Only five more shows to go - don't miss Blackbird ....
http://www.thelistener.co.nz/issue/3502/artsbooks/9087/reeling_in_the_years.html
Monday, June 18, 2007
Saturday, June 2, 2007
Another excellent review ...
THEATRE REVIEW
WHAT: Blackbird by David Harrower, directed by Jane Waddell.
WHERE: Circa 2. Till 23 June.
REVIEWED BY: Laurie Atkinson.
“Truth is rarely pure, and never simple,” said Lady Bracknell. Though David Harrower’s searing and emotionally riveting drama Blackbird is as far from Wildean comedy as you can imagine, it bears out the truth of her statement in an area of life that is highly complex and clouded by fear, hatred and disgust.
Set in a litter-strewn lunchroom of a non-descript business somewhere in England, Blackbird is a confrontation between 56-year-old Ray, who is in middle management of the business and 27-year-old Una who was sexually abused by him when she was twelve. Or was she?
Ray served a prison sentence and then changed his name and moved to a new city and found a new job. Una has tracked him down through a photograph in some trade paper. What does she want? Revenge? Closure? An explanation of why he deserted her? To show that she suffered more than he did from what happened to her before and after the trial?
Questions that intricately undermine easy assumptions, conventional attitudes, and moral stands are raised throughout the play. Just as the litter in the lunchroom is a reflection of the characters’ emotional turmoil and the shadowy figures seen through the frosted windows of the lunchroom as they pass along the corridor seem to represent us, the audience, who may discover some of the truth but never all of it, Blackbird provides no answers to human frailty and desire, only a devastating and compassionate presentation of it in action.
Jane Waddell’s excellent production is blessed with two superb performances that gripped the opening night audience. Nick Blake’s twitching panic when Ray is first confronted by Una is unnerving to watch, and when later, scrunched up on the floor in a ball of guilt as Una describes what happened to her after he had apparently abandoned her in a strange town, his pain is palpable. But the impressive aspect of his performance is that he makes Ray a decent, ordinary man trying to cope with a guilty past.
Rachel Forman leaves one guessing all the time about Una in a performance that ranges from snarling mockery to ferocious outbursts of anger and mental instability. She creates a sense of danger, that anything could happen, and that Una was a victim as well as a victim of her own desires.
Unmissable, challenging and probably unforgettable.
WHAT: Blackbird by David Harrower, directed by Jane Waddell.
WHERE: Circa 2. Till 23 June.
REVIEWED BY: Laurie Atkinson.
“Truth is rarely pure, and never simple,” said Lady Bracknell. Though David Harrower’s searing and emotionally riveting drama Blackbird is as far from Wildean comedy as you can imagine, it bears out the truth of her statement in an area of life that is highly complex and clouded by fear, hatred and disgust.
Set in a litter-strewn lunchroom of a non-descript business somewhere in England, Blackbird is a confrontation between 56-year-old Ray, who is in middle management of the business and 27-year-old Una who was sexually abused by him when she was twelve. Or was she?
Ray served a prison sentence and then changed his name and moved to a new city and found a new job. Una has tracked him down through a photograph in some trade paper. What does she want? Revenge? Closure? An explanation of why he deserted her? To show that she suffered more than he did from what happened to her before and after the trial?
Questions that intricately undermine easy assumptions, conventional attitudes, and moral stands are raised throughout the play. Just as the litter in the lunchroom is a reflection of the characters’ emotional turmoil and the shadowy figures seen through the frosted windows of the lunchroom as they pass along the corridor seem to represent us, the audience, who may discover some of the truth but never all of it, Blackbird provides no answers to human frailty and desire, only a devastating and compassionate presentation of it in action.
Jane Waddell’s excellent production is blessed with two superb performances that gripped the opening night audience. Nick Blake’s twitching panic when Ray is first confronted by Una is unnerving to watch, and when later, scrunched up on the floor in a ball of guilt as Una describes what happened to her after he had apparently abandoned her in a strange town, his pain is palpable. But the impressive aspect of his performance is that he makes Ray a decent, ordinary man trying to cope with a guilty past.
Rachel Forman leaves one guessing all the time about Una in a performance that ranges from snarling mockery to ferocious outbursts of anger and mental instability. She creates a sense of danger, that anything could happen, and that Una was a victim as well as a victim of her own desires.
Unmissable, challenging and probably unforgettable.
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Blackbird getting rave reviews
Well, we have opened and are now well into our first week. Response to the play has been great and rave reviews are starting to come in thick and fast - try some of the links below to read them.
http://www.lumiere.net.nz/reader/item/1047
http://www.theatreview.co.nz/
Also watch out for our opening night footage - coming soon!
Sarah Griffiths - publicist
http://www.lumiere.net.nz/reader/item/1047
http://www.theatreview.co.nz/
Also watch out for our opening night footage - coming soon!
Sarah Griffiths - publicist
Monday, May 28, 2007
Tuesday 29th - Post Show Forum tonight
strange journey for the director after a show has opened - if I've done my job I'm really no longer required - it's over to the actors. Have absolute faith that they will keep discovering, playing and giving 100%. Good feed-back from preview, opening and Sunday performances - up to the audiences now to come and see what we've done with this extraordinary play. Got an email from someone who was at the opening night saying they were so involved in discussing the play they forgot to stay for a drink - and couldn't believe the look on Rachel's face at the end of the show - the relief that the audience had been so responsive to it.
Jane Waddell, director
Jane Waddell, director
Thursday, May 24, 2007
From Jane Waddell - director
My stomach just did a nervous flip - tonight we have our first audience for the most challenging script I've ever had the privelege of working on - can't wait to see how it'll be received - I have total faith in the text, the actors, the crew - it's going to fly!!
Preview Friday 25th at 7.30pm Tickets $20
The set is trying to get the upper hand on me. It's so beautifully grungy - John is amazing! But the rubbish... the rubbish... arrgh, the rubbish! I have now become a Trash Wrangler. People greet me by handing me bags of banana and orange peels and empty cans. And stranger still, I'm grateful for it! The rubbish on this glorious and beautifully filthy set is like a third character. It has a mind of it's own. It rolls around, it crunches underfoot, it goes off. Nick and Rachel are brilliant, they are intense and wonderful and courageous... but there's bound to be one unruly cast member among such wonderful people and in our crew it's the rubbish. Marcus chuckles at me holding my head and wondering exactly how to go about re-setting the trash every run.
Aside from all the necessary mess, things have come together beautifully! The play is raw and demanding and so very intimate in our little studio theatre. I hope, I really hope that audiences come out and give it a chance. Their closeness, their presence, their emotional reactions... that's what it's all about. It's such a gorgeous play. Such a wonderfully dirty set. And such breathtaking performances... such amazing direction... thank you Jane and Nick and Rachel, Marcus and John and Katie, for this journey. Now we wait for the audience...
Corinne
Stage Manager
Aside from all the necessary mess, things have come together beautifully! The play is raw and demanding and so very intimate in our little studio theatre. I hope, I really hope that audiences come out and give it a chance. Their closeness, their presence, their emotional reactions... that's what it's all about. It's such a gorgeous play. Such a wonderfully dirty set. And such breathtaking performances... such amazing direction... thank you Jane and Nick and Rachel, Marcus and John and Katie, for this journey. Now we wait for the audience...
Corinne
Stage Manager
Monday, May 21, 2007
From Nick Blake
Mmmmm...just had a Sunday away from rehearsal, felt like I was still Ray for most of the morning...doesn't help things at home, but by the end of the day I'm myself again which is a relief. Nice being away from the rubbish too. Doing this play is making me tidier in my everyday life - good positive spin off, compensates for the parannoia.
Working on the set today brought things to a new level of reality. My costume seems to blend into the set, like canteen camo - odd, but strangely appropriate- trying to disappear and remain unnoticed, sink beneath the radar.
People are going to be so close... they'll smell our sweat... aaargh!!
Nick
Working on the set today brought things to a new level of reality. My costume seems to blend into the set, like canteen camo - odd, but strangely appropriate- trying to disappear and remain unnoticed, sink beneath the radar.
People are going to be so close... they'll smell our sweat... aaargh!!
Nick
Sunday, May 20, 2007
From the director, Jane Waddell
Got stuck into some serious weeding this afternoon - good time for thinking about the play - feeling very positive and hoping there is an audience who will be as excited as we are about the electricity between the characters - best thing about that small space is the intimacy - you're right there in the room with the Una and Ray and when they hit the highs and lows - you're there and you can hear them breathing. The set is clautrophobic and dirty - the anonymous room that no-one cares about - am holding my breath to see how the audiences will respond.
From Rachel Forman
Well we are now entering production week and i am feeling very excited about the fact that we are soon going to have an audience. I feel like i really need an audience right now to take it to the next level if you will. To try out some new things and see how the audience listens to the play. We had our first rehearsal in the space on Saturday which was very interesting in terms of adding a new level of reality to it. It was quite amazing how much it pushed things and in some ways made them more intense. I guess it's also Nick and i stepping up a gear as we approach opening. I guess i'm feeling excited and nervous. Excited about finally performing it, but nervous of performing it at the same time. In a piece that is non stop action its a real challenge to keep in control of it. I'm trying to find ways whereby i can keep in control of it while at the same time be free and open to riding the wave of emotion that it requires. Like learning to drive a car really. I'l just have to make sure i don't spin out. But i might do some wheelys, that would be fun.
Saturday, May 19, 2007
We open on Saturday!
The count down to opening night has started. The set is in and the actors had their first run through of the play on it yesterday - we are in good shape.
Opening night is booked out but still seats avaialbale for this Friday night public preview at 7.30pm - tickets only $20. Book now to avoid disappointment - 04 801 7992 or on www.circa.co.nz
Opening night is booked out but still seats avaialbale for this Friday night public preview at 7.30pm - tickets only $20. Book now to avoid disappointment - 04 801 7992 or on www.circa.co.nz
Production week - Blackbird
Production week starting tomorrow. Ten to midnight and I’ve been in my studio for the last four hours fitting all the ideas that have been creeping in over the last few weeks down onto paper. The only pen I have here is a purple ball-point I stole from Corrine. People may laugh at my purple design in the morning. I should really learn to use CAD. Oh well. I like this crossing out of things and re-drawing them. I love how these little purple diagrams are going, with a little swearing and scratching of heads, to turn into a series of states of light.
I still feel like the play is a gift. Today sat watching nick and Rachel polish and polish and polish the same quick thirty second exchange, but also sat hearing the delicate words still not exhausted by over-use. Word-to-word combat. Thrust and riposte. And not awkward, not heightened, not strained. Natural. Just the way we’d all speak in moments of tension if only we could.
Marcus.
I still feel like the play is a gift. Today sat watching nick and Rachel polish and polish and polish the same quick thirty second exchange, but also sat hearing the delicate words still not exhausted by over-use. Word-to-word combat. Thrust and riposte. And not awkward, not heightened, not strained. Natural. Just the way we’d all speak in moments of tension if only we could.
Marcus.
Playwright - David Harrower
Playwright David Harrower was born in Edinburgh in 1966. His first play, Knives in Hens (1997), was first produced at the Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh, in 1995. He is also the author of the plays Kill the Old Torture Their Young (1998), and The Chrysalids (1999), adapted from John Wyndham's novel, for the National Theatre's Connections project. Presence (2001), his third original play, was first performed at the Royal Court Jerwood Theatre Upstairs in April 2001.
David Harrower has also adapted versions of Pirandello's Six Characters in Search of an Author (Six Characters Looking for an Author (2000)), first staged at the Young Vic in 2000; Chekhov's Ivanov (2002), performed at the National Theatre in autumn 2002; and Buchner's Woyzeck, performed at the Edinburgh Lyceum in 2002. He has also translated The Girl on the Sofa (2002), a new play by Jon Fosse, presented in a joint production by the Edinburgh International Festival and the Schaubuhne, Berlin.
His play, Dark Earth (2003), premiered at the Traverse in August 2003. He has also recently written a new version of Odon von Horvath's Tales from the Vienna Woods (2003) for the National Theatre, London, which opened in October 2003. His latest plays are Blackbird (2005), commissioned by the Edinburgh International Festival, and an adaptation of Schiller's Mary Stuart (2006). Blackbird won Best New Play in the 2007 Olivier Awards.David Harrower lives in Glasgow.
David Harrower has also adapted versions of Pirandello's Six Characters in Search of an Author (Six Characters Looking for an Author (2000)), first staged at the Young Vic in 2000; Chekhov's Ivanov (2002), performed at the National Theatre in autumn 2002; and Buchner's Woyzeck, performed at the Edinburgh Lyceum in 2002. He has also translated The Girl on the Sofa (2002), a new play by Jon Fosse, presented in a joint production by the Edinburgh International Festival and the Schaubuhne, Berlin.
His play, Dark Earth (2003), premiered at the Traverse in August 2003. He has also recently written a new version of Odon von Horvath's Tales from the Vienna Woods (2003) for the National Theatre, London, which opened in October 2003. His latest plays are Blackbird (2005), commissioned by the Edinburgh International Festival, and an adaptation of Schiller's Mary Stuart (2006). Blackbird won Best New Play in the 2007 Olivier Awards.David Harrower lives in Glasgow.
Monday, May 7, 2007
The Sovereign Season of Blackbird by David Horrower, directed by Jane Waddell
26 May – 23 June at Circa Two
Blackbird is an astonishing tale of misplaced love.
This powerful drama is both unnerving and compelling from one of the United Kingdom’s most new exciting and acclaimed playwrights, David Harrower.
Blackbird narrowly eclipsed Tom Stoppard’s new play Rock and Roll to win Best New Play Olivier Award 2007.
Ray, 56, is confronted with his past when Una, 27, arrives unannounced at his office. Guilt, anger and raw emotions are running high as they recall the passionate relationship they had 15 years earlier. The details of the love affair spill out in mutual recollection, with changed emphasis between the two versions.
Blackbird has been critically acclaimed overseas. The Daily Telegraph described the award winning 2006 Albery Theatre’s production as “the most potent of theatrical cocktails … a knock out show”.
Featuring Nick Blake (writer, director Dr Bullers Birds - Chapman Tripp nomination for Most Original Production 2006 and currently performing in Two Brothers at Circa) and Rachel Forman (winner Chapman Tripp Best New Comer 2006 for Fool for Love).
Director Jane Waddell (director The Country at Circa 2 and last seen in Wild East at Circa 2 in 2006) has an appetite for new and challenging work and is excited by the opportunity to direct this hot-off-the-press award winning play. She is confident that this extraordinary work will have audiences on the edge of their seats and debating the issues it highlights long into the night.
There will be two post show forums to share your thoughts and those of the cast and crew – Tuesday May 29th and Tuesday June 12th.
26 May – 23 June at Circa Two
Blackbird is an astonishing tale of misplaced love.
This powerful drama is both unnerving and compelling from one of the United Kingdom’s most new exciting and acclaimed playwrights, David Harrower.
Blackbird narrowly eclipsed Tom Stoppard’s new play Rock and Roll to win Best New Play Olivier Award 2007.
Ray, 56, is confronted with his past when Una, 27, arrives unannounced at his office. Guilt, anger and raw emotions are running high as they recall the passionate relationship they had 15 years earlier. The details of the love affair spill out in mutual recollection, with changed emphasis between the two versions.
Blackbird has been critically acclaimed overseas. The Daily Telegraph described the award winning 2006 Albery Theatre’s production as “the most potent of theatrical cocktails … a knock out show”.
Featuring Nick Blake (writer, director Dr Bullers Birds - Chapman Tripp nomination for Most Original Production 2006 and currently performing in Two Brothers at Circa) and Rachel Forman (winner Chapman Tripp Best New Comer 2006 for Fool for Love).
Director Jane Waddell (director The Country at Circa 2 and last seen in Wild East at Circa 2 in 2006) has an appetite for new and challenging work and is excited by the opportunity to direct this hot-off-the-press award winning play. She is confident that this extraordinary work will have audiences on the edge of their seats and debating the issues it highlights long into the night.
There will be two post show forums to share your thoughts and those of the cast and crew – Tuesday May 29th and Tuesday June 12th.
Blackbird - the significance of the title
Blackbird:
Black feathers and a melodius song make the blackbird a symbol of the darkness of sin and the alluring temptations of the flesh.
The beautiful song of the blackbird suggests temptaion, especially sexual.
In religious mythology, the Devil took the shape of a blackbird and flew into Saint Benedict's face, causing the Saint to be troubled by an intense desire for a beautiful girl he had once seen.
To save himself, he tore of his clothes and flung himself into a thorn bush.
Blackbird - a bad omen.
Blackbird - a symbol of the soul.
Black feathers and a melodius song make the blackbird a symbol of the darkness of sin and the alluring temptations of the flesh.
The beautiful song of the blackbird suggests temptaion, especially sexual.
In religious mythology, the Devil took the shape of a blackbird and flew into Saint Benedict's face, causing the Saint to be troubled by an intense desire for a beautiful girl he had once seen.
To save himself, he tore of his clothes and flung himself into a thorn bush.
Blackbird - a bad omen.
Blackbird - a symbol of the soul.
Words from the cast and crew
Rehearsals are under way to bring this compelling piece of theatre to the stage. We aim to give regular updates on how the process is going.
Here's a few words from some of the key players ....
Jane Waddell - Director:
"What a buzz to be working on this beautifully constructed script and watch these two totally commited actors bring such intelligence and passion to their roles."
Rachel Forman - Actor:
"I play the role of Una. Blackbird is essentially about two people chasing each other in terms of a memory of their former relationship that happened fifteen years ago. There is a constant fight for the truth between these two people as they deal with what they use to be and what they are now. I am so lucky to be working on this fantastic piece of writing by the very talented Mr Harrower. So far it has been the most fascinating discovery of the complexities of being human, of the vuneribilites we all carry and the masks we wear in order to hide them. The writing is like a poem and each time i read it i find something new and intruiging. It is like he has left a treasure hunt of clues about the characters littered through the text and we are slowly unravelling them as we rehearse."
Nick Blake - Actor:
"I am an actor/director, and have worked across a wide range of theatre styles over the years. Early work was circus inspired, full of visual imagery, mask and physicality. Recently I have been focused on acting in a more pared back way, without all the frills!
I seem to have created a niche for myself playing, either plain evil, or damaged people recently. The character of Ray in Blackbird has given me the opportunity to dig deeply into the psychology of one such damaged person. As real-time encounter with the one person in the world most difficult for him to face ( played by Rachel Forman with raw truth) this play is a challenge on every level. I am blessed to be working with such a sweet, warm and talented crew to make this journey into the dark side rewarding and enriching, and at times even fun!"
Corinne Simpson, stage manager:
"It's an incredible thing watching Nick, Rachel, and Jane create Blackbird day to day. Even in early rehearsals the play has a very tangible power that grows with each run. It is beautiful writing, very raw and real but with an underlying poetry, and as the scenes unfold I am drawn in, captivated, and leaning forward to catch every detail of Ray and Una's story."
Marcus McShane, lighting designer
spending half days most of the week in our filthyrehearsal room. huge urge to tidy up each time i walkin, and have to remind myself that it's MEANT to looklike a pigsty, and if i grab a piece of garbage offthe floor Corrine has to reset it... already hadproblems because The Improvisors use the roomsometimes and tend to leave it nice and tidy, blesstheir improvised little hearts. nick and rachel are amazing. still a few weeks outfrom opening and they're running the whole play, and it's gorgeous. first 15 minutes still shaky, but when they get down to the meat of the piece time just goes,and even though i've seen 4 full runs it still surprises me when it ends, you're so caught up in them, and then the play just closes itself like a door slamming. keep sitting watching and scribbling excited design ideas in the back of mah script which the play dosen't really need, but it's so lovely that i want to do something just as lovely. something that's absolutely subtle and beautiful. hell, you can only try. and jane as a director gives you a lovely amount of freedom to design what you like. (thanks jane. err. it'll look beautiful yet ugly... i promise...) marcus (lighting designer)
recent work: stand-up love : a bright room called day : heroes
Here's a few words from some of the key players ....
Jane Waddell - Director:
"What a buzz to be working on this beautifully constructed script and watch these two totally commited actors bring such intelligence and passion to their roles."
Rachel Forman - Actor:
"I play the role of Una. Blackbird is essentially about two people chasing each other in terms of a memory of their former relationship that happened fifteen years ago. There is a constant fight for the truth between these two people as they deal with what they use to be and what they are now. I am so lucky to be working on this fantastic piece of writing by the very talented Mr Harrower. So far it has been the most fascinating discovery of the complexities of being human, of the vuneribilites we all carry and the masks we wear in order to hide them. The writing is like a poem and each time i read it i find something new and intruiging. It is like he has left a treasure hunt of clues about the characters littered through the text and we are slowly unravelling them as we rehearse."
Nick Blake - Actor:
"I am an actor/director, and have worked across a wide range of theatre styles over the years. Early work was circus inspired, full of visual imagery, mask and physicality. Recently I have been focused on acting in a more pared back way, without all the frills!
I seem to have created a niche for myself playing, either plain evil, or damaged people recently. The character of Ray in Blackbird has given me the opportunity to dig deeply into the psychology of one such damaged person. As real-time encounter with the one person in the world most difficult for him to face ( played by Rachel Forman with raw truth) this play is a challenge on every level. I am blessed to be working with such a sweet, warm and talented crew to make this journey into the dark side rewarding and enriching, and at times even fun!"
Corinne Simpson, stage manager:
"It's an incredible thing watching Nick, Rachel, and Jane create Blackbird day to day. Even in early rehearsals the play has a very tangible power that grows with each run. It is beautiful writing, very raw and real but with an underlying poetry, and as the scenes unfold I am drawn in, captivated, and leaning forward to catch every detail of Ray and Una's story."
Marcus McShane, lighting designer
spending half days most of the week in our filthyrehearsal room. huge urge to tidy up each time i walkin, and have to remind myself that it's MEANT to looklike a pigsty, and if i grab a piece of garbage offthe floor Corrine has to reset it... already hadproblems because The Improvisors use the roomsometimes and tend to leave it nice and tidy, blesstheir improvised little hearts. nick and rachel are amazing. still a few weeks outfrom opening and they're running the whole play, and it's gorgeous. first 15 minutes still shaky, but when they get down to the meat of the piece time just goes,and even though i've seen 4 full runs it still surprises me when it ends, you're so caught up in them, and then the play just closes itself like a door slamming. keep sitting watching and scribbling excited design ideas in the back of mah script which the play dosen't really need, but it's so lovely that i want to do something just as lovely. something that's absolutely subtle and beautiful. hell, you can only try. and jane as a director gives you a lovely amount of freedom to design what you like. (thanks jane. err. it'll look beautiful yet ugly... i promise...) marcus (lighting designer)
recent work: stand-up love : a bright room called day : heroes
Monday, April 16, 2007
Blackbird by David Harrower at Circa Two, Wellington
26 May - 23 June, 2007
The Sovereign Season at Circa Two
Circa Theatre in Wellington is proud to present the New Zealand premier of Blackbird by David Harrower, directed by Jane Waddell.
Blackbird is an astonishing tale of misplaced love.
Winner Best New Play 2007 Olivier Awards, this powerful drama is unnerving and compelling.
Don't miss Blackbird - a new take on the Lotlita tale ... irresistable and unforgivable.
Featuring Nick Blake and Rachel Forman.
Tuesday to Saturday 7.30pm
Sunday 4.30pm
Adults $35 Concessions $28
Friends of Circa (to June 7) $26
Groups of 6 or more $30
Sub 25s $20
Bookings at Circa Theatre, 1 Taranaki Street, Wellington
Phone: 04 801 7992
http://www.circa.co.nz/
Watch out for weekly updates as we bring this exciting play to the stage!
The Sovereign Season at Circa Two
Circa Theatre in Wellington is proud to present the New Zealand premier of Blackbird by David Harrower, directed by Jane Waddell.
Blackbird is an astonishing tale of misplaced love.
Winner Best New Play 2007 Olivier Awards, this powerful drama is unnerving and compelling.
Don't miss Blackbird - a new take on the Lotlita tale ... irresistable and unforgivable.
Featuring Nick Blake and Rachel Forman.
Tuesday to Saturday 7.30pm
Sunday 4.30pm
Adults $35 Concessions $28
Friends of Circa (to June 7) $26
Groups of 6 or more $30
Sub 25s $20
Bookings at Circa Theatre, 1 Taranaki Street, Wellington
Phone: 04 801 7992
http://www.circa.co.nz/
Watch out for weekly updates as we bring this exciting play to the stage!
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