Edinburgh Fringe 2009, Treasure Island. Our actors take part in a photo shoot for publicity stills.
Vodcast: Fringe 2009 – 1
Jul 15
Vodcast: Fringe 2009 – 1
Jul 15
Edinburgh Fringe 2009, Treasure Island. Our actors take part in a photo shoot for publicity stills.
First Degree Burns
Jul 15
Ever since my earliest recollections of primary school Burns recital competitions, I have enjoyed a fond affection for the insightful and lyrical wordsmithery of our national bard. Not since Shakespeare has a man so aptly surmised our existential trials and hardships with analogies and imagery so exactly appropriate, you marvel that they had not existed before.
One such example comes from the very poem I recited as a child, and which began my love affair with Burns’ work; A Man’s A Man For A’ That.
“The rank is but the guinea’s stamp;
The man’s the gowd for a’ that.”
It is a couplet that could easily be used to refer to Burns himself; despite attaining the various trappings of celebrity and success within his lifetime, he seemed to have scant regard for its worth to him; possessed instead, as he ever was, with his quest for true love and the succour of the human soul.
In this regard, he was a man after my own heart. Little surprise then that I should have auditioned for Nonsense Room’s ‘Ae Fond Kiss’ – and less even that I should be thrilled to have landed a part. Or, rather, six parts.
The challenge ahead may be great but so was the man and so is the material so I can but do my best to do his great works justice.
Here’s tae ye, Rabbie!
Wha’s like ye?
Gie few an’ they’re a’ deid!
Six Roles For Breakfast
The joint read-throughs of Ae Fond Kiss and our Nonsense Room sister-show, Treasure Island went very well, with plenty of lovely characterisation coming through from everybody already – and this was rehearsal day one! Both casts are full of the kind of people you hope you get to work with as an actor; generous, fun, considerate, enthusiastic – this should be a fantastic two months.
So the script has been perused and it seems I have a generous helping of both characters and gags! I am to play: Burns’ father, Gilbert (his brother), William Creech (his publisher), John Armour (Jean Armour’s father), Tam (a pub-dweller – perhaps of O’Shanter fame?) and last but not least, Annie Wilson (landlady of The Edinburgh Inn).
The most obvious challenge is making all the characters different enough in voice and physicalisation but also believable as representations of the actual persons concerned… and then there’s making sure they’re all funny.
Yes, it is certainly a hilarious script, aptly described by Bruce, our director and the co-writer, as a ‘romp’ through Burns’ life and many loves. It is full of raunchy encounters, saucy one liners and some larger than life characters that had me in stitches just reading it. I guess this is a good thing since I have to portray a few of them now!
Round The Old Joanna
Ah, but I do love a good old sing-song! Just as well really, as there is a considerable amount of it in the show.
Today we were learning our parts for the five-part harmony versions of Ae Fond Kiss and Auld Lang Syne, just two of the Burns songs arranged for us by our musical director, Matthew. He is rather talented; the harmonies sound lush! There is nothing quite like the ecstatic sensation of being a part of creating complex and beautiful harmonies with other people. It gives me the shivery shivers! I’m really looking forward to performing these for an audience now.
I’ve remarked to others in the cast and now I’ll tell you guys – I reckon this show has a near perfect balance of raucous comedy and moving, poignant moments of real emotion and it moves seamlessly between the two. Many of the most touching moments are provided by Burns’ own work; his poems and also his songs performed by each of the three girls in the cast, portraying the characters for which the songs were originally written, which adds a bittersweet edge to the laments in particular – especially in the case of Highland Mary.
(sniffle, sniff)
Gilchrist Muir
Treasure Island Blog 14/7/09
Jul 14
Lee's Blog continued….
Day 1- We started at the Mining Museum for the morning where we met everybody involved. We then continued with a read through of both shows which were great to hear out loud ! Both shows look like their going to be great fun and there was generally a good vibe after the readings! I then enjoyed some poached eggs on toast from the cafe and off to Rosslyn for the afternoon session…Sword Fighting! Something i thought would just be testosterone filled enjoyment was actually a real challenge and required a great deal of focus! Everyone seemed to help each other plough through and the opening fight scene was bearing some sort of shape by the end of the day. Came home with a frazzled brain but with the satisfaction of a good days work…Roll on tommorow more sword fighting!
Day 2-Met in the Rosslyn rehearsal space again today for 10am. Start with a bit of a group warm up then split the casts and get on with business. We start by going over the fight we had been working on yesterday which is really starting to come togeather. We then decided to think up as many pirate quotes and phrases as we could which could be used for ad-libbing in the show. Next we took a look at the second fight scene between Arrow and Benn Gunn. This fight is more light hearted so we tried to push for as much physical comedy as possible which i think should be pretty funny! This for me in particular was very physically demanding and left me very sweaty and tired, but Bruce seemed fairly pleased with what we had put togeather, so after a bit of tinkering this scene was pretty much complete by the end of the day. My voice feels fairly strained from the pirate banter so may have to take a bit more care of the old vocal chords over the coming weeks before i start sounding like rod stewart!
Ae Fond Kiss Blog 12/7/09
Jul 12
Blog by Rebecca Bradley
Right so it’s the Sunday before rehearsals start so I’m just reading through the script and continuing my work on the Scottish accent. I’m so excited about the play but my main worry does have to be putting on the Scottish accent and doing it well, but that’s not stopping my eagerness and excitement.
I’m on a summer break from the acting course at Queen Margaret University at the moment, which has been lovely, free time and sunny days, but it’s great now to have a project, something to work towards. I really am looking forward to getting my teeth stuck in to the characters of Nancy, Nell and Jean’s mother. So far I’ve been researching Burns life and work to grasp a better understanding of what life was like and the living conditions of that time.
Can’t wait for tomorrow, get to see where we’re performing, meet everyone and do a bit of singing, great stuff.
Aaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yup, that about sums up my level of nervousness and excitement at the prospect of trying to do justice to arguably Scotland’s favourite son….EVER!!
I was amazed, humbled and terrified in equal measure when I was informed that the role or Burns was mine. I have been a great lover of Burns’ work from a very early age and competed in many Burns recital competitions throughout primary and high school. I even based my drama school ‘Movement Assessment’ (possibly the most daunting thing I’ve ever done, considering how ‘gracefulness impaired’ I have always though of myself) on debatably Burns’ greatest masterpiece, Tam O’Shanter.
Now I find myself trying to bring the great man himself to life and one question stands out like a sore thumb every time this concept springs to mind…WHERE DO I START??
Thus far, I’ve spent most of my spare time reading various biographies, guides and opinions of Burns and I think I’m starting to get a better understanding of what is a very complicated individual. From such humble, agricultural beginnings, it is fascinating to see just how far his talent and passion for the written word would take him…and yet how unfulfilled it would ultimately leave him without the love of a good woman (or twelve!!) to share it with. I was also very pleased to learn that, contrary to popular assumption, Burns’ was actually around 6’2” tall (only an inch and a half less than myself, as opposed to the 9 inches I previously thought I had on him) and was not quite as slim as many of his statues etc would tend to suggest…which considering he spent so much of his early life toiling in the fields, would seem to make sense also. I’ve got a long way to go to match his trademark “sideboard” facial hair, but I’ll give it a bloomin’ good go!!
All in all, I am incredibly excited to get started and really get my teeth into this amazing character!
Here tae us, wha’s like us…?!
Treasure Island Blog
Jul 8
Lee's First Blog
With only a few days before the start of Rehearsals, now feels like a good time to start blogging! I have spent a good bit of this week working with my good friend (The Puppet) trying to gain a bit of confidence with my puppetry skills which prior to this week were pretty non existent, but we will get there! We also spent a day at The Mining Museum in which we had a great deal of fun with the publicity shots at various locations within the museum, which apart from the unusually hot weather was exciting stuff! Need to go through the novel one more time before Monday which i will be doing with Puppet in hand, as I have found this the best way to practice thus far! We also had a costume fit the week before last which was the first real cast meeting. This was a first for me….wearing tights is surprisingly comfortable….but removing them was a challenge in itself! Cast and crew seem to all get along splendidly and i'm looking forward to the adventures ahead…
Ae Fond Kiss
May 7
6th – 29th August 2009 (7:30pm)
The Story of Robert Burns by Simon Beattie
Following our sell-out production of this comedy biography of the life and loves of Robert Burns we have revised the show for the Homecoming celebrations. Ae Fond Kiss is a great way to get to know more about Burns and hear his work as it was meant to be heard. With new music and songs composed especially for the show we are looking forward to bringing back an old favourite.
Special Evening (29th August)
We are delighted to announce our annual Special Evening is returning!
Tickets are £25 and include:
- an after hours tour of the Mining Museum;
- the performance of Ae Fond Kiss;
- a Q&A session with the cast and crew; and
- a post-show buffet and wine.
The evening will begin at 7.30pm and finish at approx 11pm.
Book early – In previous years, the ’special evenings’ have been a great success and very well attended, we are delighted the Scottish Mining Museum are working with us to provide another special event for 2009!
Call 0131 663 7519 to book tickets to the Special Evening.
Treasure Island
May 6
6th – 29th August 2009 (4:30 pm)
Based on the novel by Robert Louis Stevenson
This year we are proud to present a new show for the whole family.
Meet the original Pirates of the Caribbean as your puppet guide, Jim Hawkins, narrates his way through his exciting journey to find Captain Flint’s hidden treasure. Along the way he battles a crew of pirates, led by Long John Silver, who are determined to steal the treasure for themselves.
Andrews Blog 1
Oct 21
First Rehearsal – Andrew Warnock (George Bailey)
For some time now I have been looking forward to this project with equal measures of excitement and trepidation.
Lets take the latter first. How could anyone approach such an iconic and well loved character as George Bailey and not feel a little overwhelmed? The story of Its A Wonderful Life and the characters therein tend to mean more to people than those of other Movies. So many people (me included) have grown up with the story and have attached a great deal of sentimental value to it over the years. For anyone taking on such a story, the fear of being compared and coming up short proves a gigantic psychological barrier and in weaker moments you just can't help but imagine a sea of dissappointed faces, shedding tears and wondering how you could do such a thing to them.
That's the trepidation part. And the Excitement? All of the above reasons. The challenge of taking something that people think they know inside out and presenting it as something new and fresh and relevant. The prospect of illuminating areas of the story that maybe people didn't see before, or at least hadn't thought of.
Anyway, it was with all these thoughts swimming round my head that I arrived for the first rehearsal. The day got off to a shaky start, as the rehearsal space at Roslyn Glen Hotel was unexpectedly shut. This proved a brief and minor set back and actually allowed us the opportunity to walk along to the nearby Chapel (one of our performance venues) and have a good look round. That done, we returned to the Hotel and got down to the business of analysing the text and breaking it down into small workable chunks. This is a vital part of any rehearsal process as it helps the cast towards a greater understanding of the story and the part they will play in it. The cast assembled here have thrown a lot of interesting thoughts and ideas into the mix and I am already starting to feel excited about the direction that the story might in go and the way its characters will develope.
All in all, its been a fruitful first day.
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