Tag: 14/48 Leicester » Blog

Naomi calling in…
I was really amazed by the end of yesterday, I couldn’t fault any of the plays! I still can’t believe that the actors had less than one day to rehearse, the performance level was so high throughout the show! Really impressed – the hard work from the directors, actors, musicians and design team was projected through the performance.

Day 2
10.30AM

Smiles are beaming across actors faces as they finish their read through. I’m watching a group around a table…the writer and director have exchanged hugs.

Writer: I’m really excited
Director: I’m going to have fun!!

I wonder what the difference is between the director and writer with regards to their imagination when the script is being read aloud. It seems that most writers are pleased with their directors and cast, although I can imagine how nerve racking it would be to hand your play over and wait for the final production. I have just heard two writers comment that they need breakfast…I wonder how many hours sleep everyone has had! Day 2 excitement has only just begun…

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So our 7 plays on the theme of ‘Fireworks’ all made it safely in for our 8am deadline, and our directors now have their randomly selected scripts in hand. There is a copious amount of note-scribbling going on, as our directors try to pull out every morcel of detail from the page… deciding how much they’re going to need to call on the band or the design team to create the vision of the play forming in their minds.

Any fireworks in the room?… It’s all quite casual so far to be honest… we even had 5 of our directors strolling in just after the 9am call time…. What’s wrong with them?!? 

Thinks are starting to heat up a little though… veteran director Paul Rogers is walking through his blocking alongside veteran writer Louis Singleton… Looks like he’s considering some kind of Matrix-esque bullet time sequence…

 Overheard so far:

“If I chop anything, it’s not going to be a lot…”

“Somebody’s playing a Catherine Wheel…”

“I’ve already told the door, the mirror and my overnight bag to f*** off this morning…”

“I just want some actors now!” 

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3PM

I’m currently in the sports hall where not one but two plays are being rehearsed! My focus is shifting between the two diverse, exciting plays and I’m eager to keep hopping to either side of the curtain to view both of them – I’ll leave the excitement until later!

Actors have to use their imagination with regards to where they are, the props they use, the sounds (if there are any) they can hear and have to visualize the stage they will be performing on twice later today! The actors are really involved in their plays and it’s really inspiring to watch. So far the rehearsals are portraying lots of energy through strong performance. The development is EXTREMELY impressive, to think that I’m watching plays that have had less than 6 hour rehearsal time and they’re coming across brilliantly!

The rehearsals have really got me excited and I can’t wait for the performances later on!

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Love it!

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So the writers have writ, directors chosen, actors pulled out of the Judy & Sean receptacles.
The theme is Double Bluff.
Tonight we see 7 brand new world premiere plays on the theme all written, cast, produced, scored, teched & performed in 24 hours.
The beautiful band are rehearsing right now. And I can tell you it sounds GOOD!

Come along for the 8 o’clock or 10.30 shows!

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9.30AM
The theatre is extremely quiet compared to last night as the directors are studying their plays. The stage is dark and some of the directors are walking around the space using their imagination. The directors have one hour to overlook their scripts and start planning before rehearsals start. I wonder …what are their thought processes? An empty glass has been raised! Already in the am! This means one thing…a virgin needs to refill it with the keg. The Sean and Judy bags are staring at me from the stage and the room. Everything so far has caught my interest, it feels like I’m in a small creative bubble surrounded by talent – I love it!
10AM
I feel the excitement for the actors as they are waiting for their names to be pulled out of the bags…what plays will they be in? Who are will be their director? Everybody is still wooping and cheering, the energy is infectious!
10.30AM
And they’re off! There are two groups that have stayed behind in the theatre for their script read through and there are others in the bar area. The design team are currently making a HUGE list of props and the musicians are also setting up on their platform. Aside from the participators, the artist liaisons are at their table organising wonderfully! It’s really interesting to observe the different discussions happening for the various areas in the festival. Ooo..a musician has just arrived on his scooter! The creativity keeps surprising me!

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Ladies and Gents… it’s finally here, 14/48 Leicester returns to The Y, Leicester on Friday 8th and Saturday 9th May.

Join us for 14 plays in 48 hours – kicking of with 7 plays around the theme of “Double Bluff”…

We’ve got some of the region’s prime talent, and they’ll be sweating the small stuff in a crammed 10 hour rehearsal period before performing with our live 14/48 band.

Hope to see you all there!

Visit The Y’s website for tickets here

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Some smiles… Some nervous grimaces… Our directors have had their plays in hand for 30 minutes now, chatting through the script with their respective writers, who themselves are hoping that the words they came up with last night make sense.

Overheard words include:

Penis

Gun

Wedding

Hitchhiker’s guide to the Galaxy

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It’s Friday 8am and the writer’s scripts have rolled in… Emma Bamford wins the gold star for getting hers in first, and we’re just in the process of printing and collating ready for directors to choose their play at random at 9am.

I’m off to have a sneaky peek at a couple of the scripts…. perks of the job!

Look forward to seeing what will end up on our stage this evening…. unlike the dubious forecasts and polls we’ve seen over the last few weeks, one thing is for certain, some great theatre will be on display tonight in Leicester!

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Here it is! A list of lovely artists who are volunteering their time to make 14 plays in 48 hours this weekend… Join us on Friday 8th and Saturday 9th May to see what our collective efforts produce!
(Those marked with a * are Virgins, taking part in the festival in this discipline for the first time… be nice to them!)

Actors
Emily Breden
Stuart Reid
Jonny McClean
Alex Thompson
Kierann Shah
Rob Throup
Abby Grant
Lesley Emery
Kirsty Munro
James Kerr
Neil May
Lucy Hayward *
Julia Damassa *
Alison Beveridge *
Sophie Murray *
Matthew Barlow *
Fran Richards *
Joe Derrington *
Marcus Churchill *
Becky Wright *
Kirsty Mealing
Christian Alexander *
Anthony Morgan *
Nick Gale *
Allan Smith

Directors
Nathan Human
Neil Reading
Paul Rogers
Jess Richards *
Richard Jaques
Pamela Cole-Hudson *
Will Breden *

Writers
Hannah Torrance *
Louise Singleton
Michael O’Hara
Lucy Wade *
Gareth Morgan *
Matt Beams *
Emma Bamford *

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