Summer Workshop

This summer I will be partaking in my second summer workshop. For those that don't know what that is, I will get to that in a minute. This post is about last years experience and what I am hoping will this years will be like.

Okay, the summer workshop is a yearly workshop held at the Riverhead Theatre in Louth. Each year the workshop consists of putting on a musical for three shows in two weeks. In the two weeks you audition, rehearse, help backstage and perform. So now you guys are caught up.

Last year, a bunch of us decided that we would do the summer workshop for two reasons. Firstly, it was Grease, how can you pass that opportunity up, and secondly because we were all heading off to university all over the country. During the workshop, I was pushed to my limits because I had never done so much work and had so much pressure in such a short period of time before, however it was a great experience because you have the time of your life. The workshop leaders make the experience so enjoyable, everyone is included, so even if you are really shy and only want to be in the background, you will have as much to do as the lead role. I am not the greatest singer or dancer, I happily admit that, I'm much more of an actor, so last years role suited me to a tee, a goof ball, who had silly lines in songs and danced like an idiot. However even though I wasn't necessarily comfortable with musicals, this was such a different experience it didn't even bother me. It's not all serious stuff though, you play games, you create little shows, but most importantly you get to hang out with a great group of people.

So that was my experience last year, so what is this year going to be like.... Well firstly there are not as many of my close friends doing it this year, however looking at the list of people who are doing it, I'm confident we will have fun and put on a great show. This years musical is My Favorite Year (I hate spelling it like that but it's what we have the license for). From what I can tell, there aren't as many big dance numbers, thank god, and the music is quite catchy and it seems like a really funny play. Hopefully I can get a good part and show off my silliness in a comedy role. But mainly all I want from this year is to have tons of fun, because that's what theatre is all about for me, fun. And who knows it may very well be my favourite year (pun intended)

Miscreation Update

It is finale night tonight and then the last two and a half months of spending nearly everyday with this wonderful cast, rehearsing for an amazing play, will be officially over. We have powered through two shows, they weren't perfect, but we did ourselves justice.

This project has been different to normal shows I have done and so far it has been the best, or at least joint with Grease. Having Dan, the writer, with us on this journey has been amazing, because not only can we ask questions and further the performance, but to see how proud he is of the entire project really makes me feel good about what we have achieved.

So tonight we will give the best performance of our lives and then go and celebrate all we have achieved together in such a short amount of time.

 

Rehearsals...

So, I have not been posting as often as I wanted to with this blog, but I have been crazy busy with the Riverhead Producers event and my rehearsals for Miscreation. However one event has now passed so I thought I'd do an update on how Miscreation rehearsals are going.

The rehearsal process has been an absolute blast so far, because of a few reasons; we are all friends and enjoy each others company, we have an amazing director, and we have a hilarious script. Now that we are getting closer to the performance, it is starting to get more difficult (we still don't have a set, YIKES!), however we try our best to keep rehearsals fun, so that we can all still enjoy the fact that we are working on something that we can ll be proud of.

I am extremely proud of this production, not just because of all the adversity that we have faced, but because of the outstanding talent that will be on stage, showing that Louth may be small, but it definitely has talent.

The One Year Anniversary

So on Saturday night the Riverhead Producers had our one year anniversary. The event featured four music acts and a comedian. We also had food and drinks. This show was an amazing testament to what young people can do when they work hard and have a clear goal in mind. The event brought back some of our favourite acts that we have had as well as some fresh new faces, as a celebration of all we have accomplished and as a sign we aren't going to stop anytime soon. The audience loved the event and we received great feedback throughout the night, confirming that we are leaving a positive impression in people's minds. Not only did we pay tribute to what we have put on stage over the past year, but we also paid tribute to our fearless leader, of whom without we would be lost. Overall the event was amazing and I am extremely proud of everyone involved, but as they say... Onwards and Upwards! 

Riverhead Producers

I currently work with a group called the Riverhead Producers in Louth. We are a collection of young people who work on creating alternative events within the local theatre. We have mainly focused on music gigs, but have recently put on workshops and have even had a sell out comedy night. I have been the longest member so far and I have seen the group go from strength to strength in the short amount of time we have been going. We are currently in the process of organising a one year anniversary gig, combining the past year with what we want for the future. I have been extremely privileged to work with the people that I have, meeting great musicians, good friends and even a minor celebrity. I can't wait to create more events over the next few years and carry on growing.

This picture was the first ever group photo taken

Miscreation

Currently I am working on a play written by Dan Christmas, a guy who won a scratch night at my local theatre to get this play produced. It is an extremely clever piece mixing serious issues with witty and farcical comedy. I am happy to be working with the director, John Hewer, for the second time because I hugely respect his directorial ability. I am also working with a number of actors for a second time, Natalie Clark, James Burgess, Jamie Harris and Lucy Cooper. The play itself will be challenging for a number of reasons; one, I am playing an Australian (crikey mate!), two, there is not a lot of time (it is on in a just over a month) and three, there is a lot of dialogue and actions to learn (and I mean a LOT). I am very happy to be working on this piece, because I truly feel that this piece will make me a better actor. For those in the Louth area it is on 3rd, 4th and 5th July and tickets are £6.00.