What Other People Have Had To Say

I was saying before that issue based theatre doesn't really date. Well I thought I would share some of the audience reactions from the show so far.

'An updated farce slickly performed!'

'The best comedy that Chickenshed has ever done! You have to see it!'

'Totally madcap!'

'Funny, energetic, clever and positive'

'Very entertaining, an excellent evening out'

I took them from the Chickenshed website. I think it proves there is a want and more so a need for this kind of production. This has furthered my drive to explore the lifespan of issue based plays even further.

My Direction

I think I'm going to change the direction i'm going in with the course. I was originally looking at how theatre can be a good tool for making the elderly feel like part of a community. This was a subject I took a lot of interest in and even put into practice with the short play 'There's No Tomorrow' I wrote that was performed as part of the emerging writers week. Using a member of Chickenshed's over 60's it was a great way to integrate a wider spectrum of performers. I do still truly believe theatre would be a great tool for making the older members of the community feel that the longevity of issues within plays themselves interests me more than anything. Issues that don't get old, issues that do, why certain things stay relevant, why others fade into obscurity. This is where I feel I'll have to start focusing. I have batted the idea around for awhile and even mentioned this is previous blogs like the questionnaire. I'll be looking into other issue based plays and coming to a conclusion in the week. I mentioned London Road before and that really was what started me off thinking like this. I just feel there are so many issues, how do you pick just one. So then the real question raised is 'what makes an issue and issue?'.

Can't Pay? Won't Pay!

An image from the show.

The last couple of weeks I have been in the middle of a show called 'Can't Pay? Won't Pay!' I play the part of John (originally called Giovanni in Dario Fo's script). It's been great and has really got me thinking more about the social relevance of the issues raised in the show.

The fact plays like this can stay so current. Constant references are made to the right laying waste and the people feeling betrayed by the left. This fits perfectly with the state of things at the moment. It's almost as if Mr. Fo had a crystal ball when he was putting pen to paper. The audience reaction has been great so far too. People have found something with such an underlying message of uncaring governments, gun happy police and a terrible economy reassuringly hopeful. It's message is given across with charm and wit rather than lashings of doom and gloom. When you consider the play was written in 1975 it really does speak volumes.

I do get strangely inspired by men like Dario Fo. It's their gift to see things not only as they are but as they will be. Some of the language may need updating but not one issue raised in this play could be interchanged for anything.

Task 4A: Questions

QUESTIONS…

1)     Do you feel that plays with a social economic / social message to convey have more longevity than an original story that is purely there for entertainment?

2)    Is it really necessary to update plays in the way of language and the setting? Or do you feel that plays keep their social relevance when left in the original time period?

3)    In your opinion is theatre really as “accessible” as people claim? Or do you feel in some cases the word “Theatre” itself can act as a divide and put some people off?

4)    In times of recession shows like Matillda, London Road, Lion King and many, many more continue to sell out. Do you feel that in this way theatre produced solely for entertainment is as vital as theatre produced to put across a social message?

5)    Do you feel some issues are more popular than others? And that making issues “trendy” almost takes away from their hard hitting and realistic message?

6)    Are there some issues that should be discussed with more sensitivity than others? Do you feel that some writers will be radical and shocking in their plays juts to be a sensation? I know that Niklas Rådström was accused of this for his 2008 play – Monsters.

Return of the killer Blogs

This blog is just a quick reminder that I am still alive and on the course. I managed to pass the first part (although I admit I did defer once). I have also decided that rather than just focussing my studies on the inclusion of the elderly in Theatre, I will broaden my horizons as it were and look at how theatre affects society in general. I know that it’s not as specific but I just feel like there are so many areas that get ignored I’d like to try and cover a few of them. 

I’m in the process of trying to think up some questions that will follow this blog. Please feel free to answer them as it will be a big help.

Paul   

Task 3A: Professional Networks

I must admit I have very little experience in the world of professional networking. I've certainly not done much of it. Networking I have done a little in acquiring CD's and collectibles but no, never on a professional scale. This is something I want to look at though as I do have a desire to start earning a bit of money through voice overs so have started to plan a few bits and bobs. I'm thinking of getting in touch with a voice director to see if they will produce a demo for me. This will probably come later though as I'll make a rough demo first in the Chickenshed studio and test the water so to speak. If there is a positive reaction then I will try and get something a little more professional done and start trying to generate some work. Obviously, this isn't a lightning quick process and I will have to set up some kind of website through which I can sell myself. Include a voice reel and stuff like that.

I have had a few voice over experiences at Chickenshed in 2010 I recorded narration for the Christmas show "Badjelly's Bad Christmas". I had recorded a voice over in 2009 for a studio student produced show called "12 to 1" but as I say it was a much smaller scale project. A similar student project that was part of last years end of year shows was for a show called "Gameism"; it probably didn't have the same amount of audience as the Christmas shows but I was very pleased with it. I got to do a Richard Burton(ish) voice for the beginning of the show. I also recorded some additional dialogue later. In November of 2011 I got to go back into the studio and record a sort of snooty BBC royal correspondent type thing for the show "Cinderella". I'm very grateful for them letting me have these experiences as I think It gives you that rough idea of what you want to do. I think this will be a subject that my knowledge will grow on when I actually go into the industry and start trying to find the relevant people.

I will update this blog when I put that ball in motion.

Task 2D – Inquiry Task

1.)                What in your daily practice gets you really enthusiastic to find out more about? Who do you admire who also works with what makes you enthusiastic?

When people are completely committed to the same goal as you are, like a small cast who all want the exact same outcome and are so willing to put in that extra effort. I think no matter how enthusiastic you are about the subject itself that enthusiasm can be lost when others don’t believe in it. But I suppose when everyone has that same feeling you do, it’s great. I find I can even become more enthused when the working environment itself is good.

2.)                What gets you angry and makes you sad? Who do you admire who shares your feelings or has found a way to work around the sadness or anger?

I suppose when you feel people are letting everything down. When a single group are destructive within a performance and don’t care if it’s ruined for anyone else involved. I find this can make me very angry, it’s the disregard for peoples work that’s the most infuriating. Even during other projects I have helped out with the absolute disrespect some people show to their peers can really be disgraceful. I find the people I most respect when it comes to this kind of stuff would have to be celebrity Chefs (any Chef would probably do). I know that sounds absolutely ridiculous but I love the way they deal with members of their team who are slacking. They will actually tell them what they think and what they have to change about the way they are doing it. I could list one name but they all seem fairly fiery. I’m not saying that anger and shouting are great ways of dealing with problems, it’s just sometimes I think people need a bit of tough love.

3.)                What do you love about what you do? Who do you admire who also seems to love this or is an example of what you love?

I love watching something performed. Especially when I’ve had some involvement in the writing or production of it. There is something great about standing back and looking at what people bring to something that was originally just an idea in your head. There are so many practitioners I could say I admire when it comes to this but I have to say, Woody Allen is probably the main one. He’s written some of the best comedies in history. He recently wrote a new film starring Larry David, “Whatever Works”, it really was one of the best films I’ve seen in years and manages to bring something new to the table.  I put in a link to his Wikipedia page so you can find out a little more about him.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woody_Allen

4.)                What do you feel you don’t understand? Who do you admire who does seem to understand it or who has found a way of making not understanding it interesting or beautiful, or has asked the same question as you?

I suppose any number of things really. I don’t understand how I can just pick one thing I don’t understand. The world itself is as dubbed by the Temptations a “Ball of Confusion.” I think really the not understanding of stuff makes it all the better. As soon as the mysteries gone from a subject it looses it’s appeal in my mind greatly. So I suppose who I would have to admire would be the humble bumble Bee. Thanks for giving us one last thing that can’t be explained through the use of science.

Paul