Armley, 28th June

Several of us went to Armley to greet the cyclists on Sunday.

One of the better moments was watching these two try to meet the challenge of The World's Biggest Muffins.

Some photos of the Joyous Armley :)

Some pictures of our walkabout in Armley.

Language and Acting

I'm sitting on the train speeding away from Leeds and the WYP, thinking about last night's rehearsals. Two things are in my mind:

Firstly language. So many of the characters in the piece are experts of some kind and they are called upon to use the language of their profession in a legal context. I was amazed, listening to the rehearsals, how well this is beginning to come across. As people are learning the lines they are really taking charge of making the characters sound like experts. People are driving through these enormously complicated lines finding the stress patterns and emphasis which not only makes sense of this complex language but also begins to give us a sense of these characters opinions. 

I suppose the only thing to say is keep up the good work! Learn the lines exactly and carefully and the only way to find out how to speak them properly is to do it, without the script, in rehearsals. 

Secondly, I'm just massively impressed by the way in which people are taking charge of their own performances. Its great to hear people have strong opinions about how to play their character. As directors we love having those discussions. 

See you soon!

Chris x

Article and video in YP

Lovely article in Yorkshire Post on Dust - with some additional video footage with cast looking photogenic and artistic and co-directors looking awkward and trying to sound articulate!

http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/highlights/Echoes-of-Erin-Brockovich-as.5371305.jp

Well done everyone - the play is really coming together - as I knew it would. And I'm very excited about the production.

Looking forward to rehearsals tonight.

Alex

Special Effects

I'd just like to say a big thankyou to Charlene for creating a sense of realism at the Armley site on Saturday, by stirring up the biggest storm-cloud of dust that Armley has seen since the closure of the factory!!! Can't wait to see what she has in store for us next time!!!

Seriously, it feels like we have moved up a gear now, since we have started going back over the play, and for me personally, it seems more exciting than ever as we get a better idea of how it is going to be for the performance. It's also brilliant to be part of such a friendly, supportive and well led team! More of the same I say!!!

Rehearsals in the space

Here are some shots of the run-through we did in Armley on Saturday. Well done all!

Armley disaster tour

Strange day Saturday ...


Acting as a holiday rep for a disaster tour of Armley.
Being interviewed by the beeb and piss-pronouncing - mesofeely ... Ah bugger!
But standing in an abandoned warehouse watching the scene with Kimberley and Russell watching actors portray themselves as they find out their Mum has cancer was highest on the strange-o-meter.


Thankfully they both seemed to like it and said how impressed they were with all the actors.


Here's some photo's from the post-industrial subterranean space that is the Dust premiere venue (otherwise known as 'back of Pet world')

Ken

Imagine a string through yer 'ead ...

"The factory was a friendly place where anyone could just walk in ..."

Now it seems real

Lots of people said to me last week that they felt it had taken a big step forward in the last fortnight or so - I thought so too. Reaching the last page confirms that!

I now actually believe it's going to happen - presumably Alex, Chris & Madeleine always knew this, but I bet they'll be reassured to know the cast think so too.


Roger

Ok I said I would blog it up a little to try and revive it, ideas though of in bars are always good!
Roger told me to so Im gonna do what the Judge says!
Had excellent times out with you all after rehearsal yesterday. We have definately bonded now...im so excited (which is entirely unlike me as you know)
Its a new revelation to me that in addition to everything im gaining from this experience, I might get to have some fabulous new friends too :)
Chris asked what we want to get out of this experience. You will not believe me, but Im hoping to get some additional confidence from being in this play. Real confidence, not the transient sort that tends to desert you just when you need it most. I come accross all confient but I think thats just my excellent acting skills! I also really need to sort my voice out. I talk for like six hours a day during term time and Im sure im damaging my voice/ not using it properly because I loose it so regularly. Not that I don't love my sexy gruff voice, but I don't think its going to go down too well infront of an audience! I need to understand how to use the volume of my voice in a good way, so I can be a better teacher...and actor too darling!
See you all soon, three days a week now guys!!! We're goin to be seeing a lot of each other :)
Jo xx