Live tetris

  By Production Blog | 17 February, 2012 - 09:20 | Production Blog
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by Zoë

There was far more space in my head. The chairs were a lot smaller in my diagram – and the actors didn’t have inconsiderate sticky-outie things, such as elbows.

After measuring and marking out the area of the stage in the rehearsal space – and then filling it with set, props and actors – I realised one very important thing: size might not be everything, but with this stage, we’re going to have to work hard!

As our five-and-a-half-hour rehearsal motored on, trying to realise the blocking I had envisioned in my head became more and more like a game of live Tetris. The blocks kept falling, but the gaps were suddenly the wrong shape – or already filled with actors and their silly elbows – and time was running out…

When we eventually reached the last page, I was so relieved that I forgot we’d started a bit later than usual and accidentally let the cast go half an hour early. Don’t worry – that won’t be happening again!

Article source: http://www.finnbritplayers.com/blog/2012/02/16/live-tetris/

Learning the lines

  By Production Blog | 14 February, 2012 - 17:02 | Production Blog
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by Riikka

As a newbie to the FBP, not quite sure where to begin… As I went to my first ever FBP audition a few weeks back, I didn’t really know what to expect. To my great surprise - and pleasure - I was cast in the upcoming production! Now the rehearsals have started in earnest, and each night after work I try to get my head down and learn my lines. I have a slight worry though… What if I go on stage on the opening night, open my mouth, and all that comes out is “meow”??
You see, last night I decided to record the play so that I could use it as a tool to learn my lines. I was reading it out loud when one of my cats decided that she wanted to come in to the bedroom where I was. She wasn’t very happy with the door being closed and not being let in, and hence protested very loudly outside. As a result, I now have a recording of Act 1 interspersed with a cat meowing! As I will surely listen to this recording repeatedly until I learn my lines, what if I start to meow during the play??

Article source: http://www.finnbritplayers.com/blog/2012/02/14/learning-the-lines/

The breeze before the calm, before the storm…..

  By Production Blog | 13 February, 2012 - 11:42 | Production Blog
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by Beth

So, this weekend has seen the first of our ” on it’s feet” rehearsals and, as is custom to kick these things off, we have been blocking our little socks off. And, as stage manager, my pencil has been steaming. Seriously, I won’t be touching the thing for a few days for fear of burning my fingers.

Every step, every move, every bum on seat, every dramatic exit (where to,with who, with what in hand?) and bold entrance (from where, wearing what?) has been penciled onto my script- giving our Director her rightful licence to change her mind. Then we come to props- when are they needed? who needs them? where should they be set? when do we need to strike? Phew- many questions that all needed an immediate answer but we got there and I now have a ‘plan’.

The blocking rehearsal is always one of the most dizzy for the SM but now I get to calmly test my ‘plan’ to see if it works throughout the rest of the rehearsals. However this is all leading to those turbulent rehearsals to come a little further down the line where I will be jumping up and down about sight lines, getting stroppy over props that are moved from their set position and generally bawling at the thought that any of the logistics of the ‘plan’ are not achievable in the theatre. All inevitable stuff- but forewarned is forearmed and I, for one, can’t wait :0)

 

Article source: http://www.finnbritplayers.com/blog/2012/02/12/the-breeze-before-the-calm-before-the-storm/