The End :(

So it's been nearly a month since the last performance and the production team have just about recovered from the manic few weeks before and during production (which included painting set for 27 hours over a 48 hour period of time). a massive thank you to everyone who came and supported and our wonderful cast. Have a little looksie at some the lovely reviews we received:
Lippy Magazine
Leeds Tab

Most Interesting Cast in the World Part Three

'How many strange things can happen in one day? - Florindo

Name: Jack Baxter

Age: 19

Course: English and History (1st Year)

Place of Birth: London

Character: Florindo

Thoughts on Character: A pseudo-intellectual, confident yet has lived a very sheltered lifestyle and is almost completely dependent on Beatrice.

Character’s Favourite Song: Your Song by Elton John

Character’s Favourite Food: Those little Russian pancake things

Favourite Play/Film: Richard III, Walk the line, Lord of the Rings

Favourite Actor/Writer/Director: Anthony Hopkins

Past Experience: Done three plays in a youth theatre, it was good.

Interesting Fact: I had a padawan braid for four years after I watched the Phantom Menace.

'My reputation is no business of yours, Sir.' - Beatrice

Name: Chris Holmes

Age: 21

Course: English Literature and Theatre Studies (2nd Year)

Place of Birth: Bristol

Character: Beatrice

Thoughts on Character: She’s a girl after my own heart, knows what she wants although her methods are somewhat extreme.

Character’s Favourite Song: Independent Women by Destiny’s Child

Favourite Food: CHEESE

Character’s Favourite Food: Spicy Spaghetti Bolognaise

Favourite Play/Film: The Shape of Things

Favourite Actor/Writer/Director: Ian McKellen (Plz be my godfather!?) Christoph Waltz is sexy too. Neil Labute

Past Theatrical Experience: Bristol Old Vic Youth Theatre, Noises Off, Romeo and Juliet, Asbo Fairytales (Edinburgh Fringe), directed ‘Black Comedy’

Interesting Fact: When I was younger I thought I was a beagle, called Moonlight.

'Who would order Rissoles?' - Truffaldino

Name: Connor Stuart Gamble

Age: 20

Course: Medicine (2nd Year)

Place of Birth: Chester

Character: Truffaldino

Thoughts on Character: Well he’s a loveable scamp. He means well but is just a bit clumsy at life.

Favourite Song: Sir Duke by Stevie Wonder

Character’s Favourite Song: Food, Glorious Food from Oliver!

Favourite Food: Gammon

Character’s Favourite Food: Literally anything that won’t run off the plate

Favourite Play/Film: Withnail and I

Past Theatrical Experience: Tinkerbell in panto, Bugsy Malone, Pirates of Penzance, Joseph, Honk, Scrooge, Oliver!

Prepro!

So pre-pro week has hit. Chaos ensues. Although surprisingly organised chaos. Set building/painting is going slowly but surely, with us painting from 11.00 this morning to 8.00 this evening, with tomorrow looking like it will consist of a similar sort of time frame. Sammy is also getting particularly crafty, making buckles for shoes, purses and tea staining a lot of envelopes.

the roll of fabric looks suspiciously
like a dead body. cue odd look

We have finally got our costumes! Yay! Although we have be told to watch our female cast for signs on feinting due to the tightness of their corsets. Paleness and yawning if you’re interested.

Come get ticket y’all. We are selling them everyday in the union.

if you're still unsure maybe our hilarious promo video may tempt you

Most Interesting Cast in the World part two

'You uncircumcised dog!' - Clarice

Name: Emily Clarke

Age: 20

Course: English Literature and Theatre Studies (1st Year)

Place of Birth: Hong Kong

Character: Clarice

Thoughts on Character: Bit of a stroppy little madam but it’s all fun and games!

Character’s Favourite Song: That’s what makes you beautiful by One Direction

Favourite Food: Nando’s

Character’s Favourite Food: Spaghetti Bolognaise

Favourite Play/Film: Much ado about nothing

Favourite Actor/Writer/Director: Quentin Tarantino, James McAvoy

Past Theatrical Experience: Bedroom Farce, Oliver!, The Oedipus Trilogy, Rapunzel, Extra in Warhorse

Interesting Fact: I once got an umbrella stuck on my thumb and had to go to hospital to get it cut off. (The umbrella not my thumb)

' You perfidious whore..you traitorous strumpet.' - Silvio

Name: Oli Carmelo Conte

Age: 19

Course: Law (1st Year)

Place of Birth: London

Character: Silvio Lombardi

Thoughts on Character: Wonderfully melodramatic. Ludicrously egotistical. Not too sharp.

Favourite Song: Sir Duke by Stevie Wonder

Character’s Favourite Song: Macho Man by The Village People

Favourite Food: Cannoli

Character’s Favourite Food: Bird within bird within a bird

Favourite Play/Film: Shawshank redemption, Jesus Christ Superstar

Favourite Actor/Writer/Director: Guillermo Del Toro, Quentin Tarantino, Ian McKellen, Johnny Depp

Past Experience: Lead for a short film at Cannes Film Festival. Extra work for ITV etc. Music produced for Richmond Shakespeare Society and Barnes Charity Players Theatre Group.

Interesting Fact: Oli would actually be a prince in Italy if they still had a monarchy.

'Steady on. Just make sure there's something soft I can dip my bread into.' - Pantaloon

Name: Callum Duncan Macphee

Age: 21

Course: Medicine (3rd Year)

Place of Birth: Dorset

Character: Pantaloon Parsimoni

Thoughts on Character: He’s an evil old bastard.

Favourite Song: A Change is Gonna Come by Sam Cooke

Character’s Favourite Song: Money, Money, Money by ABBA

Favourite Food: Red snapper in a tempura batter with garlic and black pepper

Character’s Favourite Food: Garden Salad

Favourite Play/Film: A Simple Life

Favourite Actor/Writer/Director: Christoph Waltz, Peter Sellers, Hugh Grant

Past Theatrical Experience: I have acted before. “Dysfunctional” at Leeds last year and some pantomimes.

Interesting Fact: I used to have an imaginary friend called Pompey, he was a basking shark.

Name: Harry Wise

Age: 20

Course: Politics (2nd Year)

Place of Birth: London

Character: Dr Lombardi

Thoughts on Character: He’s very clever but quite arrogant. Pompous, posh and self-centred, overeducated, narcissistic and ostentatious. In England, we might call him a ‘cad’.

Favourite Song: There is a light that never goes out by The Smiths

Character’s Favourite Song: Anything by Bono (they share the same narcissistic tendencies)

Favourite Food: Roast Chicken

Character’s Favourite Food: Boar’s head

Favourite Film/Play: Noises Off, Saving Private Ryan

Favourite Actor/Writer/Director: Tom Hanks, Steven Spielberg, Stieg Larsson

Past Theatrical Experience: Much ado about nothing, A view from the Bridge, Oh! What a lovely war! The Merchant of Venice

The Most Interesting Cast in the World, part one.

 'Wanker' - Smeraldina

Name: Jennie Pritchard

Age: 18

Course: English Literature and Language (1st Year)

Place of Birth: Harlow, Essex

Character: Smeraldina

Thoughts on Character: I love her, she’s a ballsy independent woman, who’s also pretty keen to get her hands on a reliable bloke.

Your favourite song: You Don’t Own Me by Lesley Gore

Character’s favourite song: All the Single Ladies (Put a Ring on it) by Beyonce

Favourite Food: Yorkshire pudding and gravy

Character’s Favourite Food: Yorkshire pudding and gravy

Favourite Play/Film: Hello and Goodbye, Jurassic Park

Favourite Actor/Writer/Director: Christopher Walken, Virginia Woolf, Lynne Ramsay

Past Theatrical Experience: Romeo and Juliet, Bugsy Malone and Peter Pan at Harlow Playhouse. Co-directed, produced and starred in ‘Bombshells’ at College Theatre. Various roles for school including the lead in Olwen Wymark’s ‘Find Me’.

Interesting Fact: I smacked my sister in the face with a toy gun when we were putting on a play for our family. THERE WAS SO MUCH BLOOD!

'The Fricandeau!' - Brighella

Name: Folco Pietro Emilio Soffietti

Age: 21

Course: Modern Languages (Year Abroad)

Place of Birth: Turin

Character: Brighella

Thoughts on Character: Well, I found it wasn’t so easy to define and find a way to characterise him but I think I like him.

Favourite Song: I’m not sure yet

Character’s Favourite Song: Les Copains D’abord by Georges Brassens

Favourite Food: A good bruschetta

Character’s Favourite Food: Vitel Tone

Favourite Play/Film: Look back in anger, Apocalypse now

Favourite Actor/Writer/Director: Marco Ferreri, Tennesse Williams

Past Theatrical Experience: A few productions when I was younger but I kind of dropped the theatre stuff in the last five years. I’ve spent the time on drawing and writing instead.

We asked Folco for an interesting fact and this is what we got: well... you don't want to know about my past lives would you? I remember when I was in Egypt selling slaves in the 12 A.D. or when myself I have been a slave in France in 1378... no sure that would bore my audience (if there is anybody out there) maybe... maybe something more violent.. what about WW2? It was me and old Captain Dubois... no that too is a bit old isn't it? Well.. well is not easy to interest people nowadays, back in the 50's things were absolutely different, I can assure you... well what about last month? in I was on my way home, I was calm, everything seemed normal.. at the airport the phone rings.. guess who? The Pope! He says "Folco, is you there?" well, believe it or not the poor chap wanted to resign.. I told him I couldn't help him because I was auditioning for a play... so I think I missed my chance but, honestly speaking I'm more in for birds than for gold so I don't really care, in that very moment (at the airport remember?) there is astonishing woman who walks towards me, she looks at me, she SMILES!!!! in my mind was a "whooo-how it must be your lucky day man, Zeus or one of his friends must have remembered you're alive"... then she went over and kissed the guy who was behind me, guess what, I hadn't recovered yet from the shock... there is this gang of cowboys ( Clint Eastwood among them) coming in shooting and whatever, singing "Satisfaction" (by the Rolling, obviously) where the sheriff was you must be asking yourselves... well God only knows... thanks to heaven Liam Neeson was there and he did good, I can tell. well the fact is in this very moment I can't remember anything interesting (today my memory is soooo bad, I apologize again) but as soon as I found out you'll be the first to know!

One week to go!

A big thank you to everyone that came to our fundraiser on Friday. It was a massive success with over £200 being raised! That’s costumes and set paid for people. No naked actors. No bare stage. Woo!

box o' cash

The evening itself was great fun, with many prizes won in the raffle , some stunning performances from Sam Day and Holly Goldleman, a few tequila shots and one of the cast members accidently setting fire to his own hair. The night ended in Hyde Park Pub where Ben treated us to a beautiful rendition of his dance to Kate Bush’s Wurthering Heights.

Thank you again to Sam, Holly for performing, Charlie Howard and Aman Nundram for technical support and to Headingley Taps, Voodoo, Mint Dehli, Café Lento and Box for donating all those lovely prizes.

cast looking beautiful

We are now finally selling tickets! You can find us in the union from 10-4 everyday. More details on the event here. Look forward to seeing you all!

Fundraiser tomorrow.

Fundraiser is tomorrow guys! Come down to LS6 at 7.30 for some nice music and a our raffle for which we have managed to obtain some amazing prizes:

• A meal for four at Headingley Taps
• A meal for two at Headingley Taps
• a £20 voucher for Café Lento in Headingley
• 4x Season card for Box, Arc and Trio entitling you to huge discounts on food and drink for a year
• 2 Coffees at Mint Café and Deli in Headingley
• And we’ll be auctioning off a £50 voucher for Voodoo cocktails!

A huge thanks to all the companies that donated prizes! Everyone was so generous and friendly.

So see you tomorrow! Entry is £3 and raffle tickets are 50p.

Ben, Lucy and Sammy's Excellent Adventure

Today the production team clocked up 12 straight hours of work on the play from 9:30 AM to 9:30 PM and beyond. Fortunately for them it has proved a hugely successful day thus preventing any major panic attacks or stresses, except when their lack of mathematics ability proved a stumbling block.

On the road again, the servant team pick up some garlic naan
to keep them going.

9:30 – The team assembles at Monatgue Burton (AKA Servant HQ)
10:00 – The team travels to 7Arts to discuss technical facilities with their staff.
10:30 – We leave 7Arts to visit Swiss Cottage, an Aladdin’s cave of antiques and second-hand furniture to source props and set. The first great success of the day as the staff prove incredibly friendly, knowledgeable and only too happy to help.
13:00 – After a short break for tea and a visit to LS6, the team begins trawling local businesses asking for donations for our raffle for our fundraiser this coming Friday.
15:00 – Success! The team is once again bowled over by the generosity on show as a number of amazing commitments from cafés, bars and restaurants ensuring that our fundraiser has fantastic prizes available for all of you to be in with a chance to win.
16:00 – A speedy lunch/dinner so the team can get to…
17:00 – Rehearsals only tonight with a twist. Tonight is the last night of blocking scenes for the play. From here on out all rehearsals will be devoted to run-throughs and polishing scenes to ensure we have the best and smoothest production possible.
19:30 – Back to Servant HQ to source the final necessaries for set (cue lengthy mathematical equations that boggle the brains of English students) and to put the finishing touches on other miscellaneous bits and bobs.
22:30 – This blog post goes live to you! 

raffle prize are being announced on the facebook event as we speak!

Costumes

Here’s a sneak preview of some of the costume gems we’ve unearthed with the help of the lovely people over at PCI wardrobe department.

Silvio (Oli) and Clarice (Emily) looking dashing

Fundraiser!

The Servant team are proud to announce their fundraiser! Having had a couple of issues securing a venue, we have found ourselves in TG's popular hangout, LS6.

We are looking forward to a night of live music and potentially a food raffle  as for those that know the play, food is a very central theme. Anyone and everyone is welcome, so please pop down. It might be a nice stop off for a drink or two before hitting the town: click here for the Facebook event

P.S Servant is also supporting TG's A Play in a Day, whose proceeds are going to Comic Relief. Why not check out their fundraiser too? Click here for the Facebook event

Curry and Costumes

As the week draws to  a close the servant team will only have 2 full weeks of rehearsal before production week. EEK. Time is flying by at a terrifying pace.

Cast warm up games.

Our plans for set and costume are getting underway. Lucy and Ben are off to the West Yorkshire Playhouse wardrobe tomorrow to check out their array of 18th century gear. Our set designs are completed, and we are all off and about next week sourcing props.

This week of rehearsals has been highly successful  as we mentioned in our last blog post. bits are really starting to come together, with the cast off script for act one. Lets hope the act two and act three run throughs next week go as smoothly.

Our first cast social was also this week, which saw the whole cast and directing team trouping down to Akbar's on Eastgate. In a desperate and shameful display of male bravado, every male member of the cast undertook the chef’s challenge as did our producer Sammy who would shame many of the boys who could simply not compete with her. The chef’s challenge consisted of gluttonous amounts of rice, chicken and lamb keema and one of Akbar’s famously over-sized naan breads. This combination of carbs and spice proved too much for Harry or Oli to complete but Ben, Connor, Callum, Jack and Sammy all managed to see off the challenge. Just for good measure, the accompanying chilli was seen off too and the reactions from Ben and Jack upon discovering quite how hot those chillies were, were almost as hilarious as the play itself.

Busy Busy

From our first read-through it's been non-stop Servant action, with planning, rehearsals and stress taking up every minute of our days. Surely all this hard work is paying off?

Well from the look of our Act One run through, it seems as if all the frustration hasn't been for nothing. Much to the Production Team's surprise, the cast arrived at the rehearsal with lines learnt and enthusiasm in abundance. It was just the lift we needed to get us thoroughly excited and confident for the weeks ahead, prompting much (metaphorical) back-slapping and high-fiving.

The rehearsal process thus far has focused on individual scene blocking and character development. Our first rehearsal consisted of the cast creating for their characters back-stories, memories, typical nights out and favourite songs, ranging from Money, Money, Money by ABBA to No Scrubs by TLC via a healthy dose of Beyonce. The Production Team seem to draw a disproportionate amount of pleasure from getting the cast to sing these songs to themselves as a rehearsal warm-up. There's nothing like someone screaming an out-of-key version of Single Ladies to get everyone in the mood for THEATRE.

The space at Seven Arts

Also in the last two weeks has been the Production Team's visit to Seven Arts, our venue for the play. Getting a sense of the space has not only helped us get very excited, it's provided us with a basis for the set, the designs of which are coming along nicely. Costumes are also on the agenda, so it will be corsets and ruffles from here on in. Dilemmas on the staff front have left the Directors also in charge of designing and making the set, as well as designing and sourcing the costumes. But what can we say? If you want something done properly, you'll have to do it yourself!

Another exciting development is the planning of our fund raiser which will be coming soon. Further updates to follow.

Ben looking dramatic

Rehearsal Schedule

After a whole weekend of headaches, paracetamol and lots of cups of tea the rehearsal schedule is finally done. The directors and producer only have nine rehearsal free days in the next six weeks. It seems lots more cups of tea and headaches are on the cards. We are very excited to start rehearsals  tomorrow with our whole cast coming to our character/team building workshop.  We'll keep you updated as things progress.

The rehearsal schedule in the making

Auditions!

We started our search with two evenings of open auditions, involving a character based warm-up, led by Lucy, followed by some script work (thanks to all who came, we genuinely had fun watching everyone!).
Having whittled down the numbers,  callbacks happened on Friday. We decided to start with a workshop-style warm-up, focusing on the actor's interaction with one another, based on various characters in the play. We then got the actors to do some improvisation, this ranged from the crude (a priest and a choir boy), to the bizarre (a pirate with an eye-surgeon son). This was ensued by script work, a complicated (and carefully organised) process of switching scripts, partners and characters.
Congratulations to all the cast, we can't wait to start working with you. We'll be updating the blog on how rehearsals are going, along with some pictures, over the following weeks.

Change of dates

Auditions are still a week away but already drama has engulfed the production. We’re yet to get a cast together but the production has already threatened to come down around our ears. As far as I’m aware, no play before has ever almost been cancelled before it even began pre-production due to a lack of a venue but if this is a first then we can count ourselves lucky.

We discovered a few days ago that our intended venue was not hosting our play on the dates expected due to a misunderstanding. Cue tears, stress and hitting the bottle. When life gives you lemons you either make lemonade or break down and cry. They say times of crisis are when you show your true character and I hope that ours shone through. Once the initial hysteria had passed we of course had to settle down and get to work trying to find a solution, we had to make lemonade. With a little help from our friends and the powers that be in TG we got to work trying to find another venue because at the end of the day all you can do is play the hand you’ve been dealt. 

However, despite the drama in the end all you need is a bit of luck and thankfully the matter was resolved without us really needing to do anything. So for anyone reading this who should ever find themselves in a similar position just keep calm and carry on. The issue was dealt with and we are in fact performing the play at the originally intended venue, Seven Arts but now on the 12th, 13th and 14th of March. We hope to see you there.

Poster

 Thanks so much to Zoe Everett for our first poster draft. Here is a sneak peak:

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Lists

This week has been one of organisation, and the list obsession continues. We have, however, ticked off a couple of things, with a quote for rights on its way and an audition space booked. Actors, please check our casting call via Facebook. We have also had our first meeting with TG since proposing, this one being much less stressful, for obvious reasons. We now have a budget (hallelujah!) and are brainstorming fundraising ideas, which we'll update you on ASAP.

The First Post

We have a big long list of things to do and making the production blog is the first one to be ticked off. Hooray! Although getting the performing rights for the play should probably be higher up in our list of priorities  We'll be using this blog as a insight into the creative process (chaos) of making a play for anyone who has a vague interest in acting, directing or is just a bit nosy. Post on auditions coming soon.