Rehearsal Blog
Week Six: Show Time!
Thursday 3 April 2008
It’s our final session at the Bridge School. After six weeks of fun and laughter in the rehearsal room we are going to perform our devised piece about dreams to the rest of the school as well as to the students’ families, staff from the school and the Almeida Theatre, and some of our funders, without whose financial contribution this work would not be possible.
Yesterday, Dan, Charlie and the drama facilitators - Nick, Imogen and Sally - along with Jonathan Samuels, the lighting designer, swung into action and transformed the school hall and drama studio into a fabulous dream world full of bright colours. We hung a large canopy of fabric under the ceiling of the hall and hung different coloured fabrics down the walls. Charlie performed wonders with her garlands of flowers and Imogen, Sally and Nick decorated the drama studio with lots of glittery silver ready for a fantastic party.
Thursday morning was our dress rehearsal - the first time we were able to rehearse with all the set, the lights and the full sound system. The students worked really hard in the morning and we managed to run through the play twice before breaking for lunch. After a good rest, everyone was nervous and excited about the performance. We assumed our starting positions outside the hall and waited for the audience to arrive. A huge turn-out of friends, family and staff gathered in front of us and at about 1.50pm we began.
The first section went according to plan and we processed into the drama studio followed by the audience. There were so many people in the audience that it took almost 10 minutes to get every into the hall and seated. It was fantastic to have such a large supportive audience. Once everyone was inside, Captain Imogen invited everyone aboard the Dream Ship and we began Beyond the Sea. After a triumphant dance routine and an exciting ship wreck we beached ourselves on the Island and settled down for the final call and response. In honour of the occasion, the facilitators handed out garlands to all the students and Charlie and Dan revealed lots of hanging flower garlands which got a good response from the audience.
With the final call and response complete, everyone performed to Alright and deputy headteacher Peter Imray made his cameo appearance to wake us all up from our dream and take us to the party. The whole audience joined us in a reprise of Alright before the disco proper commenced and we danced the afternoon away to Jackson Five, Beyonce and Britney Spears.
It was a fantastic afternoon and everyone, audience and students alike, had a great time.