Basingstoke

Well we did it! The show is now open! And what a fortnight it has been in the town that can only be described as Amazingstoke.
We arrived for production week eagerly anticipating the first glimpse of the set, the costumes and of course our dressing rooms. <<< It almost goes without saying that the ladies' is the place to be. We have a theme tune. It perhaps seems obvious to choose Beyonce but she knows "who run the show?...Girls!!"

After an intense day of rehearsing and familiarising ourselves with our surroundings, the director took us to "the best pub in Basingstoke"...so for the remainder of our stay, Wetherspoons it was!

Ah....Sunday, relax. Nope, Sunday lunch at the pub followed by charades and lots of singing along to a particular Irish band that goes (or went) by the name of B Witched...Then if that wasn't enough we played a pool competition where, I am proud to say, Team Birdsong smashed it and got bought Champagne, twice!!! But Liam (Goose) didn't get any because he deserted us to play for the other team???!!! Traitor!

And breathe... We started preview week with tech and dress rehearsals before our first show on Tuesday night. What an incredible feeling performing it to an audience for the first time. We couldn't believe that after all the preparation and hard work that had gone into this right from the start, that we had got through the first show. We all went for a drink (to Wetherspoons) to celebrate and Tim T kept us thoroughly entertained...he may need to work on a few new songs though...or at least ease up on the repetition of one particular word?!

With that we had kicked off previews and the show continued to grow with rehearsals throughout the week ready for press night on Friday. After which we had a jolly old time. Having been strongly advised by a local that 'Tonic' was the place to be on a Friday night, we ventured out to pastures new, but not before a quick pint in the familiar surroundings of Spoons. (But sadly not all could join us :-( Perhaps not the best week to lose your only form of I.D.....eeeek sorry, had to get it in!! Mwah!!!)

Well it seems mean not to show you...but you must forgive the music ;-)

Finally, today is the wonderful Emily Stride's 30th birthday! So many happy returns going out to her. Celebrations will occur on our opening night in Coventry, read all about it next week! X

Last week in Peckham

We have packed so much into this week that it feels like a month has passed! We started on Monday with a singing session with the lovely Tim VE. We were in the music room of a Jacobean/Georgian/Regency....basically it was a beautiful house despite our/(my) ignorance. As I'm sure you can imagine, the boys couldn't resist a room full of toys...

Back to the rehearsal room to get down to serious business...

 

Oh dear Liam, still mucking around.

Me and Charlie G posing

Bit more posing.

Tuesday proved difficult as we couldn't get into the room....so rehearsals began in the Deli, with coffee and brownies. Yum yum. Then we really did get down to work......

....after 1 quick game of 9 square. As I've said before, I won't mention Alastair Whatley's hat.

By Wednesday, we had got a fair amount of work done (honest!) Just as well, because none other than the man himself, Sebastian Faulks, dropped into rehearsal and came to the pub! He was lovely, it was a humbling experience to meet him. Hopefully, after we'd quizzed him on his books, the characters, nurses in WW1 and the footprints, he thought us an alright bunch too!

By the end of the week, we managed to not only get to the end of the play, but do a run on Saturday. Everyone did an incredible job and it was a perfect way to wrap our time in Peckham. We will miss The Infinity Studio but forward to Basingstoke we go! And a very exciting two weeks it promises to be.

Bye bye Infinity

Benchball

In past weeks you have heard me speak of 'Benchball.' A game "invented" by Alastair Whatley.
Re-Cap: Netball without nets. No real rules. (Well, none that are ever applied...or perhaps to some teams but not others...anyways)

TEAMS

Roe's Rebels

Poppy Roe
Polly Hughes
Emily Stride
Tim VE

Smith's Smashers

Jonathan Smith
Sarah Jayne Dunn
Malcolm James
Joshua Higgott
Arthur Bostrom

Whatley Wanderers

Alastair Whatley
Charlie G Hawkins
Liam McCormick
Tim T

With the 3 teams firmly established and "tactics" rapidly evolving, the Birdsong Benchball Tournament is well under way. The highlights of the week include a yellow card for Sarah JD for nearly knocking out poor Liam McCormick (one of the more honest Whatley Wanderers) Arthur Bostrom incurring a serious Benchball injury rendering him unfit to play! And an official complaint made by Roe's Rebels to the Benchball Association with regards to scoring - we are eagerly awaiting the results.

As you can imagine, with all this going on and then having to rehearse the play??!!!! It has been quite a week...