Hello all
today is my last day of placement here at TAG and I have to say I'm very sad to be going. (oh no I'm sadder than that...Gotta love a panto joke) It's been such a great experience, from workshoping to admin tasks, making a giant glittery glass slipper, nearly breaking a Camera...but let’s gloss over that!
I have had so much fun and learned so much from all of the very talented staff here, I'm so thankful I have been given this opportunity as I know six weeks of a pestering placement student can be a toll order.
To highlight a few of the finer moments, workshops in the Gorbals were always so much fun. Dressing up, playing games all followed by the ever so tasking decision of what to have for lunch, but lets just say I’m a creature of habit and if I like something then it is totally justifiable to have that every day for 6 weeks- well maybe not a shinning example of a balanced diet then.
Trips to Ayrshire, with our resident Alfred Nobel and Stacey Solomon sound-a-likey, a queazy stomach from the bendy roads not made any better with a little emergency stop at traffic lights.A Trip to Dalbeattie to put us in the festive mood, congratulations to all involved, an absolutely fantastic production, really, really enjoyed myself.
On another festive note, went for a nice power walk with Louise after a delicious...but I really didn't need that last bite...Christmas lunch, to go back to the Citizens and see the snow start to fall. Quite the magical moment followed by a little frolicking and general excitement.Well I could actually write a 6 page essay, but who wants to read that!
So I will round up with a big thanks to all the TAG team and the whole of the Citizens, I have met so many lovely people and have memories to last a life time. -thank you
and Merry Christmas
Amy x
Friday, December 18, 2009
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Family Day Fun!
On Saturday 12th December the Citizens Theatre held its first ever Family Day to accompany the Christmas production of Cinderella.
A number of family groups attended and it was a really fun afternoon. The families were given the opportunity to see some behind the scenes props and costumes from previous Citz productions. They also saw Jason Southgate's original designs for Cinderella and the set model box that the technical crew worked from when creating the set.
We also had lots of fun playing some games, doing some drama and making masks for the Prince's Ball. Everyone got stuck in and it was lovely to see family groups working together on tasks, having a great time.
We'll definitely be doing more of these events, so watch this space for details about the next one...
Ang x
A number of family groups attended and it was a really fun afternoon. The families were given the opportunity to see some behind the scenes props and costumes from previous Citz productions. They also saw Jason Southgate's original designs for Cinderella and the set model box that the technical crew worked from when creating the set.
We also had lots of fun playing some games, doing some drama and making masks for the Prince's Ball. Everyone got stuck in and it was lovely to see family groups working together on tasks, having a great time.
We'll definitely be doing more of these events, so watch this space for details about the next one...
Ang x
Straight from the crayons of babes!
We were chuffed to receive some drawings from Southpark Primary School who watched Museum of Dreams earlier in the year. I love kids drawings so have posted a selection on Flickr.
You can see a slideshow of the rest here.
Hx
You can see a slideshow of the rest here.
Hx
Thursday, December 10, 2009
A school production...with a difference!
Without further ado, here's a glimpse at the production shots for A Christmas Carol.
All photos by Tim Morozzo
Hx
All photos by Tim Morozzo
Hx
A Christmas Carol preparations
As you may know TAG has worked with Dalbeattie High School in Dumfries and Galloway over recent years to produce the school plays and teach students about the jobs that are entailed in theatre-making.
This year Guy Hollands and Elly Goodman directed A Christmas Carol. This opened last night and if you're quick you could grab tickets for tonight and tomorrow's shows (from the school or at Gowans in Dalbeattie).
Here's a wee slideshow to whet your appetite, but also to show you a little of the range of areas the students have been working on:
Hx
This year Guy Hollands and Elly Goodman directed A Christmas Carol. This opened last night and if you're quick you could grab tickets for tonight and tomorrow's shows (from the school or at Gowans in Dalbeattie).
Here's a wee slideshow to whet your appetite, but also to show you a little of the range of areas the students have been working on:
Hx
Thursday, November 05, 2009
Time-lapse of the Darwinascope set-build
I have just realised that I didn't post the This View of Life time-lapse on the blog. Given that you've already seen the set model and the great polystyrene vertebrae taking shape, this is the most logical ending to the series. Tomorrow is actually our last day of the tour and our hard-working cast will wend their way home for a well deserved rest (hopefully!).
This time-lapse was captured for us by a great company called Design is Central. It shows Moley Campbell's awesome design transitioning from a pile of components to a fully erected set. You can see the last minute dress rehearsals and finally the arrival of a local school group to see the play.
Well cool.
Hx
This time-lapse was captured for us by a great company called Design is Central. It shows Moley Campbell's awesome design transitioning from a pile of components to a fully erected set. You can see the last minute dress rehearsals and finally the arrival of a local school group to see the play.
Well cool.
Hx
Thursday, October 22, 2009
"It hits your heart. Your lungs. Everywhere."
Holla amigos! This is my second blog so please, bear with me. I'm here to tell all you fine people about the Citizens Theatre Young Co.'s latest production, Lend Me Your Ears, and my own personal thoughts on the performances over the course of the three nights we were performing.
In the beginning, I wasn't very confident in the whole concept. We were to be performing Shakespeare's ''Greatest Hits'' and given the few rehearsals each piece had, I was really worried that we would fumble and taint the Bard's works with idiocy and lack of focus. I feel that Shakespeare's works are the most beautiful and powerful pieces of theatre in existence and I didn't think that we were going to be able to do them the justice they deserved. We had so little rehearsal time, my Romeo and Juliet piece only had three rehearsals before the actual performance nights. I realise this was necessary and all, but it didn't help the great frustration I was feeling. My confidence in the performance was lowered still with the improvised scene: ''Lear Luvies''. I honestly thought that this scene was not funny and that the audience wouldn't laugh. All these things gave me great tension and worry before the actual performance nights.
The first night was quite an experience for me. For many reasons. One being that I was to begin the performance out in the main foyer, which in itself isn't very conventional and was quite nerve racking. I wasn't confident that my voice could fill the hall and that the audience would switch off to mine and Rehanna's performance. These thoughts were racing through my head before we suited up in costumes, and were actually making me really worried. I had to do a massive vocal and body warm-up before the performance to calm me down, if that makes any sense. When I started the performance I couldn't have been more nervous, I jumped up on that chair and saw the whole audience staring at me. I spoke and they listened! They were tuned into the dialogue even if I did have to jump over banisters and run past the audience members. After beckoning them upstairs I felt so much better. When performing the ''Lear Luvies'' scene, the audience loved it! They were in hysterics! In that moment all my worries for the performance dissipated and I knew that we had nailed it.
The second night was even better. I started my Romeo scene and the crowd was bigger! This threw me into overdrive and I really enjoyed myself. I felt like I was back in my starting years, back in secondary school, the first time that rush of adrenaline hits the back of your neck. It hits your heart. Your lungs. Everywhere. The audience loved the whole performance. Every piece, at their end, received a round of applause. It really did feel like the ''Greatest Hits'' of Shakespeare.
The third and final night was the big finale. I was a bit laid back. Maybe too calm but when Chris came off-stage, he was absolutely buzzing! His reaction alone spurred me on and the final night felt like the greatest. With my last piece I fed right off the audience and delivered a very solid and energetic performance, well in my eyes at least. It wasn't just me either. All the cast went all-out with their pieces, knowing full well that after tonight there would be no performance. We were louder, stronger, more energised and were having fun. Actually enjoying the role you have and the time you have on stage is one of the most important parts of being an actor, again this is my opinion, and I can't speak for my fellow performers out there...
In the end, it all came together. The less than desired rehearsal times, the worry of not giving the works we had been handed the proper respect they demanded and indeed my own personal stresses, disappeared when we actually performed. Thanks to the huge amount of talent, commitment and dedication within the company, we rocked the Circle Studio! But more importantly we did the pieces justice and honestly?.....I think Shakespeare himself would be proud!
''We are such stuff as dreams are made on; and our little life is rounded in a sleep''
Prospero, The Tempest
Scott McKay (Young Co. member)
See more photos on Flickr.
Photos by Helen Black
In the beginning, I wasn't very confident in the whole concept. We were to be performing Shakespeare's ''Greatest Hits'' and given the few rehearsals each piece had, I was really worried that we would fumble and taint the Bard's works with idiocy and lack of focus. I feel that Shakespeare's works are the most beautiful and powerful pieces of theatre in existence and I didn't think that we were going to be able to do them the justice they deserved. We had so little rehearsal time, my Romeo and Juliet piece only had three rehearsals before the actual performance nights. I realise this was necessary and all, but it didn't help the great frustration I was feeling. My confidence in the performance was lowered still with the improvised scene: ''Lear Luvies''. I honestly thought that this scene was not funny and that the audience wouldn't laugh. All these things gave me great tension and worry before the actual performance nights.
The first night was quite an experience for me. For many reasons. One being that I was to begin the performance out in the main foyer, which in itself isn't very conventional and was quite nerve racking. I wasn't confident that my voice could fill the hall and that the audience would switch off to mine and Rehanna's performance. These thoughts were racing through my head before we suited up in costumes, and were actually making me really worried. I had to do a massive vocal and body warm-up before the performance to calm me down, if that makes any sense. When I started the performance I couldn't have been more nervous, I jumped up on that chair and saw the whole audience staring at me. I spoke and they listened! They were tuned into the dialogue even if I did have to jump over banisters and run past the audience members. After beckoning them upstairs I felt so much better. When performing the ''Lear Luvies'' scene, the audience loved it! They were in hysterics! In that moment all my worries for the performance dissipated and I knew that we had nailed it.
The second night was even better. I started my Romeo scene and the crowd was bigger! This threw me into overdrive and I really enjoyed myself. I felt like I was back in my starting years, back in secondary school, the first time that rush of adrenaline hits the back of your neck. It hits your heart. Your lungs. Everywhere. The audience loved the whole performance. Every piece, at their end, received a round of applause. It really did feel like the ''Greatest Hits'' of Shakespeare.
The third and final night was the big finale. I was a bit laid back. Maybe too calm but when Chris came off-stage, he was absolutely buzzing! His reaction alone spurred me on and the final night felt like the greatest. With my last piece I fed right off the audience and delivered a very solid and energetic performance, well in my eyes at least. It wasn't just me either. All the cast went all-out with their pieces, knowing full well that after tonight there would be no performance. We were louder, stronger, more energised and were having fun. Actually enjoying the role you have and the time you have on stage is one of the most important parts of being an actor, again this is my opinion, and I can't speak for my fellow performers out there...
In the end, it all came together. The less than desired rehearsal times, the worry of not giving the works we had been handed the proper respect they demanded and indeed my own personal stresses, disappeared when we actually performed. Thanks to the huge amount of talent, commitment and dedication within the company, we rocked the Circle Studio! But more importantly we did the pieces justice and honestly?.....I think Shakespeare himself would be proud!
''We are such stuff as dreams are made on; and our little life is rounded in a sleep''
Prospero, The Tempest
Scott McKay (Young Co. member)
See more photos on Flickr.
Photos by Helen Black
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