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History ensemble member Nick Asbury on rural pursuits in Clapham and unscripted entrances.
Walk on parts
I worked it out, in a rather black mood on the bus this morning, that in this 28 month project we spend 13 of them rehearsing in London.
 That, dear reader, is a helluva long time to spend in Clapham. As we rehearse, the gentle sounds of police sirens accompany our lilting iambics. The floor rumbles and shakes every time a tube train passes underneath. Car alarms seem to greet each quiet passage of intimate acting with unerring accuracy. During the summer it was hot and we had the fire escape doors open and a drunk wandered in only to be greeted by me in full flow as Pistol waving a sword. He seemed to recognise a kindred spirit, gave me and the scurrying stage management a respectful nod, turned tail, and staggered off into the day. I was rehearsing a fight at about half eight last year and we heard gunshots outside. What with the clanking of swords we were generating inside, it was like a scene from Highlander. The HSBC at the top of the road had a little spot of bother with an armed robbery last week - the second time that's happened this year. And, worse, the Railway Tavern across the road doesn't sell real ale.
The worse times, such as today, are when you're in at 10 and work hard all morning on a scene. Then you have to hang around, as I have to today, until 7.30 to rehearse a scene till 9 o'clock. This may sound like the petty whinge of a spoilt actor, which, frankly, it is, but I'd rather be working flat out, not be put on hold. Cos you can't go anywhere. You can't plan cos you might get called back in, or the 7.30 call might never happen cos we've overrun. It's inevitable given the way we're working, but I find these days more of a grind than working flat out all day for 13 hours. Having said that, I don't know how Michael does it. The levels of concentration and commitment to the work he has seem bottomless and he's the one in there all day everyday.
But we have a show to put on and we're all throwing everything at it. So, musn't grumble. And, as the sirens pelt by and the trains rumble on, we can console ourselves that we've only another 4 weeks till we start tech rehearsals in Stratford. FOUR WEEKS!!!! EEK!! ONLY FOUR WEEKS! Better stop writing and go learn my lines and use my time properly instead of whingeing. 13 months? We need more time......!
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About blogger Nick
Likes: Cricket and music. Fields and dark pubs with no music
Dislikes: Lager, crowded streets and light bars with music |
