09 April 2007
Tuesday 17.04.07 - So Arlecchino's Revenge has been and gone... I hope some of you managed to catch it. We had a really fun time at the Traverse and at the Tramway and I feel the show went well. We had some lovely audiences and lots of people came from the resource centres that we did workshops with which was great...so watch this space for Lung Ha's next show! All the best - John.
Monday 09.04.07 - Well we have completed three shows to busy houses at the Traverse. The show has gone really well so far and the audiences seem to have had a really good time - especially when I come on with my ukelele. It has been good to have a break but looking forward to performing again. Hope to see you this week in Glasgow.
Tuesday 03.04.07 - It seems like we have been rehearsing every day now - wearing costumes, trying props. We are in the Traverse today - so the real business starts now - see you at ARLECCHINO'S REVENGE. Hope you like the show.
Friday 23.03.07 - We have been doing quite a few stagger-throughs and run-throughs of the show now, as well as developing the dances with Ethelinda and the puppeteering with Iain. We have also started working with some props. Last week we tried on costumes - watch out for my special hat! I've also been to Glasgow a couple of times workshopping - been playing my guitar which has been great fun. Working on the Commedia piece today. I'm getting excited - the show is very close now!
Tuesday 13.03.07 - Another busy week. I went to Glasgow for the day to do two workshops in resource centres and we also did a workshop at Garvald in West Linton. Great fun. On Saturday we ran through the show for the first time. As usual, there were lots of people there - we were developing a dance routine with Ian Cameron the puppeteer and Ninian and Noel from Paragon were playing music. Anna was there as well - taking photos for the programme. Rehearsing again tonight so I'll let you know how it goes! Just over three weeks 'til we open...!
Monday 05.03.07 - Rehearsals have stepped up now - I was in Tuesday, Friday and Saturday last week working on the Commedia piece. It's looking really good now. On Saturday I was interviewed for the radio. I also worked two days last week with playwright Douglas Maxwell developing the script for this years touring show, provisionally titled 'Shadow of a Pie'. Six Lung Ha's actors did some improvisation of different scenes and characters. The show should be on the road in September - will keep you posted. See you next week!
Tuesday 20.02.07 - It's been a busy couple of weeks - six Lung Ha's performers rehearsed a piece of theatre for a week and a half about people's attitudes for the Disability Rights Commission's Disability Agenda Launch. We performed in front of lots of people, including some MSPs. We have also been busy rehearsing the show - an extra weekly rehearsal has been added now - we have been working lots with mask work for the Commedia piece and doing puppetry. The musicians have been coming along and everyone is getting really into the music. Oh, and we have been filmed for a music video...watch this space!
Thursday 08.02.07 - On Tuesday night it seemed the whole world was at rehearsal. Thirty-five performers plus director, choreographer, dramaturg, Paragon Ensemble, volunteers and staff all in one room. You can really feel the show approaching now. Saturday's rehearsal was just the mask performers - we worked with Roxana on our entrances onto stage - great fun.
Wednesday 31.01.07 - More rehearsal news. Last night we worked with the choreographer - Ethelinda - and the Dramaturg - Roxana - on some of the dance for the show. On Saturday we looked at some of the scenes with the masks - they are great. We were also filmed as part of a video clip for a new band - looking forward to seeing that. Richard Vallis also came to watch rehearsal - he helped to start Lung Ha's 23 years ago.
Wednesday 24.01.07 - Sorry it has been a wee while since we spoke - I have only just recovered from the lurgy. Well, on Saturday we rehearsed all day with just the Commedia troupe - we worked on a love scene as well as some other scenes. Last night (Tuesday) was a Full Company rehearsal, 35 altogether, and we are really starting to get a sense of the whole play now. There is a photo of some of the actors (including me) in the January edition of the Morningside and Bruntsfield Gazette - have a look.
By the way I hope you have booked your tickets. See you soon.
Tuesday 09.01.07 - Happy New Year to all my loyal blog watchers. Just to let you know I have got the dreaded lurgy so will not be at rehearsal tonight - so no news this week but look out for updates next week.
Wednesday 20.12.06 - Two more rehearsals to update you on. On Saturday (the16th) we worked on scenes which are really taking shape now, we also did some puppet work. Last night we did a session on drama skills with Clark, we worked on things like happiness, laughter and height - and we played tennis without a ball.
Merry Christmas - see you in 2007
Wednesday - 13.12.06 - On Saturday (the 9th) we worked on developing characters. The Company played musical games to help devise the music for the show with the Paragon musicians. We also did some dance movements with Ethelinda. Last night we broke into three different groups and worked on some scenes - each one with a problem. We have two more rehearsals this year - on Saturday and next Tuesday. A big hi from Joey the budgie and Rebel the labrador.
Wednesday - 06.12.06 - Last night, at rehearsal, we had three different groups - all doing big actions. Alistair (MacCulloch) did some improvising. Clark ran the piece twice to improve it. This Saturday the musicians are coming to rehearsal, and Ethelinda (choreographer) and Roxanna (dramaturg).
On Monday I was at a photo shoot using masks, for the show poster.
See you next week.
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Look out for the weekly blog of Company Member John Edgar who will be giving you an update on how rehearsals are building toward ARLECCHINO'S REVENGE - John will give you the inside track on all the news that's fit to print, and, who knows, perhaps some LHTC gossip as well.
John's blog will start on Wednesday the 6th of December.
