Ben's Much Ado Blog
By Ben Spiller
HELLO and welcome to the first blog for the Derby LIVE production of Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing, which will run at the Guildhall Theatre from 5 to 21 February.
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My name's Ben Spiller and I'm the assistant director. Each week for the next eight weeks, I'll be keeping you updated on developments throughout rehearsals and the run of performances to offer an insight into the process of creating Derby Live's first home-grown theatre production.
We're only a few days into rehearsals and we've covered a lot of ground already. On Monday, Pete Meakin, the director, outlined the concept of the production, which relocates Shakespeare's play to late August 1965, when British military involvement was continuing in Aden and the women's liberation movement was gathering momentum.
Steven Blakeley (Heartbeat's PC Geoff Younger) and Lizzie Winkler (a regular at the Royal National Theatre and recently seen in Cinderella's Sisters at Derby Guildhall) play Benedick and Beatrice in our production.
Steven and Lizzie were both members of Derby Playhouse Youth Theatre when Pete ran it in the late 1990s.
As such, all three have a lively rapport, mutual respect and strong dynamic that inspires an exciting creativity.
At this stage, we're investigating Shakespeare's text, as adapted by Pete, in meticulous detail by discussing the various possible meanings and selecting the most appropriate meanings for this particular production.
Pete is pointing out literary devices used by Shakespeare and how they affect vocal delivery of the text as Steven and Lizzie read it.
Then the three of them start to play with movement and use of space, while not fixing too many moves yet.
We're all offering our thoughts and opinions on character, motivation and language and there's a real sense of collaboration.
The complex, yet ultimately positive, relationship between Benedick and Beatrice is at the heart of Much Ado; it's for that reason we're focusing exclusively on their moments in the play this week.
We're exploring their shared conversations (duologues) as well as their soliloquies, in which they share their thoughts with individual audience members.
By placing emphasis at this early stage on Benedick and Beatrice, we're laying the emotional foundations of the production.
The rest of the cast will join us next week.
16 Comments
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by Mary, Derby
Thursday, January 15 2009, 3:13PM
“Hi Joanne, I certainly don't want to do battle but that wasn't really my point, my point was that before Christmas we were told the deal was done. True? It's what was in the paper - it was said by Mr Powers and Mr Edwards. After Christmas, we were told this wasn't the case. They were still exploring options for investment. This is not the first time this kind of change has occurred either is it?
Have the creditors received their money?
If there's a plan why can't we see it - why is it all so cloak and dagger? You want a theatre in Derby, that will be run with expertise, knowledge and commitment. Derby LIVE could have done just that and you might have been buying tickets to go back to the Playhouse as I type.”
by Joanne, Derbys
Thursday, January 15 2009, 2:55PM
“BHL- how on earth do you know there are no business plans?! Just because they haven't been publicly announced, doesn't mean they don't exist, or are not viable! You seem to make incredible assumptions, based on pure speculation.
We are all waiting! These things are difficult and take time!!
Oh ye of little faith.....”
by Bleeding Heart Liberal, Derby
Thursday, January 15 2009, 2:06PM
“Joanne - I would suggest that the real difficulty comes from the fact that DPL have illustrated that they are not able to collaborate and manage relationships. They have lost funding, purely down to this. In trying to defend their position they have strung together a series of frankly terrible arguments and excuses. Now, who in their right mind would want to back the scheme? Particularly when there is still no business plan?! STILL! That's the reason why there's a struggle on. And the reason why DPL will fail. Like they have done before.”
by Joanne, Derbys
Thursday, January 15 2009, 11:53AM
“Hi Mary,
Sorry this has to be quick.
To be honest I'm a bit weary of commenting on these stories,
as so much negative speculation from biased
quarters .Perhaps some of these issues should have been adressed long ago- then maybe we wouldn't all be in this mess.
I can understand what you are saying about the confusion and frustration in waiting for decisions to be made public; it does feel very unreal at times, and has gone on for so long.
But, I can only surmise it must be an incerdibly challenging exercise to secure funding for such a high profile and large theatre, completely independently.Also, business transactions are surely sensitive and confidential?
It does seem to have been a process of to ing and fro ing.
but that is hardly surprising, considering the financial and political challenges faced in the past year?
I know it seems endlessly frustrating waiting and wondering- but we are all in the same position.
I do hope we may hear something by the end of Jan.”
by Mary, Derby
Monday, January 12 2009, 3:26PM
“Hi Joanne, what I cannot come to terms with is the way in which we are not being told the whole truth. Before Christmas we were told that the deal had been done with the investment - dotting i's and crossing t's seemed to be the phrase used. We were then told after Christmas that this was not the case at all. At no point in this whole, long drawn out process have there been any plans produced for us to see, after all it's really our theatre - although not now that the lease can just be sold on to the highest bidder. How many times have DPL promised one thing and then promised another?
If there was consistency, honesty and transparency in all of this I might have more sympathy and support for DPL. As I feel I am being consistently hoodwinked and told untruths I am no longer interested. I will be supporting Derby LIVE in the coming months. Of course I want a theatre in Derby, but not at any cost. There has to be some integrity too, both artistically and professionally.”
by Joanne, Derbys
Monday, January 12 2009, 12:24PM
“Hi Mary-
I respect your support of Derby LIVE, and I am sure there will be some good work going on there, alongside some great local and touring companies.
My argument has always been about the apparent process by which Derby LIVE came about,
and the fact that the Playhouse appears to have been sacrificed along the way.
Much as I totally applaud and support Community/Youth/ and Am Dram theatre , (with excellent professional elements;)- I strongly believe this is not a replacement for a dedicated professional producing theatre, with a supporting professionally skilled team, as before.
I think this is the "norm" for a city, to my knowledge.
As for "plans" for DPH: just because they haven't yet been publicised soon after the creditors' meeting, does not mean they don't exist or won't be viable!
Please remember the odds that have been stacked up against DPH Ltd since Nov '07 at least, and the fact that Derby LIVE has acquired DCC and AC funding; so not a level playing field, and certainly can't be judged as equal partners in terms of funding or support.
We await further news, and I would imagine progress will take time- but the sooner the better, to avoid constant speculation!
It would be great to think in years to come, some kind of collaboration could be possible for all these elements to come together- without politics ruling the show?
For me, that would give "theatre" as an art form in Derby, the greatest chance of long term survival.”
by Ken, Derby
Saturday, January 10 2009, 10:33AM
“David, you are missing the point. DPL are simply trying to relaunch the theatre company and, if they have to sacrifice the Playhouse building to the highest bidder to achieve that, then so be it.”
by Mary, Derby
Friday, January 09 2009, 3:59PM
“I know it's a real shame that the opportunities have gone but they can only exist again with a viable plan for saving Derby Playhouse. And DPL aren't showing us one. However the young people have been given the opportunity to do Nicholas Nickleby which is brilliant.”
by Joyce, Eastwood, Notts
Friday, January 09 2009, 3:16PM
“I seem to remember when the Playhouse closed for the first more than a year ago...gosh its that long !
I remember a TV news guy interveiwing a lady with her child who always enjoyed going to the Playhouse on Sat mornings to get their feet on the first rung of the ladder that could well see them do well in the Arts...
The lady was very upset and her child was actualy crying because they had been turned away that day.....
so to say there have been no opportunities for young [people to learn their proffession isnt true Im afraid...It is true now...
no egg company....
I hope you enjoy the show...
Look forward to seeing you at the Playhouse soon...Joyce.”
by Mary, Derby
Friday, January 09 2009, 1:56PM
“Joanne I did write a longer reply but it seems to have got lost...so if it appears you'll understand any repetition.
I am one of those people - it happened to me too!
My point has always been about plans, finances and saving a theatre. What plan convinces you that DPL can survive? I'm rolling with a plan I've read - as I said before it's online, and with an investment that I can have faith in. Derby LIVE has convinced me of that. I have seen nothing for DPL to inform me otherwise. I feel I am having the wool pulled over my eyes. Why all the mystery? Why tell people one thing before Christmas, and another after. I've lost all faith I'm afraid.”