Saturday 31 December 2011

'11: blankets














1. GAMES by James Saunders | February














2. WAITING FOR GODOT by Samuel Beckett | February




















3. PLANTING GODOT - Himalayan Silver Birch | February














4. ATTEMPTS ON HER LIFE by Martin Crimp | April




















5. INVESTING IN A TIPI - a home for life | April














6. GODSPELL by Stephen Schwartz | June and September




















7. THE BLANKET PLAY | April and July














8. SARK | August














9. KEFALONIA 10 YEARS ON | August




















11. MY 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS | December

2 duckie vids - play simultaneously...





theatre-rites' mojo









Friday 30 December 2011

jack, juno, johnny, mary and joxer


















JUNO AND THE PAYCOCK
by Sean O'Casey
National Theatre: Lyttelton
A co-production with the Abbey Theatre, Ireland

Director: Howard Davies
Design: Bob Crowley
Lighting: James Farncombe
Music: Anna Rice
Sound: Ben Delaney
Photos: Mark Douet

Captain Jack Boyle: Ciarán Hinds
Juno Boyle: Sinéad Cusack
Johnny Boyle: Ronan Raftery
Mary Boyle: Clare Dunne
Joxer Daly: Risteárd Cooper


MARY - Act I

"Mary with her jumper off - it is lying on the back of a chair - is arranging her hair before a tiny mirror perched on the table. Beside the mirror is stretched out the morning paper, which she looks at when she isn't gazing into the mirror. She is a well-made and good-looking girl of twenty-two. Two forces are working in her mind - one, through the circumstances of her life, pulling her back; the other, through the influence of books she has read, pushing her forward. The opposing forces are apparent in her speech and her manners, both of which are degraded by her environment, and improved by her acquaintance - slight though it be - with literature. The time is early forenoon."















JUNO - Act III

"I forgot, Mary, I forgot; your poor oul' selfish mother was only thinkin' of herself. No, no, you musn't come - it wouldn't be good for you. You go on to me sister's an I'll fetch th' ordeal meself. Maybe I didn't feel sorry enough for Mrs Tancred when her poor son was found as Johnny's been found now - because he was a Die-hard! Ah, why didn't I remember that then he wasn't a Diehard or a Stater, but only a poor dead son! It's well I remember all that she said - an' it's my turn to say it now: What was the pain I suffered, Johnny, bringin' you into the world to carry you to your cradle, to the pains I'll suffer carryin' you out o' the world to bring you to your grave! Mother o' God, Mother o' God, have pity on us all! Blessed Virgin, where was you when me darlin' son was riddled with bullets, when me darlin' son was riddled with bullets? Sacred Heart o' Jesus, take away our hearts o' stone, and give us hearts o' flesh! Take away this murdherin' hate, an' give us Thine own eternal love!"

Thursday 29 December 2011

site-specificity














THE RAILWAY CHILDREN
by Edith Nesbit
Adapted by Mike Kenny
Waterloo Station

The York Theatre Royal production
in association with the National Railway Museum
Welcome to Yorkshire
The Touring Consortium (RC) 2011 Ltd.

Director: Damian Cruden
Design: Joanna Scotcher
Lighting: Richard G Jones
Composer: Christopher Madin
Sound: Craig Vear
Photo: Simon Annand


This was all the things that were written about it: atmospheric, cinematic, charming, nostalgic, contemporary, entertaining and political. 

But there was something curious about being at a defunct late 20th./early 21st. century Eurostar terminus one minute, and then being transported into a 'made' theatre space that was then not in the least bit recognisable in terms of its site-specific, site-sensitive environment.

The theatre transformation was so thorough - so complete - that the site-specific environment was totally disguised - the only reminder of the locale was the occasional sound of some active trains beyond...

the adventure of the imagination




































SWALLOWS AND AMAZONS
by Arthur Ransome
Adapted by Helen Edmundson
Music and Lyrics: Neil Hannon
Vaudeville Theatre

The National Theatre, in association with the Children's Touring Partnership, presents The Bristol Old Vic production...

Director: Tom Morris
Movement: Toby Sedgwick
Design: Robert Innes Hopkins
Lighting: James Farncombe
Sound: Jason Barnes
Arrangements and Orchestrations: Sam Kenyon

You would never go see any other-sort-of-show at Christmas, again, after seeing this...



Images: Simon Annand / Des Willie

Wednesday 28 December 2011

the conversation

















The Conversation | Pedro Barbeito | 2004

AN EXPLORATION OF THE CONFORMITY OF:
  • The Self / The Body
  • Thought and Language
  • Behaviour
  • Dress Codes and Wardrobe
  • Society
  • The Law
  • Generations
  • Religion
  • Art
  • Theatre Conventions - e.g. applause
  • Time / Structure / Schedules
  • Secrets

Tuesday 27 December 2011

Monday 26 December 2011

theatre games: six of the best




































































































Games | James Saunders
Jersey Arts Centre | youtheatre
September 2010 | February 2011

Sunday 25 December 2011

merry merry christmas









































Godspell | Stephen Schwartz
Jersey Arts Centre | youtheatre
St. Helier Methodist Centre | July & September 2011


ALL GOOD GIFTS

We plow the fields and scatter the good seed on the land...
But it is fed and watered by God's almighty hand...
He sends the snow in winter, the warmth to swell the grain...
The breezes and the sunshine, and soft refreshing rain...

All good gifts around us
Are sent from Heaven above
So thank the Lord, oh thank the Lord for all his love...

We thank thee then, O Father, for all things bright and good,
The seedtime and the harvest, our life, our health, our food,
No gifts have we to offer for all thy love imparts
But that which thou desirest, our humble thankful hearts!

All good gifts around us
Are sent from Heaven above...
So thank the Lord, oh thank the Lord for all his love...

I really wanna thank you Lord!

Saturday 24 December 2011

building the 17 poled tipi























































































































The Blanket Play | Daniel Austin
Jersey Arts Centre
St. James | April - July 2011

Friday 23 December 2011

17 grand attempts































































































































































































































Attempts On Her Life | Martin Crimp
Jersey Arts Centre | youtheatre
Grand Jersey | April 2011