Tiny Treasures: The tour begins

Actors Adam Farrell and Leanne Rowley tell us how the rehearsals have been before they step out into the spotlight of the tour!

Adam Farrell, playing "James"

Since I last wrote a blog entry Tiny Treasures has progressed immensely. After an initial period of closely analysing the script, we started to get the play up on its feet. The beginning of the show is told from James’ perspective, and the first days of blocking mainly involved finding playful ways to visualise James’ story, whilst eating a lot of cherries – the company’s favourite mid-rehearsal snack.

Later on in the second week of rehearsals we moved onto heavier territory, tackling a naturalistic scene between James and his Mum. Much like the first James-centric section, Stuart, Leanne and I sat down for a day or so and methodically made our way through the script, sussing out the motivations of each character so that when it came to blocking the scene we were already halfway to understanding the pair’s emotional journeys.

The final week of rehearsals saw the rest of the show come together – Kitty, our choreographer came by to develop the emotionally arresting movement segment, Simon visited to implement the brilliant sound design and Bek made the finishing touches to the amazing set and costumes. Despite being cooped up in a stuffy space, deprived of sunlight, we also ran the show numerous times, making significant improvements to the pace of the play each time.

Personally, I have found this final week of rehearsals very intense and extremely challenging – although that’s not to say I haven’t enjoyed myself. Playing James and being part of Tiny Treasures has been a huge learning curve for me, and as I write this blog entry the night before the first performance all I can hope for is that I do James’ story justice and that the audience get at least a glimpse in the difficult life of being a hidden carer.

Leanne Rowley, playing "Mum"

Hello again! A long overdue blog entry - please forgive, we've been a wee bit busy! Having worked on section 1 for the whole of the first week (it's a mammoth monologue - all delivered by the brilliant AdamFarrell) it was time to move onto section 3 and a contrasting naturalistic scene between Mum and Jamie. Days were long, focus was temple busting, cherries were consumed in biblical proportions and progress was happening quicker than Steve (Stage Manager) getting the pub on a Friday evening. Towards the end of the week the return of Kitty Winter had us bending and lifting and holding our way through section two to give us the basis for what has become one of my favourite sections, a physical metaphor for Mum's decline and Jamie's ascent into the carer role. 

Which leaves us here at the end of rehearsals. Final touches to set have been made, the score is complete, tour schedule is in hand, last minute notes and detail have been worked on and the van is packed - now all we need is an audience! 

Here we go... (drumroll please...)

Adam playing James in Tiny Treasures during rehearsals

Tiny Treasures Rehearsal: Week 2-3

Here's how director of Tiny Treasures Stuart Mullins has been getting on in Week 2 of rehearsals... 

Stuart Mullins, Director

Week Three Already!!!!

This is the crucial week, when all the exploration and detailed analysis of the play comes to bare. Inevitably things will change, cuts will be made, actors will ride the blows of directors notes. But we are in a good place; despite us only having worked together for two weeks the team has gelled really well. Adam and Leanne, who play mum and Jamie, are a dream to work with, and Stephen our Company Stage Manager, is a delight. We never stop laughing and taking the mickey out of each other. This week our designer Bek Palmer joins us to finish off on the set, props and costume. Its great to have her back. 

Week Two was really good, we worked with Kitty Winter on the movement and choreography of Scene 2. I wish Kitty could have spent more time with us as the movement was a great contrast to all the words of scene one. I think Adam enjoyed not having to learn anymore lines. The whole piece is very different from anything I've ever directed before. The first scene is essentially a one man show, with one very important  moment with Leanne as mum. But I'd be spoiling it for you if I said what it is. Adam as Jamie has roughly 18 pages of words. They are beautiful poignant and funny words, but its all Adam. The second scene is a visual metaphor for Jamie's situation, no words, some voice over, but essentially two actors physicalising the story. Scene 3 is a more traditional naturalistic scene between Mum and Jamie. You'll have to come and see it if you want to know what happens!

OK back into the rehearsal room, so much more to do…

Leanne and Adam rehearsing the movement and choreography of Scene 2.