Theatre

I had an idea for a workshop, then I had another idea and the collision – or was it collusion? – resulted in “Shakespeare’s Archetypes”, a two day fully immersive program that involves playing with a number of different Archetypes, while experimenting with some of the Original Shakespeare Co’s “rules of the game”.

That seemed like a pretty good plan, but this morning two more thoughts crashed into each other inside my brain (or maybe my heart) and the result is “Extreme Shakespeare”. Thought No 1 was a reaction to Casus‘s beautiful show, Knee Deep, at the Judy last week.  The four performers are technically superb, and because of the way they work together, subtly caring and daring at the same time, they are able to execute some of the most exciting, dangerous moves I’ve seen on stage.

Thought No 2 was a reaction to the National Theatre (of Great Britain)’s production of “Frankenstein“, which I saw at the Dendy Portside yesterday afternoon.  Benedick Cumberbatch played the Monster, with Jonny Lee Miller as Frankenstein.  It is totally inspiring, not just because of Danny Boyle’s wonderfully imaginative staging or Nick Dear’s fine script, but because the actors are central, the acting is central, and they inject the script with so much passion and power that it totally ceases to BE a script, and emerges – as it should – as the very life and soul of the people who speak it.

I Want That!

So, be warned. This workshop will be challenging and demanding.  Not for wimps. It will start at 9.30 am in the morning, and keep going (with coffee/tea and meal breaks) till 9.30 pm at night. For two whole days.  That is 23 hours of intense training-cum-acting, more than some people spend rehearsing a full production.  Maybe at the end we will have a full production.  I doubt it, because I want More Than That!  I want great theatre, with great performers working together to create it. No stars. No celebrities. Just fantastic actors.

If you want that too, and you live anywhere within Southern Queensland, let me know.  The dates are negotiable. If I can find a venue with living accommodation, we can sleep over as well. So no travelling home late at night, and back first thing Sunday morning.  Perfect.

Flloyd

Winter is definitely here, even though anyone from northern Europe might be forgiven for thinking it’s just a mild summer. But it’s cold enough to warrant a hot water bottle for my feet at night, and to get me treading the treadmill to warm them up during the day.

Now that the Voice Class (Term 2) has finished, and my thesis handed down, my thoughts are turning to all the possible projects I can dream up, and there are many of them.  It is vital, therefore, that I keep a cool head!

I’m planning a rather exciting workshop for next month, details will follow soon.  Registered Being in Voice members receive their promised advance notification today, and the page will go live on this site in a day or two.  If you really cannot wait, shoot me an email to express your interest.

There are also plans afoot for the next episode in the trials and tribulations of Dame June Bloom, Fringe Festival projects, and quite a few ideas for writing projects blowing in the wind.

I’d better get on with them!