Friday 29 January 2010

End of week 2 of rehearsals (top of the world)

Hi,

Wow what a busy week, we have generated loads of material and the show is looking great. We were joined by various members of the production team across the week and there input and feedback has been invaluable. It is hard sometimes to be sure you are on the right path, but i am now sure we are. The work and process is very fluid with everyone inputting ideas, it is so much fun to generate work in this environment and you have to pinch yourself to remind you are getting paid to do this. My highlight of the week was the creation of an avalanche and on Friday the song Top of the world.

Loads of things still to do but we are on track, now have the weekend to reflect, shape ideas and try to shake this cold of which is the only downside to the whole week.

all the best

mark

Saturday 23 January 2010

Hi,

End of our first week of rehearsals for top of the world. After a week of playing prior to xmas we get down to the fact that we have to make a show, exciting and terrifying at the same time. As any devisor will tell you are always on the point of, which way do we go? where to explore? what to leave out? a feeling akin i imagine to the how Hilary and tenzing felt, excited but nervous of the unknown. The team are great and we are all feeling are way slowly but surely in to the grove, but the main thing is we are having fun this keeps the room light and creative, whilst at the same time we are focused on asking the bigger questions as mentioned above.

We explore and will continue to do so with this thought at the forefront of our minds the journey starts with the first step, and we are are walking we just have 3 more weeks to go.

all the best

mark smith


Monday 18 January 2010

To begin....

So... Spike's first blog. To begin with here's a little background info:

Company History
Established in 1997, Spike Theatre is a touring, theatre company that creates accessible, engaging and visually exciting work. With an emphasis on exploring and developing a bold style of storytelling using physical creativity, it draws upon various disciplines such as, acrobatics, ensemble performance, animation, mime, clown and strong characterisation. Spike produces an original style of ‘Total’ theatre with the performer at the centre of its creative force.

Spike is run by artistic director, Mark Smith and administrator, Adrian Turrell-Watts.

In the creation of Spike’s work the company draw on a growing pool of performers, musicians, acrobats, designers, puppet makers and a host of other creative talent.

Spike has been part of Arts Council England’s portfolio of Regularly Funded Organisations in the North West since 2003.

So there you go... you can get all sorts of further information from the company website at http://www.spiketheatre.com including information on where and when you can see our work. Talking of which, we're currently flat out with two upcoming performance projects:



Top of the World

... is a brand new show devised by the company for touring from February-April this year. It features two performers new to the company - Jamie Wood and Eugene Salleh. They are playing Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay respectively in a re-telling of the story of the first ascent of Everest back in 1953.

The Director (Mark Smith), Stage Manager (Chris Tomlinson) and the cast will be blogging away during the rehearsals and tour so watch this space for insider information about the creation and development of the show.. and if you get along to a performance on the tour we'd love to read your comments here too.


Hoof! & Hoof Jnr!

Our amazing spontaneous theatre show Hoof! is off on it's travels again this spring too.

The show is playing its last ever Liverpool dates at The Everyman Theatre next month (Feb 19th & 20th) so if you're in the area get along to catch the show in its home city while you can!

The Everyman is also playing host to Hoof's baby offspring - Hoof Jnr! - at 2pm on Saturday 20th so bring yourselves and the kids along to help decide the characters and story in this never-to-be-repeated improvised stage show for children aged 5+ and their families.

In addition to our last ever Liverpool dates, the Hoof! teams will be playing their first ever shows in Keswick (Theatre by the Lake - Feb 16th 7:30pm) and Lancaster (April 17th - Hoof! @8pm and Hoof Jnr! @ 2pm).

Keep an eye out for updates and more info here but book your tickets for the shows at:

http://www.theatrebythelake.com/
http://www.everymanplayhouse.com/
http://www.dukes-lancaster.com/

We're really looking forward to seeing you at one or more of our shows and to keeping you up-to-date with all things Spikey in this blog...

WATCH THIS SPACE!