March 4th, 2009
I’m absolutely shattered after last week, so it’s nice to have the week to recover. However, this Sunday I’m straight back in the deep end with the first rehearsal/read-through of Best Little Whorehouse In Texas for Derby Opera Company. I’ve wanted to be involved in a musical for a while now and with Derby Shakespeare taking a few months break, now was as good an opportunity as ever.
The promo for Best Little Whorehouse in Texas
I was very pleased with my audition, but it felt like I was auditioning for the first time again. This was possibly the combination of it being my first audition for DOC and my first for a musical, so dancing and singing were also under scrutiny along with my acting which I am far more comfortable with.
My dance audition was a bit sketchy, but definitely something to really get into and enjoy over the next few weeks and the girls were absolutely brilliant! What man would complain about a bunch of females jumping all over him? The singing was absolutely terrifying and I could feel my hands shaking as I held the music book. I find singing a very personal thing, I don’t know why. Perhaps it’s because my parents were never really singers. I think had they walked around the house belting out the hits of Broadway then things may have been a little different in perhaps more ways than one. However, I couldn’t have asked for a better audition. I was quite well prepared and just for the hell of it I even had a crack at Melvin P. Thorpe one of the principle characters. It was incredibly enjoyable.
In the end I made the ensemble, so I can imagine there is going to be a hell of a lot of work involved. Plenty of singing, dancing and I’d imagine there will be an opportunity to play multiple minor roles, so great in terms of acting experience too.
Tags: best little whorehouse in texas, dancing, derby opera company, melvin p. thorpe, musical, singing
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February 27th, 2009
Last night near the end of the performance as I was stalking across the stage towards Nicky (Viola) I slip on something particularly slimy, undoubtedly the residue from a previous Belch and Aguecheek scene and nearly ended up on my backside. I let out a huge high-pitched squeal and somehow managed to regain my footing using manoeuvres that wouldn’t seem out of place on the high beam in a gymnastics competition. As the audience howled with laughter I somehow managed to remain in character and even gave the audience a cheeky little look before carrying on as if nothing had happened. I’m sure it was the biggest laugh I had that night!
In other news we had a fab review in the Derby Evening Telegraph and here it is:
Over the past few weeks, Derby’s Guildhall theatre seems to have seen more Shakespeare than The Globe in London.
Following on from Derby Live’s professional production of Much Ado About Nothing, this week we get Derby Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night. And if ever there were an example of the imperceptible differences between professional and amateur, we have it here at it’s finest.
As usual, Mr Shakespeare manages to string together a decent story with all of his normal plot devices, including mistake identities and women dressed up as men, but this ensemble cast manages to get as much emotion, pathos and humour from the tale as possible.
Lisa Kelly shines as the countess Olivia, who falls for the charms of Cesario, the disguised, shipwrecked Viola (Nicky Beards), who in turn falls for the handsome Duke Orsino (Colin Dawes).
Matthews Shepherd and Swan create a fine comedy double act as the scheming and drinking Toby Belch and Andrew Aguecheek and Christopher Scott almost steals the whole show as Malvolio, Olivia’s manservant. When you can make an audience laugh with subtle facial nuances and, in a trice, play broad comedy to equally strong effect, then you know you have an ace in the deck.
Director Caroline Reader has set this production in Victorian Paris, but the open master-of-ceremonies’ speech, delivered, with aplomb by Alan Smith, seems to sit uneasily in that context. At other points, though, the music choices and live songs convey a sense of purpose and add much to the drunken songstress character of Feste, played by Irene Button.
This is another quality piece of work from one of the city’s prized amateur dramatic companies.
(Source: Derby Evening Telegraph)
Tags: derby evening telegraph, derby shakespeare theatre company, Review, sir andrew aguecheek, twelfth night
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February 25th, 2009
What a terrific first show! Thanks to everyone who came.
One of the problems acting in this comedy and any comedy for that matter is that the laughs I got early on in rehearsals soon dried up once everyone had heard them a couple of times. It can be quite difficult to remain positive when delivering a line that got a great laugh the first time and now gets little more than a stony silence - even from our prompt Margaret and her generous sense of humour. I had to fight the paranoia that attempts to creep in and ignore the questioning and self-doubt that seems to bubble to the surface. Why is no one laughing? Was it ever funny? Should I try doing it differently?
The best thing to do is treat it like a straight play. Forget it’s a comedy and convince yourself it’s the noblest of dramas. Even when your charmingly portly male co-star has you in his arms and is giving you a full on snog! Not only does this get me through the horrors of a deathly, unresponsive rehearsal, but it allows your audience (when you are finally and blissfully stood in front of them) to feel like they’re in on the joke rather than being spoon-fed the gags. After all, these characters we’re are playing are more often than not unaware that they have an audience - suspension of disbelief and all that.
I had some costume issues during the dress rehearsal, which really threw me and had me a bit worrying time yesterday. However, with the help of Karen’s incredible Velcro shirt the problem was resolved last night.
It was the first time I had got that particular scene right and so I was very surprised to experience it resulting in something new occurring in the scene; something that had never had a chance to develop through rehearsals. It was quite a thrill for something to happen for the first time not only for the audience, but for me too; very organic. I obviously won’t give the game away; you’ll have to wait and see if you have tickets and if you don’t have tickets and are intrigued get you and your friends some from here or call the box office on 01332 255800.
It took a while to come down from last night and now I really can’t wait for this evening’s performance.
Tags: character development, derby shakespeare theatre company, performance, sir andrew aguecheek, twelfth night
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January 13th, 2009
The Twelfth Night of can-can dancing and Olivia was starting to feel the burn
The promotional material for Twelfth Night is now available and as you can see from the poster our take on Shakespeare’s finest romcom will be set in Paris around the height of the Moulin Rouge.
It runs from the 24th to the 28th of February at the Guilhall, Derby. Hope you can make it because it’s going to be a fab show.
The following information is from the back of the flyer:
Derby Shakespeare Theatre Company presents:
Twelfth Night by Monsieur Shakespeare
Call the box-office: 01332 255800
Or call in at: The Assembly Rooms box-office, Market Place, Derby
Or click: www.derbylive.co.uk
Tickets also on sale at the Guildhall on performance nights subject to availability.
7.30 pm start.
Adults: £9. Concessions: £7
Schools: £6
Paris, 1900. Duke Orsino is in love with Olivia, who is in love with Viola, who has dressed as a man to win the love of Duke Orsino. Glorious confusion ensues as Shakespeare’s most delightful romantic comedy is re-imagined and transported to the colourful, liberal world of the Moulin Rouge.
Additionally every 10 tickets sold for pupils entitles one teacher to see Twelfth Night for free.
UPDATE: You can join the Facebook event here.
Tags: Add new tag, assembly rooms, delightful romantic comedy, performance, poster, shakespeare, twelfth night
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November 11th, 2008
Rehearsals for Twelfth Night have got off to a flying start and I really enjoyed my second rehearsal last night. There are some superb characters and performances already, so it’s promising to be quite a show. Twelfth Night is one of the smallest casts I’ve been involved in for a while, so I feel very privileged and proud that I’ve made it onto the team.
Andrew is shaping up nicely. I find it intriguing that what I work on at home never seems quite right and yet at rehearsal it’s coming together wonderfully. I imagine in the company of my fellow actors and under the watchful eye of our director Caz, the often raucous ambience that’s generated must act as a kind of creative gel, filling in the gaps and smoothing over the rough edges of the character. Ok maybe a bit far with analogy there, but I’m sure you take the point; the positive, jovial atmosphere is definitely assisting the creative process.
I’m very pleased that this early in rehearsals Sir Andrew is already bedding in because it bodes well for what I might achieve by the time we finally get to perform.
Tags: cast, derby shakespeare theatre company, rehearsals, sir andrew aguecheek, twelfth night
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October 13th, 2008
I’ve successfully auditioned for a role in the next Derby Shakespeare Theatre Company production. I’ll be playing Sir Andrew Aguecheek in Twelfth Night . I’m ludicrously happy about this arrangement and it’s going to be very silly.
You can get more details on the Derby Shakespeare Theatre Company website.
Tags: audition, derbyshakespeare theatre company, sir andrew aguecheek, twelfth night
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October 3rd, 2008
The Minack Theatre, Porthcurno: Henry's home for a week.
The Minack Theatre is hacked spectacularly into the cliffs of Porthcurno bay a stone’s throw from Land’s End. What struck me about the theatre was the sense of tranquillity you experience as you wander around its nooks and crannies. I say wander, hike may be more appropriate and it’s probably far less elegant than that. More often than not I found myself gasping for breath and rubbing my splitting calves. Get-in was a new kind of hell. At the time I thought nothing of bounding up and down the steps carrying props, costumes and other assorted acting paraphernalia. “How fit as a fiddle am I?” I convinced myself, but waking the next morning my legs were barely functional. This, compounded with the resulting maelstrom in my head from the previous night’s revelries, made for an interesting day running the technical and dress rehearsals.
Backstage at the Minack the horizon feels like it envelops you. “Where else can you go out of the stage door for a cigarette and get a view like this?” said John, our production’s Warwick. Stage right exits and entrances are not a problem, but in order to make your entrances upstage and stage left you have to take a cliff side path. This runs parallel to the back of the stage, with the stage itself being on one side and a vertical drop onto the rocks and crashing spray on the other. Apparently at one time there was no railing and many a promising thesp was lost to the hungry ocean below. Maybe.
Tags: derby shakespeare theatre company, dress rehearsals, exits and entrances, henry v, minack theatre, performance, porthcurno bay, stage door
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August 21st, 2008
In the early hours of Saturday morning I will be heading down to Cornwall to perform in Henry V at the Minack Theatre. I’m really looking forward to it and weather permitting it will be fantastic. I’ll blog about it when I get back, but in the meantime click on the image to see backstage photos from the shows at Derby Grammar School.
Fluellen - Angry about leeks or something
Derby Shakespeare Theatre Company frequently hire costumes from the Royal Shakespeare Company. More often than not there are labels inside and you can find out the production, actor and role the costume was used for previously. I was particularly excited to find out that my Montjoy costume belonged to Jonathan Slinger’s Richard II in the RSC’s recent histories cycle. If you click the link it’s the one he’s wearing in the photo, minus the jerkin.
If that wasn’t impressive enough our Fluellen Mat’s suit of armour belonged to Brian Blessed in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.
Tickets for Henry V are available from the Minack Theatre website.
Update: Henry V has been and gone, I hope you enjoyed the show.
Tags: brian blessed, derby grammar school, derby shakespeare theatre company, henry v, performance, robin hood prince of thieves, royal shakespeare company, slinger
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August 19th, 2008
Despite his best attempt to disguise it as a weather report, Andy Potter has given Henry V a lovely review in the Derby Evening Telegraph:
Shakespeare in the open air and a British summer - the recipe for a fine and relaxing night out. The British weather does its best to compound that idea, ensuring that in the lead-up to this latest production by the Derby Shakespeare Theatre company of Henry V, everyone was watching the skies, hoping that the battlefields of France wouldn’t become a sodden quagmire.
As it happened, we happy few, armed with umbrellas and warming refreshments, witnessed yet another excellent telling of the Bard’s work.
Chris Scott has to carry the full weight of this production on his shoulders as the King intending to fight for the lands of France. He has to be astute, grand, personable and a man whom we believe people would fight for.
Scott pulls this off with ease, cutting a swathe through the performance area at Derby Grammer School. So immersed is he in the character he also sports a rather serious haircut to add to the illusion.
Under long-term Derby Shakespeare member Ian Arnot’s direction, the introduction of the warring sides is handled with simple isolation. Scott aside, Helena Franklin as Princess Katherine enchants with her learning of English, and is coyly believable in the protracted finale.
The production is punctuated with fine performances, Matthew Shepherd, Joe O’Brien, Michael Gaunt, Eddy Chambers and Jack Bamford are just some of the people who provide them and when this production heads to the Minack Theatre in Cornwall at the end of the month it will be a fine advertisement for the talent we have in Derby.
Cry God for Harry! England and St George and look forward to another hundred years of Shakespeare in the City, with the sun shining and not an umbrella in sight!
(Source: Derby Evening Telegraph)
Tags: battlefields, british weather, derby evening telegraph, derby grammar school, derby shakespeare theatre company, haircut, henry v, performance
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August 11th, 2008
Harry rallys his troops before Harfleur as Exeter looks on.
I took some photos of Henry V rehearsals yesterday afternoon; click the image to check them out. As you can see, rehearsals have moved to the actual performance space at the grammar school and I’m beginning to get used to the size difference between Shakespeare House and the comparative larger school field. Watching offstage I get a sense that the show is really starting to galvanise.
Onstage our entrances and exits are quite tricky because, being an outdoor production, the wings can be observed from the audience. I can be seen before I make my entrance, so it’s a balancing act because I need to appear in character should the audience look over and yet not be too busy that I pose a distraction to the audience or indeed miss my cues. Another issue is hearing cue lines, yesterday was particularly windy and at times it was a struggle for me to hear cue lines to make my entrances. Barring these difficulties it can be particularly exhilarating to perform an elaborate entrance and time it in such a way that my lines are delivered perfectly on cue. Brilliant!
For more information about Henry V and booking tickets visit the Derby Shakespeare Theatre Company website.
Update: Henry V has been and gone, I hope you enjoyed the show.
Tags: cues, derby grammar school, derby shakepeare theatre company, entrances and exits, henry v, photos, rehearsals, wings
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