BP News

Youth Theatre Corner

As the auditions for next year come into view (we have an intake of 30 members each July by audition), we are offering free workshops to those youngsters who think they might like to come along and join us. This gives them a chance to meet the group and to have some experience of what it is like to join Big Spirit as a fully paid up member. Not that there is been any shortage of applicants it has to be said. The reputation of the group is at all-time high and local teachers and even agents often suggest Big Spirit to those who want to take their love of acting to the next stage.

Any road up, what I wanted to say is that I am always surprised about how well and how quickly new people settle into the group. I think it’s a testament to the generosity of the company, and clearly they genuinely like working with newcomers and try hard to make them feel part of things. So if you know anybody aged 14+ who would like to do some acting – pass on the website address so they can get in touch and we will send details. The address is http://www.queenmothertheatre.org.uk/bigspirit/

Don’t you hate computers? I do. Recently during the ‘Acting for Camera’ training module, the group made some short but punchy films using their own compact digital cameras. The results came out as files mainly on those little SD cards the cameras use and we arranged to show them using the projector at the QMT. So setting up my new laptop computer we were able to enjoy a true cinema experience until the point I inserted a memory stick instead of an SD card into the requisite slot. The result, as Mr Micawber may have observed, was misery. We lost the card in the slot and in trying to retrieve it (which took a good hour), buggered up the laptop. Great!

It’s funny how things work out though. In the same week Serendipity ensured that I would meet a talented playwright who has subsequently taken on the Herculean task of adapting our Edinburgh script so that the story contains more characters than the original, but in a way that enhances the plot. Its not easy, let me tell you and my grateful thanks to Liza for coming along and launching herself so determinedly into our Festival project.

Finally Charlie Woodcock (and not ‘Woodward’ as I wrote last month – sorry Charlie!) has decided on his show title for the raising-money event on at the QMT in July. It’s The Reg-Factor and will be based on the format of ITV’s The X-Factor. Why Reg? It’s what we call Charlie in the Youth Theatre – his middle name, in fact. The show is on for one night only on 20th July at 8pm. With special guest stars this should be something to remember. So book now!