So, as I did after 2014, I felt it was time to write a summary of theatrical exploits in 2015. As I said before, a lot of this is for me to look back and reflect on what went on, and to look forward to the next lot of fun! So without further ado..
January- Started the directing journey for Drums in the Night by auditioning the cast.
I entered my short script Blu to Script Factor and won the heat.
February- Rehearsals for Drums in the Night began. I was flattered and excited to be working with such a strong cast and crew on a text which I had studied in the original German at university.
March- See above!
April- Drums in the Night opened at Friargate Theatre. It was fantastic to be back in the directing chair but the joy of the play was everything coming together as I had envisaged thanks to lots of hard work from everyone.
May- Drums in the Night came to a close and I had my audition for Henry V..
June- Henry V rehearsals start!
July- This always seems to end up being a busy month!
We had the Drama Club Summer play at school – called The School Trip which I co-wrote and co-directed.
Also, it was the 8-11 Youth Theatre’s performance of The Hairdo That Got Away which was great fun.
I put on Blu as part of The Love Arts Festival at Friargate Theatre with my company Bird on Head Theatre.
.. and it was the Script Factor final. I wrote a play called The Absolute which was based on the theme of Relativity and was about a couple’s relationship, told from after one of their deaths. It came second place!
August- Henry V rehearsals started up again.
September- See above. That was literally my life for the second half of the year.
I also began to co-run Script York.
October- Henry V with my Barnbows. What more can I say? I loved loved loved this experience. It is hard to put it into words.
November- A bit of a rest but with Script Factor and some Shakespeare meet ups thrown in!
December- Assisting on the school production of The Wizard of Oz to round off the year.
And some of the things I watched..
– South Pacific (York Theatre Royal)
– Les Acteurs et La Dispute (TFTV York)
-Hamlet (Royal Exchange in cinemas)
-Romeo and Juliet (Flanagen Collective)
– Shakespeare in his Cups (YTR)
– Timon of Athens (YSP)
– The Comedy of Errors (Handlebards)
– High Society (Old Vic)
– Henry V (RSC Schools/Hull Truck)
– The Maids (Hedgepig)
– Richard II (Bronzehead)
– In Fog and Falling Snow (YTR/NRM)
– The Railway Children (YTR/NRM)
– Avenue Q (West End tour/GOH)
– Bend it Like Beckham (Phoenix Theatre)
– Dick Whittington and his Meerkat (YTR/NRM)
– The Great Gatsby (The Guild of Misrule)
And 2016??
The first project of 2016 is Pericles with The York Shakespeare Project in April. More about that soon…
