How to disappear…directors blog 1

This is the first of a weekly blog from the YAC rehearsal room, where I shall endeavour to pass on thoughts and musings on how the show is progressing and give an insight into how we’re working. This will be the 8^th YAC show I’ve made, and will be the 4^th for the studio theatre so I’m always conscious about keeping things fresh each time. Each new project is essentially original in that it’s a different play or show, it can’t be exactly the same…but sometimes you see work by directors or companies and it feels a similar formula, the pattern has been set and it never frays far from that. Part of this problem can be with working with the same artists. Its incredibly useful to have a shorthand with working with people, an understanding where they just know, its intuitive. But its also so important to throw the doors open and invite new people in, a fresh draft never hurt anyone…

 So with this production I’m working with almost completely new people, 7 of the 8 actors haven’t performed with the YAC before and I’m pleased to be collaborating for the first time with movement director Shona Cowie, composer and musical director Nick Calpin, and designer Lucy Campbell. With these artists I want to find a new way of making work, to learn something myself and bring fresh ideas and impetus to the production. I think my work has a ‘Julian Ollive’ stamp on it, I’ve been told it does and believe there is an aesthetic that I’ve developed but its important to me that it isn’t too fixed or prescriptive. You don’t progress by just doing what you know. Its also important to keep providing opportunities for new young people to us. Auditions are strange things, for both sides, for me I have to make judgements on people very quickly. Its true you get a sense of peoples ability pretty quickly but its crucial to stay open minded and not be too rigid in your expectations, because those people might not come through the doors.

 We start rehearsals on the 18^th and work pretty intensively on it three times a week through to the production, actually with a week off in the middle this time (which is nice!) I always refer back to previous rehearsal schedules I’ve done for a barometer of how long and intensive a schedule should be. I learnt from an early show that over 10 weeks is too long, its difficult to sustain momentum and you end up losing people along the way. Its quite a long piece this one so we’ll be pushing it through to make sure we’ve got a grasp of it before going back and adding in the finer detail. This isn’t an easy thing to do, leaving parts slightly under done but a rehearsal process is about layering. Those layers can’t all be laid down at once, I’m looking for broad understanding and interpretation of character initially, along with basic blocking in the space. Then the second time through we deepen the character intentions and physicality (hopefully off book at this point), then some sound may come into the process and refining transitions between scenes. Pretty rarely do major staging changes happen after the initial work through. I go into rehearsals with a fairly clear idea of where to place things, this comes from a detailed knowledge of the performance space but also I work quite pictorially when I work through a script so see it quite clearly in my mind.

 I’ve been wanting to do this play for a while so I’ve had some time to digest it but now is the time to fix thoughts and get some detailed text work done before rehearsals start. So I better go do it…

YAC auditions!

Audition call for Young Actors

York Theatre Royal Young Actors Company (YAC) is holding auditions for their latest production of How to Disappear Completely and Never be Found by Fin Kennedy. The production will take place in the studio theatre 21^st – 24^th March.  

Charlie’s used up 8 of his 9 lives; in debt, in trouble and in despair, he holds the urn of his cremated mother in his hands. With his life crumbling around him he is offered the chance to change his one remaining life forever. But to do this he will have to make ‘Charlie’ disappear forever…

YAC was created for 18-25 year olds with the objective of providing performance opportunities for young adults, acting as a bridge for some into the professional industry. The artistic vision of the company has a specific focus on new, contemporary and site-specific work. The company is run by artistic director Julian Ollive, the theatre’s Education and Young Actors Associate. Founded in 2008 the YAC first produced three new site-specific pieces for the York Youth Mysteries. Since then the company have produced a new piece of work exploring questions and ethics around genetics called An Exact Science? EQUUS as part of the TakeOver09 festival, Terrorism, Elsewhere in collaboration with Belt Up Theatre, Celebrating Severus at The Yorkshire Museum and most recently Little Angels by Hannah Davies.

Auditions are being held at the Theatre Royal on December 13^th and 15^th December from 7 – 9.30pm. We are looking for an ensemble of eight company members who will play multiple parts between the ages of 18 – 25 yrs. Auditions will take place as a whole group. We are looking for committed and passionate young people between 18 – 25 yrs old who are available to rehearse Wednesday and Thursday evenings and Sunday afternoons from January 18^th. This is an exciting opportunity to create and perform in a contemporary play in a movement-driven style in a professional environment.

For more information and to book for into an audition day email julian@yorktheatreroyal.co.uk or call Julian Ollive on 01904 658162.