Newsflash!

Things have been quiet in Standby HQ for the last couple of months, but it all looks set to heat up again soon! We've worked out a plan for our next project: a site-specific piece, devised by the company and based in a building in Stratford.

It's going to be a unique challenge - some of us have never really devised before, and some have never worked in promenade - but we can't wait to start. There's also the thorny issue of using that term 'site-specific'.

Here at Standby, we don't think it's enough to take a play set in 'a park' and stage it in the Swan Gardens. We don't want to look at a script set in 'a cinema', and place it in the local Picture House.

We want to start with a space and work up. Take a building with its own layout, its own history, and create some theatre which can't be performed anywhere else.

Wish us luck!

Lovers and Madmen

Our RSC Open Stages performance 'Lovers and Madmen' is done and dusted!

You can see the results as part of an Interview with Ian Wainwright on the RSC Website - just click here

Plus you can also check out our photo gallery, courtesy of the lovely and talented Emily Showell!

Busy, busy, busy!

As you may be able to tell from the lack of blog posts over the last few weeks, we here at Standby have been rushed off our feet getting everything ready - and so far, we're on track!

The actors are off-script, and have really started getting into their roles. So far, so good, and everyone had really started rising to the challenge of getting those lines properly down, working out how to fight without concussing anyone (Ben's bruises are a sight to behold, and we fear that we will not be able to say that 'no actors were harmed in the making of this production'!), and the most pressing challenge of all: getting into the mind of a butterfly. Yes, ladies and gentelmen, we have the best butterflies in Stratford Upon Avon. Method acting, eat your heart out.

On the production side of things, it's all systems go. We're lucky enough to have some arty-minded members of the team, who have been able to rustle up everything from a popcorn tub to an ice cream - the only thing we're still working on finding is a skull! Costumes are sorted, and our stage manager can't wait to start rehearsing with everything she's found.

We have a beautiful poster in the works, to be unveiled soon, and we can't wait for the world to see it: professional designer Anniek Olsder has outdone herself on this one, and we know it's going to look wonderful around the town.

'Lonely hearts' videos and snippets of rehearsal footage should be up on Facebook soon, so keep one eye on our page there - you can find the link to it here, in the sidebar. Remember, 3rd July is the day to watch - and any donations of suncream are very welcome!

Signing off now, as we need to go and figure out a Richard III costume - we'll leave you with this question:

If you were a biscuit, what kind of biscuit would you be - and why?

Rehearsal #1: 'Try not to walk into each other...'

This evening, we were kindly allowed to gatecrash the RSC’s Clore Learning Space, where we embarked on our first official read-through.

But, of course, we indulged in a few silly games first! Alex had us all hugging, shaking hands and trying not to laugh, while Lotty introduced us to ‘Whop!’ which ended in a chorus of ‘Killer Shark’ (lyrics can be provided on request). The cast have been left wondering if this crazy pair are going to make them sing any more songs...

The read -through was fun and interesting for all of us; especially for writers Lynsey and Laura. Hearing their words (and the words of Shakespeare) read aloud for the first time was daunting, but all of the actors brilliantly brought the script to life and our two lady writers were really pleased with the result (they may have even cracked a smile). The play has now taken its first Bambi steps out into the world, and we can’t wait to reach more steady ground with each rehearsal that will follow.

Our performance date (the 3^rd of July, in case you were wondering) is going to coincide with the Stratford River Festival . We’re looking forward to being a part of a big crowd of happy people enjoying the sunshine, as long as we don’t get drowned out by Morris dancers!

Next weekend we’re working a busy Sunday (The RSC Open Day), and how will we reward our tired selves? With more rehearsals, of course! The clock has started to tick gently in the background and we’re all buzzing with ideas and enthusiasm.

We shall leave you for now, but please drop us a comment here, and remember to check out our Facebook page for more pictures and updates.

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!