Are You Decent?

We're fully dressed: suited, booted and almost cross-gartered. For the first time I really let go (almost completely) and watched as a punter: it's magnificent. A little on the slow side to begin with, but stunning. We'll have a little warm up before tonight, and I'm sure those fanged butterflies will put pay to any lethargy.

By the second half it was unstoppable. I've watched this damn thing a zillion times and I'm STILL hooked by every word. Some of these scenes are exceptional now. By Saturday we'll be getting an invite to the Oscars (or the Rose Bowl perhaps).

No notes; my job is done.

Bea tries to make a silk purse out of my pig's dead-body-outline.


The Trust are the photogenic players of choice, as ever.

Vorsprung durch Technik-al rehearsal

THAT WAS BRILLIANT. IT LOOKS, SOUNDS, AND IS AMAZING... sorry, was I shouting?

I have every confidence in this being a magnificent show: you've done yourselves, me and Brecht proud. (Gush, gush and gush.)

The tickets are now gold-dust, and the media's falling over itself to get a piece of the action. Check out the website for more of these stunning photos and see what you all look like out there.

The Running Men (and Women)

Four score and seven minutes to go. The Prologue battered to death: arms aching, catch your breath. The trial cracked: tableaus practiced, arms behind backs. Tango dancing and evil leers, no reason for anybody's fears. Then, the run. Two straight hours and some. Down the pub, then to Venus - where we met a woman shaped like a ...

The Trust try to work out who's late.
Morris dancing's alive and well at the Kelvin studios.
Two-gun Gara glowers evily in the background with red, red eyes, and pink, pink sweater.

Sit up and Take notice

Finally the good people of Bristol (and environs) have been given the opportunity to hear about this amazing play... Preview in Bristol Evening Post's "24 Seven" supplement (26/i/06). Ignore the dodgy journalism and revel in the picture.

A Game of Two Halves?

No pictures from last night as we steamed through a lot of Joe-integration before slamming head-on into the second half of the play. And what a rip-roaring ride it is. The adrenalin kicks in the minute Pat opens her mouth and doesn't really relent until John taps his cane for the final time.

I do wish I'd snapped a shot of two-gun Gara though, for that and the choking of Chris Warren stand out as performance highlights. Not to forget Charlotte's 9pm shadow.

Keep it up. Full run on Friday and before you know it, we'll be performing for real.

A Full Compliment

For the very first time, ever, we actually had all of the Resistibles in one room at the same time. Wow. What a bunch. I tell ya, this is gonna be one heck of a play.

Despite my grumbles about lines and pace, it was a great bash at the first half. Coming in at the projected time, and looking splendid with costumes, accents and great acting.

Roll on Wednesday, when we tidy up some of the loose ends, and run the second half at full pace.

Go back to your constituencies, and prepare for rehearsal.

Is this a mooowle I see before me?



























The boys look sharp, but bewildered. (Chris, JohnR, Dom and Simon.)

















The dealers. (JLu, Chris, NickyR and Ralf.)

Resistibles expecting bouncy baby play in ONE WEEK

Yet another Leo Sayer. While some of us had the pleasure of a lovely stroll in the winter sunshine, Scene 12ers had to be locked in the hall to create a brand new scene. Thankfully, they're immensely talented, so the end result was quite simply amazing.

Following this, Dame Janet came among us to start her ante-natal class. Can anyone spot the Jacqs who took advantage of the process to have a kip?

Then the hard work really began. A clear run all the way through from the opening hats to the final thunderous applause.

Sadly a little flat, with one too many ropey scene changes. But what more do you expect from a first run? Underlying it all is a fantastic play, being acted by a brilliant cast. Have faith.

One week to go.

Two Weeks to Go

Don't mean to frighten you guys, but we're within the two-week mark. We are, however, wonderfully well prepared.

Last night was a blitzing run of the second half with none of those irritating interruptions from yours truly. There was scene changing, there were spot-on accents, and for a while, there were a certain messers Roma and Ui alive on the stage in front of me. Pure acting gold.

Now it's over to a full run on Sunday, complete with hastily re-blocked Scenes 12 and 13, and of course as much costume as you can pull on. The end is in sight.

Now for the Science Part

End to end and back to back, now our scene changes are well on track. New ideas for Scene 12, no need for the screen to shelve.

Exciting as it was for me, I forget to take any photos, see? So instead, for your pleasure, the construction crew at their leisure:

(At the sides are Rich "lumiere" Newman, and John "Scenic" Cousins. Down the front is Tom "The Squint" Ham-Jam, and clutching him The Susan. There are more outside.)

Also performing last night - with furious notes and attention bright - Little Richard of the Hat, and Ms Hills magnificat.

Promises, Promises

I promised to take pictures of BBC Bristol's Keith Warmington - I didn't. I assured myself I would not forget to mention the wonderful website on air - I did. I pledged that there would be fewer rehearsal marathons - there were.

Four hours we spent, hacking our way through the second half of the play yesterday, and three were used up on Friday getting tricky Scene 8 sorted.

Now we move into a new phase though people, the acting's starting to light up the stage and I'm starting to change my mind every ten minutes about what goes where and when. (Keep your eyes peeled for more revolutions in Scene 12.)

Now, for your delight, some pics. Firstly, as I forgot to take any photos on Friday night, here's my notes for how the tableaus might look. Almost as good as the real thing, I'm sure you'll agree.

















Here's a glimpse at some snippets from the end of the play.

All We Hear Is...

Make sure you tune into BBC Radio Bristol (95.5/94.9FM) today (13th Jan) at 5.50pm to hear some Ui promo stuff.

Your Play Needs You!

It was like the Best Fancy Dress Party........Ever!

The costumes look fab (BIG thanks to Pia and Gillian). The acting's also coming along brilliantly. Lines all on board (more or less) and characters are starting to come out. Raychel and I are trying desperately to put a lid on our enthusiasm, lest we tempt the evil goblins of disaster...

















Arturo and the boys (Robin, Joe, Tim & JohnL)

Put your trust in Cauliflower. (JohnR, Chris, Dom, Staffi & Simon)

New Year, New Danger

10 days down, 2 rehearsals up, 3 weeks to go. Many people have been on my case about not saying Happy New Year earlier, so here's the first update of the new year.

2006 got off to a blinding start with a mammoth 5-hour session on Sunday. We traipsed through everything from the prologue to scene 13, leaving only one scene left to do; and that we did on Monday night. So, the entire play is now blocked. It's all rehearsal, rehearsal, rehearsal from now on.

I was MIGHTILY impressed by everyone's efforts over the break. Lines were learnt, maneuvers remembered and spirits kept high. Well done everyone. The website's now live and drawing in praise from all quarters (well done JohnR) and 30 tickets have been sold to a school of unknown quality (well done JosieL).

It's now down to the nitty, and indeed gritty, of developing characters and finding that little quirk of movement and voice which makes you 'click' into place. Go find your clicks. Oh, and a quick, quiet Ui-moment for the sickly RobinG (or Illchild, as he's also known now) and to JLu's mother, who's also poorly. ---

Sadly, I forgot to get my camera out during rehearsal on either Sunday or Monday, too engrossed was I in the drama unfolding before me. Instead, I snapped off this little number from the pub afterwards. Captions anyone?