When your head is buried in budgets and press lists, the opportunity to spend some time in the rehearsal room offers the chance to see just what is we’re all working so hard for.
With a couple of days to go before My Arms kicks off on its tour of the North West, there is a palpable excitement in the rehearsal room. Over the past couple of weeks Adam and his actors Susan Twist and Josh Moran, have morphed a non-descript teaching space into the front room of a suburban Manchester home… the faux-turkish rug is particularly homey.
Between scenes Adam stops to give thoughtful notes, and Sue and Josh continue thoughtfully. Finally, we stop for a brew and Sue offers round doughnuts, ‘You’ve got to keep you energy up!’, she says. Having Jack, our stage manager, present means that after the tea break (or Lemsip for Sue), the company are able to do a full run of the show. I haven’t seen the show in its entirety since July, and am eager to see what changes Adam and James (the playwright) have made.
Instantly the opening note of Chris Hope’s haunting score puts goose bumps on my arms. I know I’m supposed to be tweeting live from rehearsals, but I can’t take my eyes off Sue and Josh as they relay the heartbreak between them. I think, foolishly, I had forgotten just how good James Leach’s script is. The dialogue alone is enough to consider a second viewing of the show, if you were lucky enough to catch it at 24:7 in the Summer. But the recasting of Sue Twist in the role of Helen is a poignant one as she brings a new strength to this fascinating character. It was a great run, and Adam’s notes are few. Released for the day, everyone heads to the bar.
I was privileged to sit it on that run, and am so grateful and excited that this brilliant production is touring across the North, for more and more people to experience it. Don’t be the one to miss it…
Venue re:play 2013, The Lowry Studio, Pier 8, Salford Quays, Salford, M50 3AZ
Box Office 0843 208 6000 | www.thelowry.com
Performance dates and times Thursday 24th January, 8pm and Saturday 26th January, 3pm & 7pm
Tickets £8 (£6 concessions)
Venue Mill at the Pier, Heritage Way, Trencherfield Mill, Wigan, WN3 4EF
Box Office www.millatthepier.co.uk
Performance dates and times Wednesday 30th January, 7:30pm
Tickets £8 (£5 concessions)
Venue The Milton Rooms, Market Place, Malton, North Yorkshire, YO17 7LX
Box Office 01653 600 048| www.themiltonrooms.com
Performance dates and times Thursday 31st January, 7:00pm
Tickets £10 (£8 concessions)
Venue The Continental, South Meadow Lane, Preston, Lancashire PR1 8JP
Box Office 01772 499425| www. newcontinental.net
Performance dates and times Thursday 7th February, 8:00pm
Tickets £7 (£5 concessions)
Venue The Lantern Theatre, 57 Blundell Street, Liverpool, L1 0AJ
Box Office 0151 703 0000| www.thelanterntheatre.co.uk
Performance dates and times Friday 8th February, 7:30pm
Tickets £8 (£6 concessions)