Exits in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead

"...look on every exit being an entrance somewhere else"

Exits and entrances are important in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are dead. The two protagonists are stuck on stage for the entire play while other characters come and go at will. Director Glynn Oram is highlighting this by using doors in the set design. There are going to be several doors of different types some of which open and are working exits/entrances and some of which don't. The set is going to be black with all the doors painted in a variety of colours.

The set build team contemplating where to put the next door

Glynn also wanted some of the characters to have knives - but wooden ones. Ellie Spencer was working on them in the foyer on Sunday afternoon. She had found some wooden knives in the Progress props store but they were covered in silver tape - presumably from a previous production where they wanted them to look more realistic. In this production they need to look like wooden knives. Ellie has stripped the knives back to the wood and painted the blades.

Talking of recycling props I was pleased to see that the Progress beer crates are getting another outing. These have been in use at the theatre for over 40 years and in this production get used as steps and as boxes to transport things for the infamous voyage to England.

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.

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are dead by Tom Stoppard 15th - 20th October 2012, Progress Theatre

Auditions for Rumours by Neil Simon, Thursday 1st November, 7pm or Sunday 4th November, 2pm Progress Theatre

7th Annual WriteFest 14 - 17 November 2012, Progress Theatre

Auditions for New Directors’ Double Bill Wednesday 5 December, 7.30pm or Sunday 9 December, 2pm, Progress Theatre

Progress Youth Theatre presents For the Love of a Nightingale by Timberlake Wertenbaker 10-15 December 2012, Progress Theatre
 
Details of all our productions and auditions can be found on our website.