The Company is an amateur theatre group with members across Sheffield and South Yorkshire. We have been established for over a decade and have developed a reputation for high quality theatre worthy of the professional stage. We perform three plays a year at The University of Sheffield's Drama Studio, a renowned intimate theatre venue. Our members are encouraged to give creative input at all stages of production including script writing, set design, stage management, directing and acting. Our next production is Aphra Behn's The Rover which will be in the Drama Studio from Wednesday June 18th until Saturday June 21st and at the Dore festival Wednesday July 9th.

This blog will contain the thoughts and feelings of those members of The Company putting together this production of The Rover.

Who is blogging here? John is our leading man playing Willmore, the eponymous 'Rover' he is also managing the production, ensuring that all the disparate creative and technical strands come together to produce a whole play. Cassandra is new to on stage work with The Company having previously been part of the epic crew for "Noises Off". Alison is the director and has also done some of the adaption work to ensure the audience can understand what is going on and that the dirty jokes really shine though. Tony is playing Ned Blunt and will be battling with being typecast as a bumbling idiot and comedy costuming.

Blog Archive:

Tuesday, 18 March 2008

A director muses

Two rehearsals down...the read through was really good. So many inventive ideas from the cast. But...the play is too long. I need to cut 15 minutes by Thursday.

I did cut it severely & now have to decide when to tell the cast. I don't think I can bear trying to email a new script out to everyone. I think I'll just break it to them gently at the start of each rehearsal. The first blocking rehearsal was even better - the boys are gelling together really well, and it was great to be back working with Vicky and Katie.

Highlight of the play so far is when Amy gets knocked over, and struggles to her feet. She does such an odd thing with her legs...it's like a chicken desperate for the loo.

My worry for the weekend is the set. I don't like having Angellica's balcomy at the back of the stage. I may upset everyone by redesigning the whole thing.

Hah!

1 comment:

Amy Gunn said...

Cheers Alison! The incontinent chicken look was JUST what I was going for...glad it showed in my performance...that baby's going on my cv!! Amy