Directing Love's Labour's Lost: Weeks 4-8

So I may have got very, very waylaid from blogging my rehearsal process over the last month. Oops. I suppose that sums up how hectic doing a show is!
The last four weeks have involved two full runs and lots of re-blocking and intensive work on the more difficult scenes. The majority of the cast are now off script (I hope) and tomorrow is our first full run with the music, which is exciting for the actors and most of the crew as they haven't heard the songs before! I know that when they hear it all come together they'll feel a lot more confident about the whole concept and aesthetic of the play that's been floating around in my head since day one.



As well as rehearsals we've also been busy fundraising for the show, which so far has involved our sponsored Sheep Run, for which 7 cast/crew/committee members made a gallant effort and raised over £100. Luckily it didn't rain as forecasted and glorious sunshine drew in prospective students and parents who were on campus for an open day to donate to the cause. I'm really happy that we're raising enough money as it's not only there to cover production costs - 15% of all the play's profits including ticket sales will be going to Cancer Research UK.

My diary is jammed full of things to do at the moment and it really is manic trying to stay on top of everything. I must have sent twenty emails in the first half hour of my Renaissance lecture yesterday (multitasking in lectures is quite the skill), including sorting out tech for our Open Mic night next week, when we can have our Tech/Dress rehearsal - there is another show right before ours so we have to have it a whole week before opening night, amazing - and not to mention my availability at work, as somehow I am managing to keep my job through this crazy time! It's also an important time for the Shakespeare Society Committee as we're currently running bids and elections are next week, which means this is my last week as the only Vice-President. I can't say that I'm not a tiny bit emotional about stepping down from committee and it definitely doesn't feel like a year since I was elected but I'm ready to pass the baton. It will be interesting to see in what direction the new committee takes the society.

It is exactly two weeks and a day until opening night! Who knows if I'll find time to blog again. The most important thing now is making sure that the cast and crew are completely committed to the show, and doing all those final things like programmes and bits of set. Fingers crossed.