Thursday, 10 December 2009
End of the Workshop Season...
So, as the nights begin to well and truly close in (dark at 4pm? Does this really happen every year?!) Net Curtains' Workshops have closed up for the Christmas period, to return bigger and better than ever in the New Year.
November and December have given us some great evenings. We've had two brilliant writers, Rachel Sambrooks and Matt Borgatti, take workshops for us with their scripts 'Clouds' and 'Descent and Decency'.
During Rachel's evening the actors read through the entire script and discussed in detail what was felt to be effective and what needed clarification or could be built upon further. We also tried putting the scenes up on their feet, gaging how the words worked when combined with movement. The general consensus was that the strength of the material Rachel was working with demanded that the play be worked into a full-length piece, and we hope to see Rachel back in the new year with her next draft!
Matt also brought a very powerful piece of work, but at a far earlier stage of development, which provided a fascinating view of a script in progress. Again the company read through the material and provided feedback on characters, scene development and plotting. For this evening we were also joined by the guiding hand of director Mel Cookis. Mel worked with Matt to give the evening a very effective structure, facilitating a strong investigation of the piece and leaving no plot stone unturned.
Our final workshop of the year was delivered by writer and director Poppy Corbett. Focusing on Russian acting techniques, Poppy guided the group through various games and exercises, designed to sharpen concentration, heighten awareness of the self and others and build relationships within a company. The workshop was quite different from anything else we had done during the season so far, very hands on, actor-orientated and physical, and was thoroughly enjoyed by all.
On looking back at the past few months, it seems that Net Curtains' Workshops have had a very successful and diverse season, but this is only the beginning...
November and December have given us some great evenings. We've had two brilliant writers, Rachel Sambrooks and Matt Borgatti, take workshops for us with their scripts 'Clouds' and 'Descent and Decency'.
During Rachel's evening the actors read through the entire script and discussed in detail what was felt to be effective and what needed clarification or could be built upon further. We also tried putting the scenes up on their feet, gaging how the words worked when combined with movement. The general consensus was that the strength of the material Rachel was working with demanded that the play be worked into a full-length piece, and we hope to see Rachel back in the new year with her next draft!
Matt also brought a very powerful piece of work, but at a far earlier stage of development, which provided a fascinating view of a script in progress. Again the company read through the material and provided feedback on characters, scene development and plotting. For this evening we were also joined by the guiding hand of director Mel Cookis. Mel worked with Matt to give the evening a very effective structure, facilitating a strong investigation of the piece and leaving no plot stone unturned.
Our final workshop of the year was delivered by writer and director Poppy Corbett. Focusing on Russian acting techniques, Poppy guided the group through various games and exercises, designed to sharpen concentration, heighten awareness of the self and others and build relationships within a company. The workshop was quite different from anything else we had done during the season so far, very hands on, actor-orientated and physical, and was thoroughly enjoyed by all.
On looking back at the past few months, it seems that Net Curtains' Workshops have had a very successful and diverse season, but this is only the beginning...
Labels: Workshop
¶ 13:41 0 Comments
Friday, 23 October 2009
WORKSHOPS!
Net Curtains has been busy recently with two fantastic workshops over the past fortnight.
First up was David Cottis, director of Druid's Rest at the Finborough Theatre and currently directing The Comedy of Errors, due to open next Wednesday at the Riverhouse. David led the company in an interesting set of exercises, focusing on Ken Campbell's theory that the face physically holds two distinct personalities. The actors took turns studying each other's profiles, left and right, devising personalities, jobs, character flaws and lifestyles to fit the physical attributes that each side of the face presented. The company then took it in turns to be 'hot-seated', the two different sides of their face were asked questions and the actor's took on the character that had been assigned to each profile in their answers.
This Tuesday we welcomed Philip Westerman, armed with his brilliant horror film script 'The Photograph'. Phil was interested in fleshing and developing his characters to complement the strongly threaded plot. So the company worked with extracts from the script, ranging from a scene bristling with domestic tension, to an unsettling moment where a mother worries for her child's safety, to a cosy scene in which an older woman dispenses advice for the younger generation. The actors worked both on and off script, some scenes benefiting from some original and often hilarious devising!
Both evenings were very successful and with more workshops planned for November, Net Curtains' creativity continues to grow.
Labels: Workshop
¶ 14:28 1 Comments
Tuesday, 29 September 2009
NET CURTAINS UPDATE
¶ 17:31 0 Comments
Exciting Developments are afoot at Net Curtains right now. A new draft of a full length First Impressions is on its way, and in the meantime a variety of Net Curtains workshops have been lined up to keep the Company on their toes. Actors will interact with diverse artistic opportunities, ranging from work with recent directors, horror film scripts and on to fresh new writing pieces. And with more possibilities in the pipeline, Tuesday evening looks like it will be an interesting time for the next couple of months!
And in other news, netcurtains.org is getting a face-lift. Overseen by our Website and Design Manager, Tom Clarke, Net Curtains Theatre Company will soon have a brilliant new online look. So, watch this space...literally
Thursday, 17 September 2009
WORKSHOP WITH ELEANOR RHODE
8th September 2009
While plans are well underway for the production of Tim Stimpson's winning play at The Theatre Royal Margate next year, Net Curtains remain dedicated to providing actors and directors with the creative space in which to nurture talent and forge new artistic links. It is this philosophy that found the company in their favourite haunt - the Coach and Horses in Soho - engaging in a workshop run by Eleanor Rhode, director of the critically acclaimed Generous by Michael Healey.
After a brief synopsis of the play, which concerns four interconnected stories of 'generosity' playing out under the politically charged atmosphere of a minority government in 1970s Canada, the actors began work with extracts from the script. Eleanor and the company started with an electric scene concerning five members of the failing government and set in the disaster zone that emerges after an important parliamentary vote is lost. The motivations for the characters were examined and explored through a series of improvisations and experiments with the script, leading actors towards the urgency the scene needs to portray.
After working on some focus exercises the company moved onto a scene involving two characters who, as the action progresses, develop a sexual bond steeped that is in power-games. The actors had the chance to explore the best way to create this bond and the subtleties of action that denote status and authority on stage. Eleanor used minimal set and props for her production of Generous and she spoke about the challenges faced by performers without these items but also the focus that this lack lends to every tiny nuance of the actor's behaviour.
The evening provided an interesting insight into Eleanor Rhode's directorial style and the chance for the company to work in a 'hands-on' way with a dynamic script. Thank you to Eleanor for her time and we wish her all the best for her upcoming production of The December Man as part of the VIBRANT! Festival at the Finborough during October.
While plans are well underway for the production of Tim Stimpson's winning play at The Theatre Royal Margate next year, Net Curtains remain dedicated to providing actors and directors with the creative space in which to nurture talent and forge new artistic links. It is this philosophy that found the company in their favourite haunt - the Coach and Horses in Soho - engaging in a workshop run by Eleanor Rhode, director of the critically acclaimed Generous by Michael Healey.
After a brief synopsis of the play, which concerns four interconnected stories of 'generosity' playing out under the politically charged atmosphere of a minority government in 1970s Canada, the actors began work with extracts from the script. Eleanor and the company started with an electric scene concerning five members of the failing government and set in the disaster zone that emerges after an important parliamentary vote is lost. The motivations for the characters were examined and explored through a series of improvisations and experiments with the script, leading actors towards the urgency the scene needs to portray.
After working on some focus exercises the company moved onto a scene involving two characters who, as the action progresses, develop a sexual bond steeped that is in power-games. The actors had the chance to explore the best way to create this bond and the subtleties of action that denote status and authority on stage. Eleanor used minimal set and props for her production of Generous and she spoke about the challenges faced by performers without these items but also the focus that this lack lends to every tiny nuance of the actor's behaviour.
The evening provided an interesting insight into Eleanor Rhode's directorial style and the chance for the company to work in a 'hands-on' way with a dynamic script. Thank you to Eleanor for her time and we wish her all the best for her upcoming production of The December Man as part of the VIBRANT! Festival at the Finborough during October.
Labels: Eleanor Rhode, Net Curtains, Workshop
¶ 15:02 0 Comments