Transformations
October 1, 2012
The past week has seen a number of important steps in the process of getting Pericles ready to hit the ground running when we open on the 5th October. I've had intense rehearsals of the scenes I'm involved in, a personal voice call with the fabulous Michael Corbridge, and the most important thing for a group of actors, the first cast party.
Taking these in order I'll start with the rehearsals. At first we sit in a circle and read through the scene and within ten minutes it's been transformed into a 3D, fully functioning piece of theatre. It all happens so quickly and so smoothly (thanks, mainly, to being involved with such a talented cast and such a creative group of, well, creatives) that you almost forget that you've been a part of it.
It's amazing how, within not much time at all, what starts off as being a simple line read from a script is transformed and given depth and meaning. It feels, looks and sounds so much richer and all from just a few minor directions here and there.
Speaking of transformations, my voice call with Michael Corbridge was one of the most valuable hour's drama education I have ever had the pleasure to be involved in. Among a number of other things, we worked on adding 'notes' to my lines of text. Not scribbled ones with a worn-out biro, but musical ones to add more life and expression to the words so that when it comes to show-time, they ring out around the Courtyard Theatre and reach 2,000 ear drums clearly and distinctly.
Finally the cast party, yet another example of how our ensemble works so well together in combining to enjoy a really great night at Château de James and Jamie. At first it seemed like a normal party, I'm chatting away and enjoying a beer with some friends and colleagues then I look over to the other side of the room and think, 'oh look, that guy looks like the guy on the billboards for The Tempest... oh wait, that guy is the guy on the billboards for The Tempest!'
I'm at a party with Jonathan Slinger and other top RSC actors prompting half the people in my phonebook to receive a text message along the lines of, 'Just chilling with Prospero at a cast party'.
As I write this blog post I'm waiting to head down to Stratford for a costume fitting with Chris Cahill. I haven't seen any designs as of yet but I'm told it's pretty awesome so I can't wait to get my kit off (and then swiftly back on again as Lysimachus)!
by Nathan Hawthorne
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