Repeat after me: 'explore the potential of the space!'

Over yesterday and today, our actors and directors attended workshops run by the RSC. At first, we didn’t know whether to be excited or intimidated – but they really were fantastic opportunities to really get to grips with what we’re doing, and also to meet some of the other people involved in Open Stages.

Ellie, Karen and Dan attended the actors’ workshop, and they had a ball. If there’s one thing the RSC can really teach, it’s attention to detail within the text – our three were worked hard, and have come back full of techniques for really getting the most out of Shakespeare’s speeches.

They also played plenty of games. Who says actors don’t take theatre seriously?

Lotty, Lynsey and Alex were the three ladies lucky enough to go to the directors’ workshop – which included a masterclass with an RSC assistant director and two professional actors. They also received some invaluable tips on theatre design, and did two hours of text work with another director.

The buzz in the workshops was brilliant, and we’ve all come away filled with enthusiasm for what we’re doing. There are 51 groups in our Open Stages region, and until today none of us had realised how much talent there is in the West Midlands! We made friends, learned new things, and will never look at Romeo’s ‘Banished’ speech in quite the same way again.

Rehearsals begin soon…

It begins...

We members of Standby are shaking in our boots at the moment – partly from nerves, mostly from excitement. The reason? We’re about to embark on our first project as a company.

As part of the Royal Shakespeare Company’s Open Stages initiative, we’re going to be out in the open air performing Lovers & Madmen: a comedy piece for all the family, based on the works of William Shakespeare. We have a cast, we have a script, and we have until the 3^rd of July to bring the two together.

Over the next six weeks we’ll be rehearsing, devising, fundraising, struggling with photoshop, and having (we hope) enormous amounts of fun. And all while working full-time jobs. One thing’s for sure: it’s going to be an interesting month!

We’ll keep you posted!