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.