After Mimetic Festival

As I am sure I have said before, it has been such an enlightening journey during this period of research and development. Not only have we learnt a tonne about fishing, way outside of our quota allowance* but this process has been a brilliant opportunity to learn more about our company and the way that we work. We brought two new performers into the rehearsal space and of course we knew that was going to change things, in an ensemble situation this means two more brains worth of ideas and two more opinions on every idea we try, this provides so many positives, but it feels like it also requires more time. Therefore we had to balance our creativity and the time that needs to develop each idea with the urgency and ruthlessness it requires to finalise scenes and move on to the next moment in the piece.

Then of course there was the joy and difficulties of working with a designer on the project, having built the company as a three, Molly, Matt and Hattie, we started off by doing everything ourselves, because we had to, but now that we have been fortunate enough to be funded by the Arts Council we can budget of the skills and time of a designer. So what does this mean? We have the wonderful skills and input of a brilliant (and acclaimed) designer... and we have to let go of some of the control. The ensemble doesn't just include the 5 performers in the rehearsal room, it also extends to anyone we trust with creative input and advice, our designer, our dramaturg, our lighting designer, sometimes it is difficult to remember that but when we make room for it we open up the work to so many possibilities and exciting potential.

Now we have reached the end of this block of rehearsals I'm so excited for what we have already created and what we can create in the next round. With such a rich mix of artists involved in the project every moment has an increased potential. So until then, don't lose touch,

Hattie

we also hoped it would help us find a clearer approach to our rehearsal process.

*find out more about quota here