Sunday 9^th November 2010

First things first, I must make an apology, the Blog has been very quiet so far this Show. There are lots of boring reasons for this, but I will promise to try and write more as the pace of rehearsals increases !

So to the second installment, and its now 2 months into rehearsals. We have had several rehearsals in that time, and a number of cast holidays and absence but progress is going well.

We have all been learning our lines well, and that script evolution process that happens as it starts to take shape is well under way. Props, technical and costumer lists are increasing by the week as we try to cram more and more in the way of surprises into the show. I don't want to give anything away, but I have a feeling this is going to be another Hardwicke Players triumph.

Its all coming together nicely and feelings are high for a good show this year.

Sundays rehearsal showed that our cast members are even learning some of there lines before the show !! (This is rare as it is often a last minute process and always makes for a lively backstage environment, as no one is ever sure what is coming next !).

We have the luxury now of a rare week off, and then the next rehearsal in a rehearsal space. Still a novelty for our group, and it will be coupled with an exciting costume fitting.

More will follow soon . . . I promise ! :-)

Tim May

Sunday 5^th September 2010

Its a cold Sunday afternoon in September, and a collection of freezing actors and backstage crew are gathered in a car park, in a leafy suburb of Gloucester.We have all had a barmy summer of carefree Sunday evenings with no need to return to village halls and fellow actors houses, and the realisation that is all about to end is sinking in ! But its ok, the lady with the keys to the village hall has made an appearance and we no longer need to freeze !

This is the read through for our 2011 pantomime and is met with a little trepidation and excitement.This is when all of us get to see the script in action for the first time, and as is the way with us, the first time many of us have read it !! (Don't worry director I count myself in that list !!)

We all dutifully sit down and our parts are highlighted to us. We read through, from start to finish, a hive of activity and the begging of a road towards that 2011 show.

Sometimes read-throughs can be deflated experiences with cast members expecting something more than is on offer. Often these concerns are unfounded as a play never really comes alive until it hits the stage.

This however isn't one of those times, the script is met with great approval, there were actually no complaints. Though in the groups defense one or two cast members were absent ;-)

It is going to be a cracker of a show, with some really funny material in it, and to think you as the audience have to wait till January to see it !

So I think its safe to say, that we may face a long road of rehearsal but along the way I am pretty sure its going to have some major ups and some little downs !!

It is going to be every bit the medieval legend but with a whole new twist, done only the way the hardwicke players can.

Tim May

Friday 25^th June 2010

The time has come, the curtains are nearly closed for the last time, and everyone is getting there pre-show chips in !!

We have everything in place, and the last two days have been the most intense of all our preparations, but at 7:00pm tonight, it will begin.

Our cast are quietly sitting around and talking, and the air of anticipation hangs thick, but we all know, in true cliche style, it will be alright on the night ! (Now where is Dennis Norden when you need him !)

We are looking forward to seeing you all at our show, tickets are selling fast so make sure you get those tickets ordered now.

As they say in the theatre "Break a Leg" !!!

Sunday 6^th June 2010

This week was extra special for us as we had managed to get some rehearsal space with a . . . . . Stage !!!

For us this is a rare treat, as our rehearsal spaces are usually so small. So with the added space of a stage not only can we practice our lines, but we can set out our stage movements with much more accuracy and realism.

So with the added space, we were straight to work. And had a productive run through of the whole play (including some props !!). We even managed to have our elusive narrator in place and his theatrical sparkle only helped proceedings.

Once we had been through from start to finish we were able to move on to some of the action moments, which take that extra rehearsing for stage movement and the all important curtain call ! Bowing is a difficult skill to get right, up and down and up and down !! Even one of technical crew had trouble with his ups and downs !

The next blog will be our final weeks rehearsing before moving into the theatre when we will try to blog every day ! Don't forget to check back soon, and more importantly don't for get to check the all important gallery for our "special" props and action scenes !

Tuesday 25^th May 2010

The first Performance is just 4 weeks away now, so rehearsals have stepped up a pace and are coming thick and fast !

Sundays are our usual rehearsal day, and this week was no different. We all descended on the stage managers house, and having converted the dining room into an impromptu stage were able to crack on with the business in hand ! Namely rehearsal !

We tend to follow a pattern in rehearsals, tackling a full run through from beginning to end. This is not the case for early rehearsal, but at this stage of the game its vital to cover all the bases.

This week was a positive step forward with the rehearsal going well, and more and more cast members not relying on scripts for lines. Although its sometimes hard to practice in a home, particularly with stage directions, we were able to work hard on this aspect.

We also had a number of our props and were able to make use of the sofa for the first time, the photographs show it in action !

Next rehearsal is in two weeks time, as even actors deserve a bank holiday ! But when we return to rehearsals, they will be twice a week and much more intense. Cast members you have been warned !

To see our exclusive rehearsal photographs, and peak into how the magic happens, please click below.

Check back in two weeks for the next blog installment !

Wednesday 12^th May 2010

Well this is our first blog post, and I thought I would take a moment to explain the thoughts behind this. As a group we thought it would be nice for you to see what goes on behind the scenes. It would also help any potential new members, to get a feel for what happens at each of our rehearsals in a little more detail.

We have been rehearsing for about 2 months now, and are getting much closer to learning those lines !!! As a small group we don't have the luxury of our own rehearsal space, so generally we rehearse in each others houses. This is always good for coffee, but perhaps not so good for the rehearsal space required. Not withstanding this, we have managed to make some progress.

Our next blog post will be in a week and half's time, when we will be able to show you some photos form the rehearsal in progress.

As always please let us know if you have any questions about what you read and see here, and also feel free to let us know if you would like to attend our performance or want to join our group !!

Details for both can be requested through the contact us page.

We look forward to you joining us on the rehearsal journey !!

Tim May

Sunday 29^th May 2011

Phew! What a rehearsal! It is scary to think we are only 2 weeks away from the big day! Rehearsals are taking shape, each one is more closely resembling the show. The last few props have been bought/made and included in this rehearsal and the sound and lighting cues finalised.

There were merry moments to today's rehearsal. Steve's (Hercules Parrot) Belgian accent is getting comically worse and the absent Dr Saffron was replaced by a bottle of Dr Pepper. The blind Mrs White was bruising shins with her cane!

Stuart W

Sunday 4^th December 2011

Rain rain go away, come again another day. A soggy and rainy day in Gloucester, but that does not bother the Hardwicke players!

Today we are focusing on perfecting the songs. Tin man’s song and the Scarecrow’s song are both taking shape and Matt is injecting more of his daft personality into the Lion’s song. It will be great to see him performing the song in front of audience!

That’s the end of today’s blog entry, until next time folks!

Stuart W

Sunday 11^th December 2011

Today we performed our panto in front of a trial audience, Jaryd age 11 months. It was a warm reception! He giggled at the songs, dribbled at the dialogue, and didn’t mind when we forgot our lines!

On stage things are progressing well, and behind the scenes the news is even better! The costumes are nearly done, just the Tinman left! The promo photographs have been sent out to the local newspaper.

However, it is not all sunshine and happiness in the world of the Hardwicke players! The group are saddened to discover that Shake-away (the nearby milkshake shop) has closed down! Where will we get our break time milkshakes from?

Stuart W

Sunday 18^th December 2011

Ooh! We’re famous! I was flipping through my copy of Quedgeley news and guess which merry panto group I stumbled across? That’s right, I found a mention of our upcoming performance of The Wizard of Oz.

It is nice to see that we also have a mention on Gloucester Likal.

Merry Christmas everyone and I look forward to seeing you all at our show in the new year.

Stuart W

Sunday 15^th April 2012

It is the backstage that takes focus today. Costumes are being made. Captain Smolett has a marvellous captain’s hat. Squire Trelawney has some fine red buttons for his posh outfit. The barmaids’ of Jim Hawkins pub, The Admiral Benbow, have some grubby aprons. Which brings us to today’s fun factoid...

Fun factoid! Did you know that the Admiral Benbow isn’t just Jim Hawkins’ pub? Admiral Benbow was a real person. John Benbow was a Royal Naval captain in the 17th Century who fought against France during the Nine years war and fought in the West Indies during the War of the Spanish Succession. He was promoted to Admiral in 1695. It’s not just daft silliness in the Hardwicke players, some days you learn something!

Stuart W

Sunday 6^th May 2012

All is well aboard the good ship Hardwicke Players as we rehearse our latest play, Treasure Island.

Stage directions are being practised. Cues are being remembered. Lines are memorised, and some of us are even saying the right words! Jokes aside, the line learning is progressing well. Scripts are making fewer appearances at rehearsals, as our confidence grows, but is scary to think that is only a month until the show.

Other areas are progressing well, too. Improvised swords and cutlasses are being phased out, replaced by the “real thing”, well the real props! Costumes are nearly finished. Captain Smolett’s fine Captain outfit was completed today. It started life as a Next jacket, but was butchered with a pair of scissors and transformed with Toni’s sewing machine, emerging has a handsome Captain’s jacket, with gold braiding, a cummerbund and buttons with little anchors on them. Fantastic! We’ve come a long way since the black jeans and black t-shirts of our early shows!

Stuart W