. I spoke and they listened! They were tuned into the dialogue even if I did have to jump over banisters and run past the audience members. After beckoning them upstairs I felt so much better. When performing the ''Lear Luvies'' scene, the audience loved it! They were in hysterics! In that moment all my worries for the performance dissipated and I knew that we had nailed it.
The second night was even better. I started my Romeo scene and the crowd was bigger! This threw me into overdrive and I really enjoyed myself. I felt like I was back in my starting years, back in secondary school, the first time that rush of adrenaline hits the back of your neck. It hits your heart. Your lungs. Everywhere. The audience loved the whole performance. Every piece, at their end, received a round of applause. It really did feel like the ''Greatest Hits'' of Shakespeare.
The third and final night was the big finale. I was a bit laid back. Maybe too calm but when Chris came off-stage, he was absolutely buzzing! His reaction alone spurred me on and the final night felt like the greatest. With my last piece I fed right off the audience and delivered a very solid and energetic performance, well in my eyes at least. It wasn't just me either. All the cast went all-out with their pieces, knowing full well that after tonight there would be no performance. We were louder, stronger, more energised and were having fun. Actually enjoying the role you have and the time you have on stage is one of the most important parts of being an actor, again this is my opinion, and I can't speak for my fellow performers out there...
In the end, it all came together. The less than desired rehearsal times, the worry of not giving the works we had been handed the proper respect they demanded and indeed my own personal stresses, disappeared when we actually performed. Thanks to the huge amount of talent, commitment and dedication within the company, we rocked the Circle Studio! But more importantly we did the pieces justice and honestly?.....I think Shakespeare himself would be proud!
''We are such stuff as dreams are made on; and our little life is rounded in a sleep''
Prospero, The Tempest
Scott McKay (Young Co. member)
See more photos on Flickr.
Photos by Helen Black
In the beginning, I wasn't very confident in the whole concept. We were to be performing Shakespeare's ''Greatest Hits'' and given the few rehearsals each piece had, I was really worried that we would fumble and taint the Bard's works with idiocy and lack of focus. I feel that Shakespeare's works are the most beautiful and powerful pieces of theatre in existence and I didn't think that we were going to be able to do them the justice they deserved. We had so little rehearsal time, my Romeo and Juliet piece only had three rehearsals before the actual performance nights. I realise this was necessary and all, but it didn't help the great frustration I was feeling. My confidence in the performance was lowered still with the improvised scene: ''Lear Luvies''. I honestly thought that this scene was not funny and that the audience wouldn't laugh. All these things gave me great tension and worry before the actual performance nights.
The first night was quite an experience for me. For many reasons. One being that I was to begin the performance out in the main foyer, which in itself isn't very conventional and was quite nerve racking. I wasn't confident that my voice could fill the hall and that the audience would switch off to mine and Rehanna's performance. These thoughts were racing through my head before we suited up in costumes, and were actually making me really worried. I had to do a massive vocal and body warm-up before the performance to calm me down, if that makes any sense. When I started the performance I couldn't have been more nervous, I jumped up on that chair and saw the whole audience staring at me. I spoke and they listened! They were tuned into the dialogue even if I did have to jump over banisters and run past the audience members. After beckoning them upstairs I felt so much better. When performing the ''Lear Luvies'' scene, the audience loved it! They were in hysterics! In that moment all my worries for the performance dissipated and I knew that we had nailed it.
The second night was even better. I started my Romeo scene and the crowd was bigger! This threw me into overdrive and I really enjoyed myself. I felt like I was back in my starting years, back in secondary school, the first time that rush of adrenaline hits the back of your neck. It hits your heart. Your lungs. Everywhere. The audience loved the whole performance. Every piece, at their end, received a round of applause. It really did feel like the ''Greatest Hits'' of Shakespeare.
The third and final night was the big finale. I was a bit laid back. Maybe too calm but when Chris came off-stage, he was absolutely buzzing! His reaction alone spurred me on and the final night felt like the greatest. With my last piece I fed right off the audience and delivered a very solid and energetic performance, well in my eyes at least. It wasn't just me either. All the cast went all-out with their pieces, knowing full well that after tonight there would be no performance. We were louder, stronger, more energised and were having fun. Actually enjoying the role you have and the time you have on stage is one of the most important parts of being an actor, again this is my opinion, and I can't speak for my fellow performers out there...
In the end, it all came together. The less than desired rehearsal times, the worry of not giving the works we had been handed the proper respect they demanded and indeed my own personal stresses, disappeared when we actually performed. Thanks to the huge amount of talent, commitment and dedication within the company, we rocked the Circle Studio! But more importantly we did the pieces justice and honestly?.....I think Shakespeare himself would be proud!
''We are such stuff as dreams are made on; and our little life is rounded in a sleep''
Prospero, The Tempest
Scott McKay (Young Co. member)
See more photos on Flickr.
Photos by Helen Black
Friday, September 25, 2009
This View of Life - AudioBoo
We have recently started recording quick interviews (using AudioBoo) to give you more insight into our work. You can listen to all our "Boos" here.
This morning, I spoke to Peter Arnott, writer of This View of Life, to find out a little more about our project, which looks at the life and work of Charles Darwin.
Hx
This morning, I spoke to Peter Arnott, writer of This View of Life, to find out a little more about our project, which looks at the life and work of Charles Darwin.
Hx
Monday, September 21, 2009
Some birthday present!
Happy 21st birthday to Young Co. member Chris McCann who is celebrating his birthday in style by taking on his very first part in a professional show at the Citizens Theatre.
Chris has a small part in Guy Hollands's Othello, which commenced rehearsals this morning.
Chris, who is studying acting at Langside College will have a hectic week ahead in the run up to a show at The Arches this weekend and evening rehearsals for Lend me Your Ears. I think he'll have Shakespeare coming out of his ears!!
Good luck Chris and congratulations from all of us!
Hx
Chris has a small part in Guy Hollands's Othello, which commenced rehearsals this morning.
Chris, who is studying acting at Langside College will have a hectic week ahead in the run up to a show at The Arches this weekend and evening rehearsals for Lend me Your Ears. I think he'll have Shakespeare coming out of his ears!!
Good luck Chris and congratulations from all of us!
Hx
Friday, September 11, 2009
One of our dinosaurs...
It's a strange world we work in. I caught sight of the epic construction of the Darwinascope in the workshops this afternoon. The giant skeleton set for This View of Life is really taking shape. Check out these giant vertebrae:
Hx
Hx
The Darwinascope
Here's a wee snap of Moley Campbell's brilliant set model for This View of Life. A stunning time machine called a Darwinascope. This is a partial set model (which I had to re-build slightly) as some of it is currently in the workshop being re-created life-size! Can't wait to see it come to life...I was going to say "evolve" but thought that was too cheesy!
We'll have some photos of the real thing for you in a couple of weeks.
Hx
We'll have some photos of the real thing for you in a couple of weeks.
Hx
Secondary Schools Newsletter Aut 09
If you're a teacher, you may have already received a hard copy, but in case you didn't get one, you can now check out our flickable Secondary Schools newsletter online at Issuu:
Secondary Schools Newsletter Autumn 2009
Hx
Secondary Schools Newsletter Autumn 2009
Hx
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