The Wales Final 2012.....a tale of two plays.

A note about our Wales Final exploits for 2012.  We entered competition for the first time (in the current era) in 2004, and have been to every Wales Final since.  I have been fortunate to be involved in every production as either an actor or director.  This year - I am lucky to be doing a bit of both.  Much has been documented about Godfather Death on this blog and on various social media sites.  Am very proud of our exploits in Canada and will be giving it my all at the Wales Final, but it's not the only play we have at the final this year!  Biscuits - lets not forget, won the Gwent Festival in April and is equally worthy of some publicity and blogging!

Written by Graham J. Evans, it is set in Monmouthshire in 1361 (or as Huw Rosser said - 'just after two o'clock then'? ) It is essentially a bawdy comedy. I don't know if that is what Graham had in mind as a theme, but its certainly what it is now!  It has some great moments in the play and has the most experienced  BLT cast that I have every worked in competition with.  Having Huw Rosser and Gareth Baskerville playing Owen and Nigel, with Yve Price as Mad Nerys, Vic Mills as the lascivious Monk, Trevor Howlett as Henry of Grosmont, Graham J as William and Gwen Livingstone as the flame haired temptress Gwen - it makes my job as a director an absolute joy.  Rehearsals started in August last year, in readiness for the local Magistrates  evening in October, for whom the play was originally commissioned.  We decided that it should be one of our entries to the Gwent Festival in 2012.

GET THE FOREIGNERS OUT OF WALES COMMITTEE MEETING 1361

Having had a great response in October, we came back to rehearsals in February.  Unfortunately, we were unable (due to scheduling) to have Rhiannon Rees return to us as Gwen, and her namesake then stepped into the breach.    The Gwent Festival went really well, with very little (if anything) remarked upon by the adjudicator.  Vic won best actor, Gwen picked up the adjudicators award, I was named as best director and the play won the festival!  A great performance by a super cast, who all know each other really well.  I think that has a positive effect on a production, if all the actors know each other, and understand how to play off one another.  It would be some exercise for Ann James, (but I am sure that she is up to it) to see how many times the likes of Trev and Vic have played together or Gareth and Huw etc.  Many, many times, I would wager - and it has made this bunch of talented actors gel very quickly as team.  Theatre is a great team event - with each actor totally relying on each other to ensure that the play is told effectively and in such a way that the audience is engaged and entertained.  Competition theatre is all that and more - with added pressures of not running over 50 minutes, precision moves and the nerve wracking feedback of the adjudication.   A huge team effort is required, at every performance - and I am lucky to have such a talented and committed cast - as well as the  unwavering support of Peter and Nye backstage.

 Since 2004, BLT have been honing their competitive skills and making sure that we always give a good account of ourselves.  Win or lose (and in the Wales Finals - we have lost a lot!) it matters to me and to everyone at BLT, that we always give that good account.  Standards need to be maintained (as Ray Davenport would often say) and that is what we always aim for - and to push those standards higher every year.

I am very pleased with Biscuits and proud of the team involved.  Fingers crossed that we can give a good account again next weekend.  That goes for both plays.

We are having an  open dress rehearsal on Tuesday 5th  June at BLT.  7pm - all are welcome.  We would also love the support at the Wales Final, on Friday 8th (Godfather Death) and Saturday 9th (Biscuits).  Tickets are available from the Congress Theatre - hope to see some of you there.

Cheers

Neil