20 June 2006

Hello there here we are again with the Birds of Paradise blog 2006. Just finished our second tech day at the Tramway. It’s not really a tech-tastic show (although I do rather like what we have) so, it means that the last two days haven’t been the trial tech runs often are.

Birds of Paradise theatre company's cast for 'Mouth of Silence'

This being a partial promenade piece, I suspect the weather is going to be a recurring theme. This afternoon we had a rehearsal outside despite the rain. Got to test all the possibilities. On stage the actors all stayed dry (good news) and off stage I stayed dry inside my Goretex! We will be touring with a few spare umbrellas – but when you come to see us remember to dress for the weather!

In the evening we do another run – it goes well. Home in time to hear the football scores and wonder which of us has won the sweepstake.

However I wake about 3am with the wind howling. Living opposite a park the wind in the trees always makes the rain sound worse. How will our external stage survive the night?

Morven Gregor – Director

21 June 2006

Rehearsals for 'Mouth of Silence'

Back at Tramway first thing with Vikki (Stage Manager) and Colin (Production Manager), to discover that the set has and hasn’t survived the night. Luckily we’d taken in the stage roof – but the flats are all blown over, despite being weighed down. On closer inspection there’s no real damage and the brush and mop we bought yesterday are put to good use. The forecast says it’ll get worse before it gets better. Time for plans B, C and D.

Liam the lighting designer won the sweepstake!

Morven Gregor – Director

Friday 23rd June

Not at my best today – the combination of an adrenalin fuelled opening night, not eating much and a couple of glasses of wine are all taking their toll.

Do some non-Bop stuff in the morning – then into the office for an interview on the phone with Kenny for the Inverness Courier.

Over to the Tramway for our own DVD interview. We’re filming the show tonight, so again I’m keen that we can do everything outside. Film-makers Iňigo and Charlotte are good friends as well as great professionals, even still I’m slightly taken back by all the tech they have for the interview.

The weather holds and it’s a great show. Often the second night can be a little tired, but the cast pull another good one out the bag. The audience are really responsive too, which is good for everyone, we all travelled the journey together. Leading to a lot of emotion at the end – people standing looking at the set at the end, not rushing to leave the theatre.

Morven Gregor

24th June 2006

With Midsummer’s Day a complete wash out in terms of weather, heavy rain and high winds driving the dress rehearsals inside, I was nervous this morning looking out the window for the Saturday evening show. In the event, there was no wind, no rain, and a full house.

Weather had been my only worry – since the actors all know their stuff – consummate professionals all. In the preceding weeks, I’d seen them taking on not just a new script, with all that entails, but the translation of that script into British Sign Language (BSL). I can only imagine how it must have felt for them to discover that they had to communicate in two languages at once (a bit like sneezing and keeping your eyes open at the same time – try it) – BSL having its own grammar and rules. But they took it all in their stride.

Mouth of Silence poster

Saturday night, then, the actors had mastered all this, with the gentle help of BSL tutor Wendy (and a little coaxing, I suspect, from the Director).

To say they surpassed my expectations would not do justice to the way the team tackled a difficult script in two languages. To see my words turned into 3-dimensional reality, not just in living/acting terms, but in the sheer poetry of the fluid movement of their signing, was an enrichment and an inhabiting of the characters that I found both moving and powerful. Everything was there that night- tone, gesture, movement, and above all the silence that underlies the play.

Claire’s understated, minimal but colourful set and costumes were more than the backdrop, they were where and how the characters lived.

Having enjoyed the pageant and the parade, and found the little jokes, members of the audience I spoke to were also deeply moved by the actor’s skills. One woman – who works with victims of torture – added simply: “That’s how it is”.

That’s how it is.

Gerry Loose, writer

Monday 26th June

First venue with get in and out all in the one day – Ashcraig School. The company has a long term relationship with the school and we’ve been doing work with the 6th year on themes of conflict and resolution – related to the production.

It’s the last week of term and this is the first of a few schools we’re visiting.

All goes smoothly – except that everything is inside and we have no flares – flexibility is definitely going to be the key for this tour!!

Morven Gregor

Tuesday 27th June

Tonight’s show at Castlemilk Youth Complex was all about the first 20 mins for me. This is the period which I spend running up and down in order to enter tired out from running (as my character in the play does).The first half of the play takes place outside, so at every venue I find myself running up and down like Forrest Gump in a different setting! So in Castlemilk I found myself running up and down outside the front of the Youth Complex. After about five minutes a female voice piped up from an open window “Some c**t’s running up and doon outside!”. Then about five faces poked out of the window, pool cues in hand: “Ho, mister are you somehin’ tae dae wi that play hing back there?” I replied I was, to which one of them asked “Whit the f**k ye runnin’ up and doon fir? Ye nervous?”

Five minutes later a group of about 6 or 7 teenagers swaggered up the hill towards the complex, one of them carrying a laptop blaring music, all of them eyeing me suspiciously as I nervously slowed to a walk. “Look at this c**t here!” said the leader of the group as they made their way round the back of the complex to see what was going on. They looked on vaguely interested at the play for a minute or two before stoting back of round to the front entrance and into the Complex to get on with their evening. What struck me as I watched them walk off was that probably two or three of them were asylum seekers or refugees themselves. Perhaps they’d be interested in the play if they knew what the subject matter was. Then again…perhaps not.

Kenny Harvey, Actor

29th June 2006

At beginning of day we all arrived in Banchory – it seemed so lovely, small place! I volunteer to doing workshop along with Morven and Rachel, it was my second time to doing workshop. Other actors off to check into their hotel/Bed & Breakfast. I was so hungry but not care!! I was expected High School’s pupils would be very bad behaviour but when they all turned up… I was wrong! They seemed very keen to doing Workshop with us which really surprised me. They were listened to Morven and they seemed very smart as well. Workshop – they, 18 pupils, were hard work and had their fun to created their performing that same idea of the story that we, Birds of Paradise Theatre, doing the production, “Mouth of Silence” but their stories/performing were so different but very interest to show us all! Before they went home, Morven asked me if I could production my short performing from begin of “Mouth of Silence” – I’m happy to doing it. No embarrassed or show-off – just me as EJ, change into Maria’s character. When Morven asked me to performing, so I did… I suddenly felt so hot and also felt so shrink – I dunno why!! I was so pleased with Morven and Rachel – they did so hard work for workshop AND wee interpret for me! I enjoyed workshop very much and looking forward to doing next workshop.

EJ Raymond as Maria

After workshop, I went and check with Bed & Breakfast and then left my stuff behind to met up my support communicate (signer, Wendy) and met hers family then got our lunch. I can felt a bit nervous below my stomach because my body knew that time’s coming for night’s show!! So we all went to Arts Centre. Outside’s performing looked SO nightmare!! How can I sit my poor bottom on those naughty stones?! Hope it not affect my poor right-knee! But back of my head said “EJ… I’m sorry that I had to tell you that but you ARE actor.” No wonder why I hate my thought.

Through performing, it was flow till my right-knee injured started painful, my thought still said “Remember what I said… you ARE actor” so I didn’t move or whimpers about the pain and told myself that it will be ok. I caught some deaf audience there throughout performance because they use British Signing Language – their own culture to spoke everywhere in cinema, theatre etc. At end of the show, some deaf audiences met us actors and director afterward in the pub. Feedbacks from them were very good. They admit that all other actors seemed so sad, Stephen (aka Max) seemed so real drunk on stage and Rachel (aka Susanna) seemed so angrier on stage. We all glad that audience got it right! I am so pleased that deaf audiences came and see our performing and gave us the good feedback – they are first deaf audiences tonight with BSL users since we all starting tour in Tramway. They also asked me some questions about the show and I gave them honestly answers. One person asked me: “How you know when its’ your turn to projection your lines?” I explained that I used my eyes to look around at 180 degree. They tease me about new nickname; “Lizard” because I can look around behind me! But I prefer to stuck with EJ then!!

We all dive in our own beds, relax and feeling so happy at end.

EJ Raymond, Actor

Monday 3rd July

Week 2!!! After a busy first week over on the East side of Scotland we returned to Perth to start this week off. Today we were at Upper Springland which is a Capability Scotland Community. Lovely grounds to stage scenes 1,2 and 3 in, and a not too bad little theatre for scene 4. We are touring to lots of different types of venues, some we will create the entire stage in as we tour our own truss, tabs, lighting and sound equipment, others will provide us with these facilities, and if we’re lucky they might even throw in a cup of tea!

Rachel as Susanna

The get in and fit up are running really smoothly now, the three of us have our own jobs to do. Liam starts on the lights, Colin on the truss and tabs and I attempt the floorcloth. We usually get it all on place by the time Morven and the cast turn up, on a good day!!!

We say goodbye to Liam at the end of this week as he is off to pastures new and welcome our new technician James who I’m sure will fit into the tech team just as well. The van will seem a lot smaller without you Liam. Bye for now.

Vikki – Stage Manager

Tuesday 4th July 2006

Ballachulish

And on to Ballachulish….probably every touring company’s favourite venue….friendly welcome, beautiful scenery.

It’s also where we have our first run in with the midges!

Before that, though, we have to create an alternative to flares for the opening scene. Raiding the very helpful Hardware shop we stock up with chicken wire, paraffin and rags. Colin experiments- I watch – maybe a wee bit much paraffin first time – but he sorts it into something workable, safe but sufficiently alarming for the scene. Grand.

As we set up, I remember last year, doing the get out here was a bit of a midge-fest –will it be the same for the outdoor scenes? Oh well, we slap on every potion we’ve got with us to try to keep them at bay – so do the audience! The lady selling tickets offers a free skoosh with every ticket!

Scene 1 is fine – but they come out in force during scene 2. Through the midge cloud I can see the actors – swatting those that land – still staying in character. The audience discreetly top up their lotion throughout the scene.

Tomorrow, we’ll try incense in the fire – see if that keep them at bay.

Birds of Paradise in Ballachulish

The show goes well though – the audience is small, but appreciative. It’s not easy being up against the world cup semi-final. After tidying up and saying our goodbyes – we go to the pub – a full house and the tail end of the game. Excitement mounts because our sweep is on again. Despite nasty rumours to the contrary, no-one won – the 2-0 score was left in the hat – another roll-over.

Back at the B&B, we sit for a while in the living room. Wendy and Kenny find trivial pursuit and start to quiz us all, while true to form the tech boys discover lego and start constructing a huge complex crane –technical terms like counter balance and stability quotients start to be heard – but what I like best are the wee crane operators and their “Christmas tree”. Probably we’ve all had one beer too many!!

Morven Gregor

6th July 2006

Gigha

Gigha tonight and our first ferry of the tour. We arrive in excellent time to get across on the 1 pm boat to discover there isn’t, nor probably has ever been a 1pm ferry. Quick interlude of kite flying, football, badminton and music follows – then lunch in a hotel at the top of the road. 2pm ferry and two new digital cameras on board so lots of videos and shots of actors leaping about…..

Gigha is owned by the community who bought out the island a few years ago. Birds of Paradise performed here last year with Brazil 12 Scotland 0 and it is great to be back in this special place. We are staying in what used to be the “Big House” – well, it still is a big house, but no longer the home of the landowner. Instead it is Don who lives here now and who gives us a quick (ish) tour of his beautiful home (there’s a lot of rooms to see – and a lot of flower essences to be explained……..). We head off for food at the friendly shop and then EJ and I head back to the house …we catch up with the everyone at the venue ( a lovely hall along a wee path) to find the other actors asleep. Why rest in your beautiful white-sheeted peaceful expansive bedrooms when you can crash out on rows of chairs in a community hall whilst a get-in goes on around you?

Sunset

The audience are great and it is good to have Gerry here again- who hasn’t seen the play since Glasgow. Less good to hear there’s been no midges all week until tonight and we’ve chosen the worst corner outside to be…..

There’s a raffle and a chat about Birds being here last year and the drama group in Gigha and John Martin (instrumental in the buy-out) brings out a bottle of red and an invite to the pub.

Back at the house after a few drinks we play snooker and treat the lucky Don to a wonderful signed version of “Bohemian Rhapsody” (which I’m not sure he appreciated). It is Liam’s last night with us and a handover to James. It’s a late night and a wonderful breakfast before we head off with some fresh lobsters and crabs scuttling about in the back of the van.

I’ll leave the final word to Vi Tulloch – the octogenarian we met last year:

Max (the character played by Stevie) waylays the audience in scene three and tries to sell a potion to the gentlemen to cure them of all ills (especially loss of libido..)

Max: “…loss of appetite? Listlessness? Listlessness?”

Vi: (loudly, from the back of the audience) : “We’re not listless, we’re from Gigha”

And they’re not.

13th July 2006

Drumnadrochit

Well, that’ll teach me for getting to work (unusually!!) early! I arrived at the office to find Shona, our projects manager and the designated company member for this part of the tour, was ill and in no state to be travelling up to Drumnadrochit (near Inverness). After much persuasion and the bribe of chocolate brownies for the trip, I had left the office behind and was on my way north with a people carrier full of ‘needy’ actors.

Just to explain, I’ve spent the last four years working as an actor for a number of companies including Birds of Paradise – I’m currently working as their Agent for Change (see http://www.birdsofparadisetheatre.co.uk/agent.htm  for further information) and so have been “promoted” in to a position of (some) responsibility. From this perspective it’s become painfully clear that actors, especially as a collective, are wholly incapable of making their own decisions!! “Where are we staying, Robert?”, “What time’s the show?”, “When’s my call tomorrow?” – the questions were endless!!! And why does it never occur to them to look at the tour schedule that they’ve had for weeks?? I now openly apologise to all previous production managers who’ve had to ‘mother’ me!

So, six hours or so later we arrive in beautiful Drumnadrochit. This appears to be the home of Nessie museums and so the tourist quotient is high! Usually this would turn me right off but since my overnight trip was unplanned I’ve no change of clothes and so a trip to ‘Nessie’s Treasures’ to buy a stylish t-shirt was in order. With this bought and the actors fed, it was off to the venue to prepare for the show.

I hadn’t been involved in the production so the actors got on with their own preparations while I helped set up the exhibition. The show went well and the weather was beautiful if a little chilly now that we were so far north. The audience was small but they clearly appreciated the show – one member told me after that her family were Bosnian and the themes of recovering from a brutal civil war really affected her. All credit to the actors for pulling out the stops yet again.

Post-show – with the quickest get-out that I’ve every experienced for a touring show – we all retired to the pub then back to our cottage for a tipple or two…or three!

Robert Softley

14th July 2006

Edinburgh

Rising in Drumnadrochit with a slightly sore head, we awaited the people carrier to start our trek south-east! We stopped in Dunkeld for afternoon tea or lunch, depending on who had managed breakfast, and Mother Rachel issued the orders for returning to the van.

We reached Edinburgh around 3pm and settled in to the venue before the actors headed for the centre of Edinburgh for some charity shops and to feed themselves, again! Then we headed back to North Edinburgh Arts Centre and I caught up with Morven about other company business while the actors got ready for the show.

One of the beauties of theatre in a traditional performance space is the absolute control you have over what goes on – once the door is shut then all you have to worry about is the actors being on their best behaviour. With the first half of this show being outside, there’s no real telling what will happen from night to night. Tonight the young people of Pilton got the chance to see the outside part of our show from the viewpoint of the wall surrounding North Edinburgh Arts Centre. This might’ve given the actors a challenge or two and gave a new meaning to audience interaction but certainly shows what taking theatre out to the community is all about. The audience seemed to really enjoy the show and again found it to be a very emotional experience.

After the show and the get-out I decided to have the actors back to my flat for a little (civilised) drink! I’m just beginning to realise that drinking two nights in a row is something that easy when you’re young, but not so good when you reach my mature (26) years!

Robert Softley

18th July 2006

Leverburgh

Yesterday was a travel day – we left Glasgow on what was rumoured to be the hottest day ever and drove into mist and rain. But we had a good wee night on Skye before getting this morning’s ferry to Harris. A flat calm sailing – but one of those where the sea and sky merge in the same shade of grey. Did see porpoises and skuas as well as the more familiar sea birds you encounter on the Firth of Clyde – familiar friends.

The mist starts to lift as we come into harbour and by the time we’ve driven to Leverburgh the sun is shining and we can see across the Sound of Harris – just sublime (is that Para Handy??)

Enjoying the sun on the Isle of Harris

The hall is a cracker – seating bank – lovely space. The team move fast to get everything set up. A breeze picks up – at least it keeps the midges off – but we have to double weight the set.

Getting closer to 8pm and there’s no sign of anyone. A car pulls up, who should it be but Ian and Barbara – Ian wrote Brazil 12 Scotland 0 for us last year and lives in Stornoway – great to see them, I’d half expected to see Ian for the last show in Skye, so this is a pleasant surprise. And a bit of a godsend. They are half the audience! The other half are two friends of Ixtaso’s! Lot’s of questions to ask about that….I’ll save the answers for another forum.

The actors put in a marvellous show all the same.

And after, audience and all of us go back to the fabulous bunkhouse where we staying. We cook up a storm, dance a little and play some dodgy pool – there’s always a silver lining.

Morven Gregor

19th July 2006

North Uist

Very hot day when we all leaving Harris – worse hottest when arrived in North Uist!! Road’s very narrow but I getting used with it when I was drive – my village have the road like that and it remind me that I didn’t miss my home that much!!

While I drove the van, Stephen and Itxaso point out where those sheep come out from everywhere – then fake sleep. They’re crazy, aren’t they? They seemed so keen about dive in the beach because the sand and water look very clean. Islands’ possible very useful place for people to go there to have peace time, and also, swimming there. I will tell people if they ask me where best beach – Harris and Uist, that is it.

Arrived in the small hotel, we put our stuff away and went to shopping for our lunch. Others went to beach – you can imaged why they decided to went there… yep, very hottest day! Except myself and Rachel – we both decided to have a rest because its too hot and had cool day. We re-read the script of Mouth of Silence because we want to… afterward, when I’m on page 10 of the script – suddenly I fell slept! Rachel as well! Woke up at 6ish and prepare for going back to Carivish Village Hall (small theatre) to doing our Scene 2 signing-line.

Relaxing on a beach in North Uist

Kenny asked what my guess how many audience tonight, I admit that I was expected that one audience was a dog to see the show – others think more than one (Gee, I just kiddin’! Dog… come on!). There are eleven audience came and see the show – it’s not bad. Yesterday in Harris it’s only four audience but I just found out that other people went and see the circus show on same day! Meanwhile, its lovely weather and the set’s block us actors from sun which was good thing – too difficult for me to find the cue when sun beam at my face. No midget but greedy black wee flies play around, wind us up. We did very well outside as well as inside. I felt that tonight’s very better than yesterday – I was very ill last night which was so horrible – I went in bed early and today felt much better. And much happier that I drove the van! I miss my purple wee car….

Small hotel are very friendly – the staff made us beautiful soups! Am looking forward to sleep in the bed soon!

Am looking forward to South Uist tomorrow night.

21st July 2006

End of the Road

This is our last venue – Birds of Paradise have been preparing for Mouth of Silence over a year and now we have reached the end of our tour.

I am going to catch a bus to Skye to see everyone – the bus takes seven hours, I’m not really looking forward to this journey – I buy food, magazines and a lot of water before I get on the bus, I believe you need to prepare for such a long and tiring journey. Once I’m on the bus, and outside Glasgow however I start to enjoy the journey, it’s a gorgeous sunny day and the bus is quiet – Reading, looking at the beautiful scenery and enjoying the occasional forty winks – I now think every Friday should be spent this way.

A well deserved rest at the end of the tour!

5 pm and I’m on Skye, I walk to the venue and grab a coffee, I’ve not had a coffee since I left Glasgow – anyone who knows me, knows how much I love coffee. About 6pm the actors, production team and Morven arrive at the venue – They are full of stories from their week on the Hebrides.

I have not seen the play since it was in Glasgow four weeks ago – I’m amazed by the difference in the show, the actors were so relaxed with their performances and signing is now a second language to them all, it was an absolute joy to watch. We had a wonderful audience for our last evening. Doing a get out (loading the van with our set and equipment) when there are so many midges is no fun for anyone—we have all sprayed ourselves with repellent and we are also holding incense sticks to keep them as far away from us as possible. To the pub for a couple of drinks—Friday evening and Portree is swinging—we are able to find a quiet pub get a table when the clock chimes midnight we all sing/sign Happy Birthday to Wendy (Sign Language Interpreter)

Shona Rattray – Projects Manager