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.

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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.

Cold Comfort Farm

The next production is Cold Comfort Farm adapted by Paul Doust from Stella Gibbons' classic comic novel. Gibbons wrote the novel in 1932, when she was only 22, as a satire of the dramatic, romantic, rural based novels popular at the time.

When I went up to the theatre to see how things were progressing they were rehearsing the ball scene. I walked in to hear the director Ben Sandiford advising his cast to "Spend time with your poles". This is not as strange as it sounds! In order to give the feel of a huge ball they are doubling the number of party goers by giving each human guest a puppet partner - basically a pole with a jacket. At the rehearsal I watched they hadn't yet got the poles but were improvising with coat hangers. Ben was reassuring them that it would be easier when they had the poles as long as they got used to handling them by spending time with them.

To see the finished performance come along to Progress Theatre between the 4th and 9th April.

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.

Teechers making noise

Most productions need some sort of sound effects, in Teechers it is mainly the school bell, rowdy school children and music. The way the play works there are no breaks for stage management to come on and change scenes. When the action switches the actors simply move to a different place on the stage, moving or picking up the props they need. Music will be an important part of making these transitions work smoothly.

Stuart McCubbin will be operating the sound and although Aidan Moran is responsible for sourcing the sound effects and music Stuart has been part of the process as well. He sat in on a rehearsal last weekend and made suggestions about what sounds he thought would be appropriate at different points. He has also contributed a CD box set of 80s music, something he felt showed his age.

When I asked Stuart if he had experience of involvement on the technical side of performances he mentioned operating the lights in a school play using rheostats(*) and a broom handle. Perhaps even less relevant early experiences were playing Father Christmas and leading an on-stage rabble singing the La Marseillaise.

Stuart was drawn into Progress by his children Alex McCubbin and Laura Mills who both started in the youth theatre and are still active members. He hasn't acted himself at Progress but enjoys performing with Reading Bach Choir and hopes to squeeze some of their music into the Teechers soundtrack. Regular visitors to Progress will probably recognise Stuart as he is often to be found manning the bar or working front of house, both roles that he enjoys. Members be warned - there will be more slots to fill for this production as Stuart will be busy.

* I pretended to know what Stuart was talking about and then looked it up here later. It even tells you how they work!

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...

Auditions for Enjoy by Alan Bennett, Sunday 6th March 3pm & Thursday 10th March, 7.30pm Progress Theatre.

Teechers by John Godber 14th to 19th March 2011

Progress Youth Theatre Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons 4th - 9th- April 2011

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