Mine backstage

I was backstage for the first night of Mine on Monday night. There was a general buzz of nervous energy and activity. People busy getting dressed, putting on make-up and, very considerately, going into the corridor to put on hairspray.

I asked about first night nerves and the main response seemed to be variations of  "I hate this bit I wish I could just go" and  "I hate standing in the wings". Deep breathing was suggested as a way of calming nerves and preparing to go on stage. I also asked if anyone had any superstitions that they always had to follow. No-one had any in particular but Evelyn said she likes to develop and stick to a routine so whatever she does on the first night she has to continue for the rest of the run.

Another first night tradition is cards and even flowers and presents from family and friends. As the only man in a cast of ten Peter gallantly brought a basket of fruit and a card "to the women of Mine from the man"

Most casts like to do a warm-up on stage before the audience comes in. Mine's warm-up included each member saying one of their lines which was then repeated by all the cast, a game of 'zip zap boing' and a final sports team style cheer.

All the preparations paid off and the first night was successful, all nerves forgotten as soon as they stepped on stage. 

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Coming up -

Mine by Polly Teale 11th - 16th June 2012, Progress Theatre

What’s Wrong With Angry? By Patrick Wilde, 2nd - 7th July 2012, Progress Theatre

Henry IV Part One by William Shakespeare, 12th  - 21st July 2012, Caversham Court Gardens

Catching up with a 'Mine' rehearsal

Rehearsals for Mine are at the point where the set is built but not complete. The actors can start to get a feel for going in and out of the right exits using the different levels and steps but not everything is ready. Sometimes they have to make do with substitutes, for example a row of foyer chairs instead of a window seat and a hole in the wall where there will eventually be a dolls' house to crawl into.



Tallulah and Sam on the half finished set

The play is about adoption and there needs to be a baby. It is harder than you think to handle a doll in a way that allows the audience to suspend their disbelief and accept that it is a real baby. Part of the problem is that the weight is not right and there was some discussion about filling the doll with sand or tying a weight around it to make it a more realistic weight. All new parents will have struggled with holding a baby with one hand and doing something else like answering the phone with the other -  even more difficult when you are trying to act as well!

Director Chris teaching the cast how to hold a baby and answer the phone.

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 -

Mine by Polly Teale 11th - 16th June 2012, Progress Theatre

What’s Wrong With Angry? By Patrick Wilde, 2nd - 7th July 2012, Progress Theatre

Henry IV Part One by William Shakespeare, 12th  - 21st July 2012, Caversham Court Gardens

Fun and Mindgames

Palmer Park church hall was full of Progress actors last Sunday. I rang the bell for the hall I was expecting Mindgame rehearsals to be in but was let in by someone rehearsing Henry IV who told me Mindgame was upstairs. I then found a room of people I recognised but quickly realised they were rehearsing Mine not Mindgame. It seemed a bit rude to walk out saying "sorry I didn't want to see you" so I stayed to watch a scene. It is early days and the actors were rehearsing the scene for the first time but even though they were reading from their scripts the scene was still full of emotional tension (I'm not just saying this because they bribed me with cake honest).

I finally made it to the Mindgame rehearsal and they were part way through a run of the first act. There was a lot going on, in the twenty minutes or so I watched I saw a fight, someone murdered and someone being put in a straitjacket and threatened with torture. I also found myself laughing in places and I did check with director Chris Hoult later if I was supposed to be laughing. He reassured me that there was some black comedy and it was ok to laugh.

I also asked Chris about the the fighting as it looked very realistic.He told me that they hired Stevie Peart a professional actor specialising in stage fighting to run a workshop with the cast. The video shows an extract from the workshop.The production team and actors had already worked out the basic choreography and Steve advised them on techniques to make it look more realistic like following through properly after a punch. He also gave them some tips on how to use breakaway bottles for a scene where someone is hit with a wine bottle. Breakaway bottles are made with resin and look like a real wine bottle but shatter easily when smashed over someones head. The production crew have just collected 18 of these bottles from Sheperton Studios where Breakaway Effects Limited is based. They drove very carefully on the way home and are hoping that the 18 will be enough for 6 performances and rehearsals. So far they haven't dared take them out of the box!

I really enjoyed the bit of Mindgame I saw but I wasn't allowed to stay and watch the second half in case I gave away any of the twists and turns. I'll just have to buy my ticket like everyone else!

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 -

Mindgame by Anthony Horowitz 10th-12th May and 17th-19th May 2012, Progress Theatre

Auditions for Calendar Girls, by Tim Firth, Sunday 13th (2:30pm) and Wednesday 16th May (7:30pm). There is also a pre-audition evening Thursday 3rd May 7.45pm, a chance to hear the directors vision and ask any questions you may have.

Mine by Polly Teale 11th - 16th June 2012, Progress Theatre

Henry IV Part One by William Shakespeare, 12 Jul - 21 Jul 2012, Caversham Court Gardens

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