Going Postal – talking to an old hand

At sixteen James Mould may be one of the youngest in the Going Postal cast but he has several Progress family shows under his belt. 

His debut was in the title role in James and the Giant Peach in 2005 – also directed by Chris Moran who is directing Going Postal. He was in Alice in Storyland in 2006 and played a Jackal in the 2007 production of The Jungle Book. He says The Jungle Book was his favourite as he enjoys playing bad guys. I can vouch for his affinity for villains having seen him bring the house down as the Sheriff of Nottingham in a primary school production of Robin Hood. In Going Postal he plays Stanley an apprentice postman. Not a bad guy but an obsessive pin collector who “has moments.” According to Wikipedia he was bought up by peas!


After James and the Giant Peach James had to wait two years before there was a place available in one of the Progress youth groups (get your unborn children on the waiting list...). He is now a member of floodlights, who put on the recent production of Don Juan Comes Back From The War.

James is planning to go to drama school and pursue a career in acting – so come and see Going Postal and say you saw James Mould before he was famous.

Going Postal by Terry Pratchett adapted by Stephen Briggs 
28 January - 6 February 2010 with matinees on 30 January & 6 February 

See www.progresstheatre.co.uk for details of all our productions and auditions.

A very Happy Christmas to all our readers – the next new post will be early in the New Year.

If you are interested in what goes on at Progress Theatre then sign up to this blog. Enter your email in the box under ‘about us’ and click on subscribe. New postings are made weekly so you won’t be swamped with emails.

Don Juan Comes Back From the War

The latest Progress Production - Don Juan Comes Back From The War by Odon von Horvath - is the subject of a behind the scenes documentary. TVU students Heather Griffiths, Catherine Mason and Marta Janota are making the film as part of their advanced diploma in graphics and digital arts.

The finished documentary will be between thirty and forty minutes long but they have filmed hours of preparations and rehearsals. During the set building and painting they took photos every 25 seconds to create a time lapse sequence. The documentary will also include interviews with some of the cast and directors. As well as presenting the finished film for their diploma the students will give a copy to Progress - and keep a look out on YouTube!

Other members of their course have been making props for the production, most notably a snowman that is broken down during the performance and then put back together each night. This is not the first collaboration between TVU and Progress. Last summer students were involved in designing posters, costumes and choreography for the Youth Theatre production of Twelfth Night.

Don Juan Comes Back From the War has eleven female cast members playing thirty-five roles and one male. We had a sneak preview of part of the play during a rehearsal and it looked intriguing. Even without knowing what was happening it felt full of tension and drama as well as some humour. It only runs for three nights so don’t miss your chance to see it.

Juan Comes Back From The War by Odon von Horvath. Tuesday 15th to Thursday 17th December 2009 at 7:45pm. Tickets are available from the Hexagon 0118 9606060 or on-line at www.readingarts.com

If you are interested in what goes on at Progress Theatre then sign up to this blog. Enter your email in the box under ‘about us’ and click on subscribe. New postings are made weekly so you won’t be swamped with emails.

Coming up ….

Going Postal by Terry Pratchett adapted by Stephen Briggs 
28 January - 6 February 2010 with matinees on 30 January & 6 February 

See www.progresstheatre.co.uk for more details of all our productions and auditions.

Going Postal with Gaffer Tape

Progress Blog was shocked to walk into the theatre foyer last Sunday morning and find Going Postal Artistic Director Aidan Moran winding gaffer tape round Carole Brown’s chest. There was an innocent explanation - this is the ingenious way they are constructing the costume for Carole’s part in Going Postal as Anghammarad an 18000 year old Golem.

Rik Eke was also busy in the foyer making casts for the THUD! pieces Aidan has made from air drying clay. THUD! is a chess-like game played with trolls and dwarfs. It features in Terry Pratchett’s Discworld novels as a way of communicating and devising political strategies. This is one of the details that the team are adding to this production of Going Postal that will delight Terry Pratchett fans. Some characters that feature in the novels but are not in the play have been introduced to crowd scenes, for example C.M.O.T. Dibbler and Otto Chriek, the Vampire photographer.

Progress Blog has never read a Terry Pratchett novel (cue horrified gasps!) so I was a bit concerned that this production might not be for me. Aidan reassured me that the play is accessible to Pratchett virgins. The extra details will add depth for fans but won’t detract from the plot.  

The set has been designed to allow quick fluid changes and includes three revolves as well as scrolling windows and tapestries. The technical team have already been planning for three months and are designing it so that it can be built in modules. 

Going Postal by Terry Pratchett Adapted by Stephen Briggs runs from 28 January - 6 February 2010 with matinees on 30 January & 6 February 2010.  

Tickets are available from the Hexagon 0118 9606060.

If you are interested in what goes on at Progress Theatre then sign up to this blog. Enter your email in the box under ‘about us’ and click on subscribe. New postings are made weekly so you won’t be swamped with emails.
Coming up ….

Auditions for A couple of poor English-speaking Poles by Dorota Maslowska. Tuesday 8th December 2009 7.30 at Progress Theatre.

Auditions for Alan Ayckbourn’s Intimate Exchanges Sunday 6 December 2009, 1.30pm to 4pm and Wednesday, 9 December 2009, 7.30pm to 10pm at Progress Theatre.

Next Production is Don Juan Comes Back From The War by Odon von Horvath.Tuesday 15th to Thursday 17th December 2009 at 7:45pm.

See www.progresstheatre.co.uk for more details of all our productions and auditions.
 

Auditions for Intimate Exchanges

Auditions are coming thick and fast at Progress. The next ones are for Alan Ayckbourn’s Intimate Exchanges and are on Sunday, 6 December 2009, 1.30pm to 4pm and Wednesday, 9 December 2009, 7.30pm to 10pm both at Progress Theatre.

The director, Geoff Dallimore, told us a bit more about this unusual play which has only been performed twice in its full version. This is not surprising when you learn that it fills two volumes, has sixteen possible endings and ten different characters, all performed by just two actors. The second production was almost cancelled when Ayckbourn suffered a stroke shortly before starting rehearsals and one wonders whether there was some connection!

The idea behind the play is that small choices can have significant repercussions. Thus, at the very beginning, one of the characters must decide whether or not to have a sneaky cigarette and, based upon that decision, the entire course of the play is set. As the play progresses, different characters are faced with further decisions and the narrative flows in one direction or another as a consequence.

Progress Theatre will mount two of the possible variations. The decision leading to the split takes place after 20 minutes when the character of Lionel must choose whether or not to take the youthful Sylvie out on a date or if he should make a move on the dissatisfied wife of the local headmaster. The different variations will be performed on alternate nights to give audiences a chance to see both of them. Joint tickets to see the two productions at reduced prices will be available. Keep an eye out early in the New Year when tickets go on sale.


Geoff directed a very successful production of Ayckbourn’s Woman in Mind in 2007 that featured live falling rain. Intimate Exchanges attracted him because the small cast and quiet setting will work perfectly at the intimate Progress Theatre. Nevertheless, he says there will be plenty of technical wizardry on show including a collapsing stage on stage.

As well as directing at Progress, Geoff is a talented musician and has often acted as Musical Director for shows. You may have seen him on stage in his musical persona. He played piano in the Wild West saloon bar of The Taming of the Shrew in 2008 in the Abbey ruins. He also wrote and played the music for the 2006 production of Dracula at the theatre.

For more information about the play and the auditions see www.progresstheatre.co.uk

Don’t forget …

The current production at Progress Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare runs until 5th December – get your tickets now.

Auditions for A couple of poor English-speaking Poles by Dorota Maslowska are being held on Sunday 29th November 2009 at 2.30 and Tuesday 8th December 2009 7.30 at Progress Theatre.

Director’s take on 'A couple of poor English-speaking Poles'

Auditions for A couple of poor English-speaking Poles by Dorota Maslowska are being held on Sunday 29th November 2009 at 2.30 and Tuesday 8th December 2009 7.30 at Progress Theatre. 

Director Joanna Rogowska (left) first saw this play performed at the Soho Theatre in 2008 in its original translation as A Couple of Poor, Polish-Speaking Romanians, set in Poland. She loved the play but non-Polish friends who saw it didn’t enjoy it as much and didn’t get many of the references to Polish culture and history. When Joanna decided she would like to direct the play at Progress she contacted the publishers and they pointed her towards an American working on a new translation. Joanna then worked with the translator and transferred the plot from Poland to England. 

Before moving to England four years ago Joanna had been involved in theatre productions at university in Poland. When she moved to Reading she joined Progress Theatre and has directed some short plays in WriteFests at Progress. She appeared on stage in the most recent one playing a crazy director intent on making the simplest on-stage action completely ludicrous. She says she ‘hopes’ she is not really like that!

Joanna’s aim in producing this play is that it will be of interest to the large Polish community as well as having wider appeal to the general Reading public. 

For more information about the play and the auditions see www.progresstheatre.co.uk 

Coming up …

The next production at Progress is Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare. 26th November to 5th December 2009. 

Auditions for Intimate Exchanges by Alan Ayckbourn Sunday 6th December 2009 1.30pm-4.00pm and Wednesday 9th December 2009 7.30-10.00 both at Progress Theatre.

The Last Lap

It is less than a fortnight to go until Much Ado goes up and Progress Blog sat in on a Saturday afternoon rehearsal. We can report that it flowed well, the actors knew their lines (well most of them) and it made us laugh. It is going to be a good show.

The rehearsal period has not been without its problems. The director, Lesley McEwen, has been ill and has suffered from not having a production manager. This has meant she has been sending out ever more desperate emails to find people to help with set lighting and sound. Luckily these calls have been answered and there will be light (and sound).

Everyone in the cast pulled together and built the set in a weekend. It is simple but effective. At the moment it is all white but some bits are still to be painted to give a grey stonework effect.

Stage manager Mandy King turned up last weekend expecting to watch a rehearsal but instead found a paint brush thrust into her hand. Mandy was back this weekend and did get to watch a rehearsal this time. She bought her laptop and was using it to draw a plan of the stage and mark off where all the furniture needs to be. She was also trying to work out which cast members will have time to help with scene changes.

Tony Powell, who plays the Sexton, rushed on stage during the interval to nail up a dartboard. Tony only turned up to the auditions because he was giving his daughter Emma a lift. She got the part of Hero and Tony was persuaded to audition himself. To quote the director, “Tony has been a legend”. As well as being a handy set builder he has taken on finding all the props – which explained the dartboard.

To see the results of all this hard work come and see ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ it runs from 26th November to 5th December 2009. Tickets available from the Hexagon 0118 9606060.

Coming up ...

Auditions for 'A Couple of Poor English-speaking Poles' by Dorota Maslowska on Sunday 29th November at 2.30 and Tuesday 8th December 7.30 both at Progress Theatre.

Auditions for ‘Intimate Exchanges’ by Alan Ayckbourn Sunday 6th December 2009 1.30pm-4.00pm and Wednesday 9th December 2009 7.30-10.00 both at Progress Theatre.

See progresstheatre.co.uk for more details.

Much To Do About Costumes

Three weeks to go until the start of ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ and we caught up with Helen Coleman in the theatre dressing room. Helen is managing the costumes for Much Ado and with 23 characters and multiple costume changes this is no small task. To help keep track of all the requirements she has drawn up a table showing what each character needs for every scene. She also makes extensive use of sticky labels so that once she has found a pair of shoes or item of clothing for a particular character and scene they don’t get lost.

This production of Much Ado is set in 1982 and while the occasional item from later in the decade may be slipped in she has tried to stick to this date. A major criteria is how the costumes will look together on stage and some beautiful individual items weren’t used because they didn’t work with the overall look.

Some Progress members are old enough to remember the 80s (!) and many have lent their own clothes and shoes that they wore at the time. The other main source of costumes has been Ebay. Several dresses were bought for under £10 each and an 80s style wedding dress cost £35 – much cheaper than hiring or making. The only hired items have been uniforms for the men.

The ball scene has been the most fun to costume; the women will be wearing beautiful party dresses with fab shoes and the men full dress uniforms. Helen says the most nostalgic items for her have been the Laura Ashley dresses as she spent the 80s either pregnant or with young children so wore long comfortable dresses more often than disco wear.

To see all these costumes in action come and see Much Ado About Nothing it runs from 26th November to 5th December 2009. Tickets available from the Hexagon 0118 9606060.

Coming up ...
Auditions for 'A Couple of Poor English-speaking Poles' by Dorota Maslowska on Sunday 29th November at 2.30 and Tuesday 8th December 7.30 both at Progress Theatre.
See progresstheatre.co.uk for more details.

Making theatre more accessible to all

The last night of Writefest saw the first step in a new project at Progress. Ali Carroll, who runs the successful Progress Youth Theatre groups, has a vision to open up participation in the theatre to people with learning disabilities or mental health issues. She is planning a session of workshops looking at backstage skills as well as acting. These will be open to all Progress members and in addition she will invite a number of people from the local community who may find it difficult to access the theatre without support. The idea is that they will each be supported by two existing Progress members. One of these supporters will always be at the workshops as a guaranteed friendly familiar face. They will also negotiate supporting the new members in other theatre activities.

Saturday was the first meeting of the support network with five existing Progress members meeting with Ali and four potential new members. The group met in the theatre bar for a chat over tea and biscuits before attending the Writefest together. It was a good event to start with as the different plays gave plenty to talk about. Loyal members of the group however insisted that their favourite was ‘My home is my Castle’ a monologue performed by Ali.

As well as the support network the visitors met many other members of the theatre while enjoying a drink in the bar during the interval. Being introduced to Alex, the voice of the elevator, was a particular highlight. We hope that Saturday night was the start of a successful attempt to widen participation in Progress.

Coming soon ...

The next production at Progress is ‘Much Ado Nothing’ by William Shakespeare. 25th November to 5th December 2009. The next blog post will be a behind the scenes look at the costumes.

Auditions for 'A Couple of Poor English-speaking Poles' by Dorota Maslowska on Sunday 29th November at 2.30 and Tuesday 8th December 7.30 both at Progress Theatre.
See progresstheatre.co.uk for more details.

Auditions for Going Postal

Auditions for ‘Going Postal’ by Terry Pratchett adapted by Stephen Briggs are to be held on Sunday 1st November at 2.30pm and Wednesday 4th November at 7.30pm at Progress theatre.

Performance dates are 28th Jan – 6th Feb with two matinees.

There is a very wide variety of roles for both adults and young people. Auditions are open to everyone. Come along and have a go, what have you got to lose!

See progresstheatre.co.uk for more details.

Coming up …
The next production at Progress is ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ by William Shakespeare. 25th November to 5th December 2009. Watch this space for a behind the scenes look at the costumes.

Fourth Writefest

Performance dates on Thursday 22nd October to Saturday 24th October 2009

Doors open at 7:15pm, Performance starts 7:45pm.

Normal ticket prices £7 (no concessions)

An evening of nine new plays from writers all around the country featuring comedy, drama and a little absurdity.

From a teenager's first kiss to a woman with a past via a landlord with a tale to tell and an elevator with a story, this promises to be a highly entertaining evening with something for everyone.

This is the fourth time we have presented new writing in this format at Progress Theatre. This year Write Fest is being produced by Christine Moran, herself a local playwright and founder member of the thriving Progress Writers' Group.

Writers from all around the country were invited to submit work for inclusion in Write Fest, which attracted a large number of entries. It was challenging process to select just nine short pieces to perform, and the final choice includes five by local writers, some members of Progress Writers' Group, and four from further a field.

Write Fest has always proven to be a very popular and entertaining evening in the past, and this year will be no exception, with comedy, drama, pathos and more comedy! Book your seats early so you don't miss out!!


Tickets available from Reading Arts Box Office on 0118 960 6060,
in person at the Hexagon or the Old Town Hall


Book on-line anytime at http://www.readingarts.com/othervenues/whatson

Please note that a booking fee may apply


Contact enquiries@progresstheatre.co.uk for further details
www.progresstheatre.co.uk

Auditions for "Closer" by Patrick Marber

Auditions: Wed 24th June 7:30pm & Sun 28th June 2:30pm

Winner of the Evening Standard Award for Best Comedy and the Laurence Oliver Award for Best New Play, Closer explores the brutal anatomy of modern romance. A quartet of strangers meet, fall in love and become entangled in a web of sexual desire and betrayal.
On the surface it is brisk, urbane, modern and slick, underneath it is painful, sad and wise and keenly alert to human isolation even within intense relationships.
Anyone who has loved and lost, suffered through infidelity or felt love die, will watch this play with stomach churning pangs of recognition.

Performance running from Monday 28th Sept – Saturday 3rd Oct

The Dianalogues by Laurel Haines

Performance dates: Monday 8th June to Saturday 13th June at 7:45pm.

.....not a play about Princess Di....

So... what do a homicidal housewife, sci-fi wedding and ex porn film star have to do with a former fairytale princess?

From the teenage beauty queen at fat camp and the high powered lawyer who wants a royal style wedding, to a disgruntled Mother Teresa whose death, on the same day as Diana’s, only made page four, this is not a play about Princess Diana but about ten very different women whose lives have in some way been influenced or affected by her.

This play will make you laugh and cry and laugh until you cry.

Tickets can be bought on the door or booked in advance at the Hexagon or Reading Town Hall, by phone on 0118 9606060 or online at http://www.readingarts.com/.

Third Annual Write Fest

Between Thursday 29th and Saturday 31st January, Progress Theatre presents the Third Annual Write Fest. Tickets cost just £7 and the show starts at 7.45pm.

On each night of the festival, nine short plays and sketches lasting from 5 to 20 minutes will be performed. Almost 100 scripts were submitted by writers from across the country and the final line-up includes drama, dance, comedy and horror.

Tickets can be bought on the door or booked in advance at the Hexagon or Reading Town Hall, by phone on 0118 9606060 or online at http://www.readingarts.com/.

Email writefest@progresstheatre.co.uk for more info.

Playlist:

"Bedtime Story" by Richard Stanley - A teenage girl dreads the thought of her grandmother reading her a bedtime story, but when the story becomes real and the dastardly Boogieman dances onto the stage, you won't know whether to laugh or cower in fear.

"But is it Art?" by Liz Carroll - Modern art. Nobody understands it, least of all three visitors to a gallery who each see something different in one very special painting.

"Family Business" by Progress Strobes Youth Group - Devised by the one of Progress' active youth groups and performed at the Maidenhead drama festival last year to fantastic acclaim, don't miss this opportunity to see what children think about their parents.

"Hirsuitor" by Gillian Shimwell - A nightmare vision of one man's descent into madness.

"Lisa and Leona" by Simon Josiffe - Two girls, a bag of crisps, and memories of old school days.

"Mermaids A Comin'" by Sandra Wathall - A young girl persuades an old woman to join in with her games on the beach. When the tide comes in and strands them on a rock, however, a miracle is needed.

"The Time of Year" by Graham Sellors - New Year, and two people find themselves alone. A timely power cut sends one of them searching for some light, and maybe a new chance at happiness.

"Where No Woman Has Gone Before…" by Chris Moran - A science fiction geek has found a real girl to distract him from fantasies about Princess Leia, but now he must clear the evidence of his unhealthy obsession from his flat before she arrives for a quiet night in.

"Who is Sylvia?" by Liz Carroll - A woman sits in her kitchen clutching a bloodied knife. Whose blood is it and where has Sylvia got to?