Haroun Rehearsals

I like to choose wildly ambitious shows that I have no idea how to make – shows that are way beyond my skill-set and comfort zone. Not because I’m a masochist (although it sometimes feels like that), but because I think it’s the surest way to develop my craft as a director.

I love Haroun and the Sea of Stories, and I knew it would be an ideal piece for the ensemble I would be working with. But I also knew it would be a huge challenge. The show involves flying scenes, underwater scenes, a journey into outer space, a dizzying number of locations, crazy characters, monsters, shadows and ships – none of which I had any idea how to create. It is by far the most ambitious project I’ve ever undertaken, and I was coming straight into it from a previous show, so had very little time for preparation. It’s also the first time I’ve worked with a pre-written text in about five years.

Hopefully the show will be a success and the students will have taken a lot from the process, but this afternoon I’ve been reflecting on my own learning outcomes.

– My preparation going into the show was not adequate. I didn’t know the story well enough, I hadn’t made clear design choices, and I was bringing my ‘wing-it’ attitude from years of devising. Part of me is quite happy that I delayed design decisions until late in the process – it meant that I’m very happy with the choices we made. On the other hand, going through the design process at the same time as trying to put together a horrifically complicated show was not particularly helpful. It also meant that the cast won’t have their costumes until they get into the theatre. For a show as physical as this one, the costumes may change what the performers are capable of doing, and I wish we had been able to look at these things earlier.

– I’ve been much more disciplined on voice work this time round, but watching the run on Friday, I still felt like this was the show’s weak point. Huge amounts of time have been concerned with the logistics of staging. For a future I want to direct a very naturalistic piece that will force me to work on basic acting skills!

– I was much better in my rehearsal planning than I have been in the past, but I still think I could have used the early part of the rehearsal period more efficiently. I always seem to get to technical rehearsals wishing I just had a couple more days.

– Casting is absolutely everything. I couldn’t have made this show without the physical skills and imagination of the actors I’ve been working with. The single biggest thing a director does in determining the quality of a show is in the casting of it. If you want the show to be physical/funny/wacky you must find physical/funny/wacky actors, and then let them play. Riff off what they bring to rehearsals and make sure the best bits get into the show. What’s more, by delaying casting until the second week of rehearsals, I was really able to make much better choices over parts, which has been incredibly beneficial. I haven’t held auditions since the last scripted piece I did over five years ago. The idea of having to make choices in such a small space of time now fills me with horror. There really is no substitute for spending time in a rehearsal room with actors.

Shows

I haven’t made it to any shows this week – non-stop rehearsals!

Movies / TV

Not much of this either!

Music

Went to Thomas Jack at the Laundry E8. A fun night, mainly because I was with Harri and Alia – I thought Thomas Jack was a bit disappointing. It’s actually the guest mixes on his Soundcloud channel that I love the most…. His live mixing skills were pretty bad and he didn’t really know how to build a structure and rhythm to the night. Shame, but a fun night out nonetheless.

Reading

Nope, haven’t been doing much of this either!

Other

Obviously the big event of this week was the elections. I think the idea of another Conservative/Liberal Democrat coalition was at least vaguely palatable, but the Tories getting in with an outright majority – ouch… I can’t quite believe some of the policies they are planning on putting through – like tearing up The Human Rights Act – but I hope an EU referendum will take the sting out of UKIP. And if nothing else, hopefully the country will emerge financially streamlined. It’s a worrying five year in stall though, that’s for sure.

The other big shocker of the night was the clear inadequacy of the electoral system. For UKIP and the Green Party to have polled so high nationally, but to have ended up with so few seats is a disgrace.