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History ensemble member Nick Asbury on the end of an era - well sort of - and making history...
Making history
It's 4.45 pm on Friday 29 February 2008. Perhaps it's somehow appropriate that it takes this extra day of the year to achieve what's just happened. WE HAVE JUST FINISHED REHEARSING FOR THE LAST TIME.
 It has been 2 years and 2 days. BLIMEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! From now on we will be performing and performing. Come London and the Roundhouse, yes we'll be doing techs and notes and the like, but we'll be fitting in understudy technicals alongside principle techs so it all goes like clockwork.
We finished just now the understudy tech rehearsal of Richard III, and there was a totally impromptu noise, which rumbled and grew rather like the earthquake that rattled us a couple of night's ago, emanating from somewhere deep within the heart of all us - cast and crew alike. It grew to a roar as we just shouted and bellowed a cry of victory, relief and exalted knackeredness. No one could quite believe it! I still can't now.
We have the small matter of performing Henry V this evening, so Julius now has to get his head out of Richard III and become Bardloph. I have to stop slithering around as Catesby and become Pistol and Geoffrey has to step out of King Edward IV's ghostly shoes and become Henry V - a dynastic somersault if ever there was one. And then we have a Trilogy Day to do tomorrow! In at 9.15 for a half hour long fight call of all Henry VI fights.
Silly. Very silly. But so, so gratifying. In the pub last night after Henry IV Part II, I met quite a few people who are seeing all eight shows this week. They are on this extraordinary journey with us and it's such a joy to feel as though we are all, actors and audiences alike, on this big bus. This week is the first time in 400 years that all eight History Plays of William Shakespeare have been performed by one troupe of actors IN THEIR ENTIRETY in succession. And it's a right old laugh. Performing them, I get the real sense that it is not just another show. You can't possibly just turn up and 'phone in' your performance. The commitment from the audience (financially as well as spiritually, I would imagine) matches our total involvement over the last two years and it feels very very special.
And for us to be rehearsing at the same time as all that is a bit nuts, but had to be done. And we've finished. On a day that happens once every four years. Huh, that's nothing - for The Histories, try once every 400 years...
 Respond to Nick's blog
Watch extracts from the Histories
 View scenes from Henry V and behind the scenes in rehearsals.
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Latest blog posts
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- Making history
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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
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