Pre-production is under way for Macbeth. Yeah, that’s right, Macbeth. Shakespeare’s darkest of plays is going to be done by us…as a comedy…in the summer…outdoors…in kilts…Can you get any more Oddsocks than that?
This week we have been in the rehearsal room auditioning many an actor for the production, which has been a fun and entertaining process. It always is, but it looks like we have got some real talent lined up. We are doing recall auditions next week so we will let you know how we get on with that.
In the meantime, on the creative side of things we are currently developing concepts for the show and designing the set. How does one top a life size hologram of Paul Daniels? Without giving too much away, let me just hint at a more than life-size master witch. You know how big the cart is? Well, if all goes to plan, our witch will be bigger than that!
It’s going to be a good one!
This evening was an absolute treat as Andy, Kevin (our actor playing Hamlet) and I sat as Paul Daniels charmed us with magic tricks, anecdotes and hilarious gag suggestions for the play.
I can say with genuine pleasure that it is so exciting to be working with a legend, he has so much to give and is not only bringing an awesome life to the character of Hamlet’s father’s ghost but is also giving us lots of practical suggestions about some of the set pieces in the show, ideas for illusions and magic tricks! It’s going to be fantastic!!
We are shooting the scenes with Paul tomorrow at Fleetwood Studios in Reading, we will let you know how it goes and stay tuned for photos and some video from the day to get behind the scenes!!
Today is one of the most exciting days of my professional career.
When I was growing up I used to regularly watch magic shows and have always been fascinated by the allure of the showmanship, charm and incredible skill that comes along with the art of illusion.
As a Brit, although I am a huge fan of Copperfield, I followed and enjoyed the magic of Paul Daniels, whose comedy always added an extra element to his performances, so much so that I think people sometimes forget what an incredibly able magician he is. His personality is so strong that it has somehow overtaken his magical prowess, an outstanding feat considering his remarkable talent. Let me assure you, Paul Daniels is a very very good magician.
When i was about eight years old, I watched a Paul Daniels special one Halloween which involved him being shut in a cupboard with spikes on the inside. I had to be sent to bed early because I was so terrified that it might go wrong and we would hear on the news the next day that he had died. My parents woke me during the night to assure me that Paul had come on the television later that evening to tell the nation that he had indeed survived. I will never forget that, the man risked his life to entertain us with magic! Hardcore! And David Blaine sits in a block of ice?! Really?!
Anyway, this evening Andy and I are going to meet Paul Daniels to do a readthrough of the Hamlet script. Paul is playing the ghost of Hamlet’s father in our production and it is possibly the most exciting thing that has ever hapenned. To anyone.
Tomorrow we ae shooting the scenes that are going to appear in the show (Paul will be appearing on stage as a hologram) and we are very excited!
I think you will like it…not alot!!
In the summer we perform outdoors on our trademark pageant wagon. In the winter we tour theatres and art centres around the country. This provides the considerable challenge of creating a show and set that can be versatile enough to adapt to varying spaces but also inventive enough to capture the attention of our audiences.
In 2008 we tried something new with “Les Miserables”, on the whole it was a success although admittedly there were teething problems. In 2009 we developed the idea and improved it with “Romeo and Juliet” which involved the memorable car chase scene. This year we are building a hologram.
What? A hologram? Yes, you heard, a hologram. So, Andy and I have been in the rehersal room this week rigging up various setups in order to create a holographic image that appears to come from nowhere. Those of you familiar with Hamlet will know that his father appears as a ghost in the play and so we thought it might be fun to do this by having him as a projected floating image. Pretty awesome!
It’s still early stages but if we pull it off it will be quite something. Last year we wanted to have a real car on stage and that was a challenge but we pulled it off. This year we WILL have a hologram on stage.
Oh, we’re messing around with 3D too!
This week saw us begin full production on this winter’s tour of ‘Hamlet: the comedy’. We’re very excited to announce the return of several Oddsocks regulars. Elli Mackenzie, our co-founder will once again be gracing the stage as Gertrude. Robert Laughlin, Oddsocks regular from 2001-2007 (“Romeo and Juliet” 2003, “Macbeth” etc) will be back to play Claudius, Andy McGillan (“Romeo and Juliet” 2009, “Richard III”) will be Laertes and Kevin Kemp (from this summer’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”) will be taking the title role.
We are yet to cast the role of Ophelia so if you know of any actresses that would like to undertake the part, please send them our way. We are looking for strong singers, team players and a willingness to act like a nutter on stage!
After the hugely successful tour of “Dream” this summer we are once again looking to raise our game and send another cracking show out on the road. We have the cast pretty much in place, Andy has finished editing the script…now all we need is a show!!
Last week we were in the West End of London and on Channel 4! This week, back in the office in Derby trying to secure bookings for the summer! How times change!
The London run of “Romeo and Juliet” was very well received and definitely a worthwhile venture, thanks o all who came along and supported us and thanks also to those who wrote to us with words of support. We learned a lot about theatre and our style and had some great feedback throughout the week and are excited to apply this to our future productions.
Our appearance on “Country House Rescue” on Channel 4 on 18 March has also provided some new opportunities, Andy is currently fielding lots of calls from people wanting us to perform in their grounds so no doubt we will be visiting some new venues this summer which is most exciting.
Stay tuned for more info on “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and “Hamlet: The Comedy”.
God Bless, Kee
So, Andy came into the office this morning and told me we are going to be on Channel 4’s “Country House Rescue” on March 18th 2010…that’s pretty cool eh?!
For more info on the event please click here.
Kee
Yesssss! As alot of you will probably already know, our tour of “Romeo and Juliet” went really well and now we have secured a week long slot in a London theatre!
This is a major opportunity for us to raise our profile with the big boys down in London, theatre is literally massive in our capital city and this provides us with the chance to show that we are up there with the best of them.
We have a great script (he’s alright that Shakespeare), a great team, a cracking set, hilarious premise and some quality set pieces (including that memorable chase scene) so we are really looking forward to taking London by storm!
For more info please visit the tours section of our website.
See you in London! Peace, Kee!
So, the last week of “Romeo and Juliet” is upon us! It has been an absolutely fantastic run so far. We have had some incredible feedback from venues, audience members and newspaper reviewers.
The last week of the tour takes us to Telford, Kendal, our home performance in Derby and then we finish off in Hereford. You can book tickets by visiting our box office!
While the cast are out on the road for the final week, Andy, Frances and I are in the office working on marketing for the summer production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and next winter’s production of “Hamlet: The Comedy”.
Also, we are looking at the potential of taking “R&J” to London. I’m sure that most of you who have seen this tour will agree it’s a pretty spectacular show…car chases, huge musical numbers, innovative technology, fat blokes climbing up balconys and all the rest of it…and as such we feel confident to be able to approach London venues and try to get some dates down there. Any thoughts, feedback or words of support/encouragement would be greatly welcomed at this time!
Till next post, Peace Out, Kee
So, we are back in the office at the start of a new year!
2010 promises to be an exciting one for us…we are tackling “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” this summer and in the winter we shall be giving you “Hamlet: The Comedy”! We already have some pretty fabulous thoughts on both productions, including the return of the power-jumpers from “Richard III” and some new uses of the set and screen for “Hamlet”.
We will let you know tour dates etc as soon as we know them!
In the meantime, hope those of you who are still getting to enjoy our current production of “Romeo and Juliet” are looking forward to further treats in the coming year!
Best wishes to all, God Bless, Kee x
