Private Resistance: Top Ten Moments (so Far)

Right, we are in week three and my blogging skills have been lacking..I did attempt to create a vlog (voiceblog) but sadly it wasn't compatible with the eastern angles website - not to mention the fact that I create in a moving vehicle in the front seat amidst a sea of noise and car fumes...Intrigued now aren't you!

Well we have been to a myriad of venues ranging from audiences of 40 in a village hall the size of an Australian living room to a town hall with raked seating where the audience are so far away we can even see dots for eyes...Not to mention the smell of burning plastic from a recycling plant that had been on fire for 3 days! Poor townspeople...Bit ironic that it was a recycling plant and was now creating more pollution than the city of London...Perhaps an exaggeration but you should have smelt it...vile!

Our first venue was Aldeburgh...Glorious seaside and a treat for our first venue - Real dressing rooms with lights around the mirrors and everything! I have taken to unloading the van with them all, then becoming costume and prop extraordinaire!

A typical get in and get out with Private Resistance for me consists of:

1. Arriving at Eastern Angles Base (HQ as I like to call it - Sounds more hardcore) typically around 1.45-2pm

2. Jump in the van to drive to the venue - Fred and I usually sit in the front - Hence our Vlog being called ‘Kids in the Front' (its a very popular radio station in some parts (of our minds))

3. Arrive at venue after consuming either oatcakes or Clementine's (Still Penny's fave, ‘Clemmys')

4. Check out the venue for 5 minutes - make executive decisions on stage placement (very precise work I assure you)

5. Open the back of the truck and hope things haven't shifted in the night (those cheeky truck fairies)

6. Unload the van - All hands on deck - Once unloaded I help pin the base of the set...Cos I'm a tough guy when it comes to this - you should see my muscles...

7. I head off to the dressing room with all the costumes in one hand (I have a deceivingly large hand) haha

8. If there is a dressing room - a luxury - I then choose a place for everyone - Phil will always get the largest area - because he's a diva...and has to deal with a lot of costumes and a lot of blood... then Matt will be next to him then Fred, then Fran and I...

9. In the case (which is more often than not) that there is no dressing room my amazing creative skills come into play - the boiler room, storage cupboard, boardroom is transformed into a makeshift dressing room for one night only -  gym steps become shoe racks - door handles become costume rails and the cast walks in ready to transform from builders and lighting technicians to actors - this is where the magic happens...

10. In the time is takes me to prepare and set all props, create the dressing room and get all the perishable teas, hot chocolates, whiskies ready the rest of the cast have put up the set and lighting and we are ready to go...

11. next step - dinner, yoga, voice warm up and hey presto - AUDIENCE ARRIVES for an amazing professional evening of theatre...

As I write this it's Thursday morning - Pay day.. A joyous day - I sit in the garden at my digs, laptop on lap (where it should be by all accounts). I actually woke up at 11.55 this morning...we didn't arrive home until after 1am this morning from Haverhill (where the recycling plant fire was).

Today we are off to Walsham-Le-Willows - I must say our favourite name for a venue - Just too sweet - the lovely ladies who run the hall will be providing us with sandwiches to sustain our hand working bodies...and no doubt the majority of residents wait patiently for Eastern Angles to bring them professional theatre almost in a door to door fashion...That's what really touches me about this job...Some of the audience in these small villages we go to would never have the opportunity to see professional theatre or indeed sometimes theatre in general - How amazing that we can come and share that with them...Not to mention seeing towns and villages I never would have known existed - and they are beautiful, filled with friendly people and surrounded by green fields...

What else can I say...It's going really well, we are all knackered but satisfied and enjoying every minute...PS Penny is the absolute best!!

Top ten moments...

1. Aldeburgh - The dressing rooms - Amazing - Audience - Delightful.

2. Wivenhoe - All the help with the get-out and the dinner on the Friday evening!! Chilli con-amazing and 4 desserts - my word what a treat! Thank you so  much Ian & Jo!!!

3. Brandeston - The sunset, the hall and the people - so wonderful!

4. Monks Eleigh - I won the raffle - a Sanctuary Spa kit AND rather than saying ‘Your hand on my bum and my bossom in your face' I said ‘Your hand on my bossom and your bum in my face..' Hilarious...Thanks Ivan for that line :D

5. Every evening in the van on the way home - listening to Matt and Fran munch cheese and drink wine giggling to their hearts content.

6. P's constant new versions of packing the van and Fred's diligence and openness to hardwork...as Naomi says Fred gets the prize for the most unselfish actor!

7. When Stevie and Brian turned up to help with the get out in Brandeston - LEGENDS!

8. Max the friendly boy who came and journeyed with us last week and helped so wonderfully with the get ins and get outs...

9. The Church we played in Beccles - Such an amazing place with such an incredible sound - a great health food shop too and great backstage area! Just a great show!

10. The Cut in Halesworth -  A labyrinth backstage but nice to have a full theatre! :D

There we are - the journey continues...Not to mention having someone i knew in the audience in Margaretting! Wonderful!

I will type again soon - Off to Walsham Le Willows...Fairytale Stuff! xxx