Elsewhere director’s Blog – 5

Our time in the rehearsal room has come to an end and as from tonight we are in the library. It feels like the right time, as we’ve been doing reasonably well in trying to set the space up like the library but nothing compares to the real thing. I think getting re-used to the size of the space will be an obstacle to overcome, everything and everybody is further away with more doors to go through and shelving to move round. We’ll need to re-find the routes through the space. This evening is without the actors, a chance to place the technical elements, of which there aren’t many in the space and to see what sort of atmosphere we can create as florescent lights create a very singular space and we want the idea of separate and defined spaces. The space the audience is stepping into is meant to be as though the library is open but we need to find the theatrical as well so are hoping our subtle lighting additions and subtractions will aid this mood.

Alex and I have been fighting to find the right audience context for the piece, the frame of why the audience are there at this particular time. We finally got there on Thursday and subtly implanted it into the improvisation to see how it would play out. It worked well and pursuing it on Sunday defined further how it will work although we need to refine it and as with everything see how it will work with an audience. We’re constantly encouraging our company to take the audience with you, partially physically but mostly narratively in what they are doing. They need to bring them into their world and the decisions they are taking, to be forceful and engaging throughout. They are becoming better and better but it’s a whole new performance style for most of them. There is no script, no real set-pieces, there is a structure but there is genuine freedom in between and that can be a scary thought. But that is why we have spent a huge amount of time on developing character, constant improvisations so they can respond to whatever situation and interactions arise.

Its an exciting time, a real step into the unknown for me with this production. Its unpredictable because each audience member can react or interact in such different ways. We’re essentially trying to predict how 100 people might react to our piece, and that’s a tricky thing to do! With a script you can normally predict or have some sort of idea what an audience will make of it, partly if its been done before or based on the quality of the writing. But with this show it’s a genuine unknown…I think we’ve been clear in our publicity what the experience will be and hopefully our audience will come with a curious and playful spirit that will suit our piece. I think this show follows a maxim that I like, “You get out what you put in”, if an audience follows this I think they’ll be in for a treat.