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