Memorable moments include . . .
David Thackers’ pep talk on the first morning about everyone aiming to achieve his/her PB (Personal Best)
A Meet and Greet session where we are all introduced around the circle and I discover later that I have my cardigan on inside out.
Michelle Collins handing round the jelly babies.
Thrills up my spine as the actors read the first scene – it works!
Lots of laughter in the rehearsal room at the first read-through.
A few weary tears shed at the end of day two when it becomes obvious that the play is too long.
Chatting with Kenneth Alan Taylor (who is in The Price) in the foyer about his time as a panto dame in Oldham.
Football banter around the table first thing in the mornings.
Colin Connor’s almost perfect Fred Dibnah voice.
The ASM’s dad showing Huw Higginson how to do magic tricks.
Working long days and having production and script meetings at lunch-times and after the actors have gone home.
The three actors playing ‘Dad’s Army (Fred’s mates) christening themselves, ‘The Three MustGetBeers’ and other members of the cast at various times calling them ‘the three witches’, ‘the three stooges’, ‘the tin man, the lion and the scarecrow’ .
Health bars I’d made for the cast (Rabbit Bars according to Huw) somehow ending up on the set!
David prepares me for mixed reaction to the play and quotes William Blake -
‘The tree which moves some to tears of joy is in the eyes of others only a green thing that stands in the way’.
Having loads of rewrites to do over the weekend - pruning an already pruned play.
