Half Masks and Dead Sailors

The theatre today was in the happy state of chaos that is a technical rehearsal, the lighting needs to be sorted, costumes perfected, contact numbers collected and the theatre tidied on top of rehearsing the play.

When I was at the Under Milk Wood rehearsal last week they were busy making masks so I was interested in see the finished articles. The masks are used by the actors playing dead sailors. The original idea was to use make-up but it soon became apparent that this wouldn't be practical because many of the actors are playing multiple parts and have to make quick changes.

The base of the masks are the cheap white plastic ones you can buy in costume shops. These were then cut in half and covered in papier maché. The plan was to paint them but in the end they looked good without - like rotting skin!

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Progress Youth Theatre Under Milk Wood by Dylan Thomas 5th - 9th July 2011


Auditions for Black Bird by David Harrower Sunday 17th July at 6pm and Tuesday 19th July at 7.30pm at Progress Theatre

Open air production The Tempest by William Shakespeare 23rd - 30th July 2011 Caversham Court Gardens

See Progress Theatre website for details of all our productions and auditions.

Under Milk Wood

Steven Brodie has been involved with Progress Youth Theatre for the last 8 years and he is still only 17. In Under Milk Wood by Dylan Thomas he plays Captain Cat, a blind ex-sailor who is on stage throughout the whole performance. He tries to keep his eyes slightly out of focus and is careful not to follow the action on stage as well as not wriggling too much on the hard wooden chair.

Steven explained that the play tells the story of the lives of the people of Llareggub partly through their dreams and partly through real events. Apart from Steven most of the cast play multiple characters and he was hugely impressed by the idea of a one woman production he has heard about.

I wondered what production Steven had most enjoyed taking part in while at Progress. He mentioned several, for different reasons that cover the whole range of motivations for being involved in theatre: Cold Comfort Farm because everyone in the cast became very close; Macbeth because it is his favourite play and Blood Wedding because it was the first play not written for children he was involved in. My favourite was  Don Juan Comes Back From The War which he said he liked "because it was such a beautiful play", He's right it was and if Under Milk Wood is of the same standard it will be well worth watching.


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. 

Progress Youth Theatre Under Milk Wood by Dylan Thomas 5th - 9th July 2011
(please note dates as were wrong in previous posts)

Open air production The Tempest by William Shakespeare 23rd - 30th July 2011

See Progress Theatre website for details of all our productions and auditions.