The Makers of Theatre in time of political change

It's being really great to be part of this great learning process that is the StoneCrabs Young Directors programme (or should I call it The Makers of Theatre programme?).

It's proven to support my development immensely. All the sessions have been really practical and I could get many things from each of them. From the Boal Techniques with Teresa, Text analysis with Franko and Kwong and physical theatre with Jorge, I feel that I am starting to use most of these techniques and am having ideas on how to adapt to my own benefit.

I feel quite a long way away from being able to use physical theatre but I feel that there are simple ways of using it now. In the last session I saw a great result in making something abstract into something physical, such as a tennis ball that represents power and helps actors understand the power struggle within the scene. I, like Luce, also took notes of all the good ideas the others had when directing.

It's been really great to meet all of the other directors, actress and technician too. We get on really well and have been thinking of making The Makers of Theatre a fairly regular event in the future, discuss...

Now my big challenge is to cut a lot of the play that I'm directing and use all of these tools we've learned so far to make the best job I can. Never mind the cold weather, Obama's won and I feel empowered!

Victor x

The Makers Of Theatre's road trip to Soho Theatre

... And no, we haven't been commisioned to produce there ... yet!

But we had forgotten to mention that we will be attending a playreading today. We're hoping to learn from the performance in advance of our own readings this December.

StoneCrabs' Joint Artistic Director Kwong Loke will be directing wAve, by Sung Rno. It's part of Typhoon 5, the International East Asian Playreading Festival taking place at Soho Theatre until Saturday 8th November.

Kwong has been leading our text analysis workshops within the Theatre Training Programme. It will be interesting to see how he applies what he has taught us to enhance the performance. We are specifically interested in learning what to expect from a playreading with a similar rehearsal and running time to ours. Although we know Kwong has to deal with many more actors!

We are sure to have lots of questions about the rehearsal process by the time Saturday's workshop comes around. As a group we hope to see as many performances as possible, to learn from them and to encourage debate. So look out for comments on how what we see over the next five weeks might impact our own play-readings.

From all of the Makers Of Theatre x x x x x x x x x x x

Reflecting on Saturday's session

Hey All,

I agree with Luce that Saturday's session was very productive! It feels like such a long time ago but it has given me so much to think about before I go into rehearsals in about five weeks ... eek! Expect lots of calls for casting as we all try to find our actors for the festival : )

Working with Helen & Tyrone gave me a chance to re-test how I run rehearsals. I realised I spend a lot of time getting everyone to work as a team and making sure we all understand the text. I still believe this is hugely important but I hope to make the most of the casting sessions as well. The loveliest thing about the day was that everyone's approach was completly different. So I know each of our play-readings in December will be too.

On Wednesday we are meeting with a designer so I will let you all know how that goes! I'm sure our next venture will include a collaboration between director and designer. It will be interesting to find out how this works in practice.

I will also upload more images to the blog, so you all know who we are and can put a face/s to the name/s!

Em x

A touch of courage for the festival!

Hi, this is Metsy.

So good to see the photo's, glad David Bailey only chose to focus on the back of my head you really wouldn't want to see the front. Following on from what Lucy said I agree, I found Saturday so productive. I was extremely nervous because I haven't worked with actors in that capacity before.

It was really good to see Danusia in her comfort zone, and I'd like to thank Helen and Tyrone for their comments and productivity. It was really nice to see how everyone's approach was so different. For the life blood of theatre the industry needs new writers, directors, and practitioners who have something new to give, judging by what I witnessed on Saturday the future of theatre is promising. I felt part of a cohesive team and learnt so much from everybody.

I think I should mention the designs that Mark has produced. I would like to thank Mark for his hard work. Looking forward to Wednesday when the team can discuss this further.Thinking of setting my dates for casting. I will be directing Danny and the Deep blue Sea and need actors who would be comfortable speaking with a Bronx accent. I am keen to cast a Black or Asian actor for the role of Danny and would like a female brunette who could pass for Italian. Anyone looking on this site who can be of help get in touch ASAP.

There is a lot I don't know but you can never know too much. For me this experience is about growth and I've learnt so much in such a short space of time. I'm thrilled to be part of the Makers of Theatre festival, it's made me more couragous. And with courage I know I won't be afraid to produce work that poses questions of me and to an audience watching xx

A few words about Saturday 1st November ...

Well. Firstly, great to see some photos up of us in action! And my God aren't we gorgeous!

And secondly, I think we would all agree that Saturday was really productive. It gave us a chance, not only to be thrown right in at the deep end and to hone our directing skills, but also the opportunity to learn from the various approaches to directing we all have. Despite most of us all choosing the same two scenes (Danusia - you are truly unique!) it was really interesting to witness the way in which each scene turned out completely differently. I guess it just goes to show, regardless of how much or how little directing experience we all have, we all already have a very individual style.

I was scribbling like mad trying to write down all of the tips I learnt from other people, whether it be power ball, or hot seating, or working with the actors more intimately (there's so much more too that doesn't spring to mind immediately). It was all really useful stuff, so thanks.

Saturday also brought me back to basics a bit. Its really easy (and necessary) to get caught up with text analysis, and objectives, and counter objectives and obstacles and this, and that, when you're preparing for rehearsals with your text. But actually, when it boils down to it, directing is about your time with the actors and what you get done. I planned my rehearsal for Saturday, but when it came to it, a lot of my planning went out of the window, and I guess I was running on adrenalin and what came to my head at the time - and I found that really refreshing. It made me realise how important it is to work with, not only all the preparation you've done, but to work with your instinct in rehearsals. That is after all what tells you what looks right, or doesn't feel right on stage.

Without sounding too text-book, that's what I discovered on Saturday....Amen.

Luce xxx

Photo's from Saturday's session!

On Saturday each of The Makers Of Theatre had the opportunity to direct professional actors, Helen Worsley and Tyronne James, on a section of text from Chekov's The Three Sisters. These are a few of the photo's we took of the process:



Tash directing.


Victor filming the rehearsals (the video will be uploaded soon!)


Some of the group while observing another Maker Of Theatre directing.
Front: Leigh & Zee. Back: Sandra, Erica, Metz, Luce & Victor.


Em directing.


Sandra directing.


Leigh, Sandra & Em fully engrossed in the acting talents of Tyronne & Helen!



Metz directing.


Leigh taking extra photo's (to be uploaded soon!)


Leigh, Zee, Luce, Tash & Victor.


Some of the group again. Front: Leigh, Zee, Luce. Back: Sandra & Danusia.


Danusia directing.


Tyronne & Helen acting.