Saturday 10 October 2015

Week 6

Let me label this week 'Norwich Week'. 4 out of the 5 shows were in the region and we used the same Travelodge to commute from in the evenings. First off we were back to Norwich Cathedral but this time for a sold-out, seated show for just under 800 people. This was the biggest audience I'd ever played so it was a real thrill. I wasn't nervous - I guess I'm very secure in what I'm doing after around 30 shows. 
Welcome to Festeval!

Then it was to a large sort of stately manor with a fantastic moat and beautiful grounds. Oxburgh Hall. Lovely tour by our liason. Lovely jacket potatoes. Lovely show. Lovely pint in the local pub afterwards. Lovely Hare comparison photo competition. Lovely.






At this stage the venues and working days are sort of blurring together. I don't mean to get complacent as each place has it's own individual beauty, unique history and kind hosts, though we're generally in a bit of a daze and not really in the mood to fully appreciate and absorb the magic.


We were next in Tatershall Castle, feeling somewhat in tatters. We're about to have some cracking food and the offer of a guided tour. I'd love to learn about this famous landmark that some people travel across the country to see...though with a show to do tonight I'd sort of prefer a nap.


This is where the camaraderie really comes into gear. We all feel the same fatigue. The same lacidasicalism. But one or two fuckers come through with some nonsense and make you laugh. And our spirits jaunt into place and we do just fine. Then we get down to the work with focus and professionalism.



As we were feeling tired we put some music on over lunch...serving each other up...then a few silly games afterwards and laughed each other into tears. Then we split in half with a contingent having a nap and the other taking the tour. Our man Paul the custodian and gave us an all access private tour with all the trimmings including taking us to the very top of the castle...up a sort of chimney of an access shaft; where visitors never tread. 30m up and the view of Lincolnshire was outstanding!




Then we really came together with focus for a thorough warm up and had a cracking show. Then back for our last night in our in situ travelodge. Next it was back to Norwich Cathedral for another 800 sell out show. It was a great one...during one of the fight scenes one of the swords entirely fell apart and everyone lost their shit for the rest of the scene. And the audience loved it. That's one of the exciting things about live theatre- when it goes wrong!


Last day of the week took us to Esher for a show in a landscaped garden before our day off.

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