Enjoy rehearsals

All My Sons by Arthur Miller is running until Saturday 14th May. There are still tickets left so don't miss the chance to see this brilliant emotionally gripping play.


Meanwhile rehearsals are progressing for the next show, Enjoy by Alan Bennett. I'm going to struggle with posting about this show as I keep being told interesting titbits followed by "oh but you can't write that in the blog it'll spoil the plot". So what can I tell you? It was first performed in 1980 and this production is set in that period but director Peter Charles said the look will be "more beige tank-tops than Toni Basil". It is set in Leeds and to my southerner's ear the actors seemed to be making a good job of the Yorkshire accents.

LIz Carroll and Tom Sellwood 'Enjoy' rehearsing their dance moves

The production requires a number of extras - these are non speaking parts but need to be reasonably young and strong. If you are interested and free 6th - 11th June and the weekend before for final rehearsals then contact Peter on enjoy@groovechild.co.uk.

The other thing I'm going to struggle with for this production is not making terrible word plays on the title - I'll do my best!


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...

All My Sons by Arthur Miller runs until 14th May 2011

Enjoy by Alan Bennett 6th - 11th June 2011

Progress Youth Theatre Under Milk Wood by Dylan Thomas 4th - 11 July 2011

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

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

All My Sons Tech Rehearsal

This is the final weekend before the first night of All My Sons on Thursday 5th May so it is time to sort out all the technical aspects before the final few rehearsals. Today was mainly about getting the lighting right, making sure that the areas of the stage where the actors perform in each scene are lit correctly. Of course the actors also need to make sure they stand in the right part of the stage....

After a run through with the lights director Harry had to sort out the sound effects with the two operators. The actors weren't needed for this so went for a well earned break in the pub - acting is hard work you know!

In the post All My Sons - Photo Op I took some photos of the publicity shoot. I thought you might like to see one of the resulting shots taken by photographer Mandy King.

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...

All My Sons by Arthur Miller 5th - 14th May 2011

Enjoy by Alan Bennett 6th - 11th June 2011

Progress Youth Theatre Under Milk Wood by Dylan Thomas 4th - 11 July 2011

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

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

Scale Models and Shoes

Some directors have only a sketchy idea of how they want the set to look and others know precisely. Harry Grey, definitely falls into the latter camp. He has constructed a detailed model from cardboard and paper. I wish now that I had included a hand in the photo to give you some idea of the scale. It is about 30cm x 25cm I from memory.

The wrong pair of shoes can ruin an otherwise good costume. Audiences notice these things so it is important that the shoes worn are right for the character and for a historical play that they are from the correct period. They also need to fit so that the actor doesn't spend the show either in pain or worrying about tripping over their feet. Progress has a large collection of shoes so there is usually plenty of opportunity to find the perfect pair.

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...

All My Sons by Arthur Miller 5th - 14th May 2011

Enjoy by Alan Bennett 6th - 11th June 2011

Progress Youth Theatre Under Milk Wood by Dylan Thomas 4th - 11 July 2011

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

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

All My Sons Photo Op

Mandy King takes most of the publicity photos for Progress and my visit to the theatre on Sunday to gather material for the blog coincided with her visit to do a photo shoot for All My Sons. As is often the way, the publicity photos are needed before the costumes are completely sorted. The actors therefore had to be photographed with an approximation of the final costume or the top half only because they have the right shirt but are wearing modern jeans. Mandy also has to made sure that modern watches and jewelry are removed as inconsistent details can spoil a good shot.

Helen Coleman, who is organising costumes for the show was also on hand to make sure the cast looked right for the period. She had some red lipstick for the women as she says "red lipstick just says 1940s". There wasn't a lot she could do about modern haircuts in time for the photos but she is encouraging the men to grow their hair longer on the top so that by the time of the performance they can have a traditional short back and sides.

Mandy decided to take advantage of the sunshine and we all walked over to Cintra park just opposite the theatre. We requisitioned a park bench for our photos - much to the bemusement of the other park users.

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...

All My Sons by Arthur Miller 5th - 14th May 2011

Enjoy by Alan Bennett 6th - 11th June 2011

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

Recycling and Chaperones

At Progress we like to reuse material whenever possible. It saves time and money as well as being better for the environment. If you saw The Ash Girl earlier this year you'll remember the splendid fireplace. If you come to Cold Comfort Farm you'll see it being reused as part of the set. It will be looking slightly more dirty and battered as part of the Starkadder's kitchen.

The word chaperone calls up images of Victorian maiden aunts sitting in on dates to ensure nothing untoward is going on. In the theatre it is used to mean someone who looks after the interests of any children or young people in a show. In the professional world they have been used for some time in theatres and on film sets to make sure that their charges have rest breaks, access to education and are not asked to do anything dangerous.

For the last few years it has been a legal requirement for amateur theatres to have a chaperone backstage during every performance including under 17 year olds. Chaperones have to be police checked and registered with their local authority. It is not an onerous job and mainly involves sitting in the dressing rooms, saying shush! a lot and waiting until all their charges have been picked up at the end of the night. Having said that without people willing to give up their time to do this young people would not have the opportunity to perform on stage. Many amateur theatres have decided that it is too much bother and don't cast anyone under 17. Luckily we do bother at Progress so you'll be able to see the Progress Youth Theatre performing Cold Comfort Farm starting tonight 4th April and running until Saturday 9th.

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...

Progress Youth Theatre Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons adapted by Paul Doust, 4th - 9th April 2011

All My Sons by Arthur Miller 5th - 14th May 2011

Enjoy by Alan Bennett 6th - 11th June 2011

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