Barbican Theatre Plymouth

I am currently rehearsing at the Barbican Theatre Plymouth. I think it is one of my favourite venues... vibrant, interesting and personal.
I thought I would upload some images of my thoughts that I scribbled on the floor....

Hoo

At the beginning of "When We Were Very Young" is a preface written by AA Milne to the reader. The Hoo character has provided alot of interest for me....
Milne writes


"Then there is another thing. You may wonder
sometimes who is supposed to be saying the verses. Is
it the Author, that strange but uninteresting person, or
is it Christopher Robin, or some other boy or girl, or
Nurse, or Hoo? If I had followed Mr Wordsworth’s
plan, I could have explained this each time; as it is, you
will have to decide for yourselves. If you are not quite
sure, then it is probably Hoo. I don’t know if you have
ever met Hoo, but he is one of those curious children
who look four on Monday, and eight on Tuesday, and
are really twenty-eight on Saturday; and you never
know whether it is the day when he can pronounce his
‘r’s’.  He had a great deal to do with these verses..."

PULSE Fringe Ipswich

Thank you Pulse. I had a great time. So, on Sunday 27th May I performed a work-in-progress of my solo. It was great opportunity to really refine the material I had and try out some new ideas.  Especially after working with the movement and text direction from Hannah Kew. I found Hannah's involvement hugely beneficial to the piece as it allowed to find the root of why I began working with AA MIlne's text first place. In doing this, we really honed the intentions of each section. This was done through a highly embodied approach. Long improvisations to find the truth in the moments. The authenticity of the characters. It was great to share this with an audience. Overall. I have had a good response and now have a positive way to see how to progress the work. I think I need to be aware of what AA Milne's poetry meant to other people, as I think people will attend with an expectation of their love and enjoyment of his poetry. If the work does not match their expectations of what should be done with the poems, I will be asking for angry audiences. I am not suggesting that I should change my stance on how I am using the poetry, rather collate a understanding of what fanatics of the poetry believe is said in Milne's work. Try to be sensitive to this, or be bolder and clearer in what I am saying through the way I have decided to use the poetry. The latter I feel is most productive... The piece is only short (30mins), so the whole of "When We Were Very Young" could not possibly fit. The poetry acts a devise to create a scene and quality to the issues I am discussing in the work. AA Milne's work is inspiration for the solo, but is not what the piece is, there are many more layers to the work. It is my job to make them clearer...
Bring on the next three week rehearsal... I have work to do!!


Above are photos taking whilst tech-ing.

My housemate introduced me to this music video by the tUnE-yArds. I find it the video very inspirational for looking at the relationship between childhood and adulthood. It really brought a smile to my face. I hope you enjoy too!