Music Update

Well we have had a week or so of rehearsals, and looked at the whole show in a rough form trying scenes out with the music I have recorded. It seems we are quite well prepared, both in terms of hitting the right mood and the right kinds of lengths of pieces. That said there have been a whole bunch of alterations, about 12 new files are lurking on my USB stick ready to go in to the mac.

The big gap going in to rehearsals was music for much of the red guard scene. Perhaps I was avoiding it having done enough sound tracks to atrocities for Horse + Bamboo: Nazis in 'Company of Angels', rape, refugees and explosions in 'Veil'... Anyway, the cast improvised some very strong scenes which proved inspiring. So the last couple of days I have been pounding away on the synth in marching rhythm and playing about with samples of snare drums and Chairman Mao speeches. We shall see if it hits the nail on the head in the course of this week.

I have also been thinking about other matters, we are planning to make podcast or at least an audio file with interviews on about Little Leap Forward. Today I have been recording Mark, Alison, Bob and myself holding forth about the show.

Loz Kaye

The First Week of Rehearsals

Whilst I've been uploading new web pages for the show onto H+B's site, the Little Leap Forward rehearsals have begun! Mark Whitaker (tour manager and performer), Jonny Quick (technical manager and performer), Frances Merriman, and Nicky Fearn are now in the building going through the first few scenes with Alison and Loz. The mood here is upbeat and there's a renewed sense of energy at the Boo. In fact as I sit here in the animation room writing this, I can hear the sound of running and stomping below me in the theatre space, which is theunmistakeble sound of the cast warming up. As the show opens at The Royal Exchange on 28 May that makes it almost five weeks before opening night.

Last week we had Steff Lee (LLF animator) at the Boo, who made a wonderful three minute film on the Making of Little Leap Forward which features one of the tracks from the music score composed by Loz Kaye, production shots, a sneak peek of the set and some of the puppets and masks that will be used for the show, plus stunning illustrations by Helen Cann from the book, Little Leap Forward - A Boy in Beijing co written by Guo Yue and Clare Farrow.

Alithea

Hi, I’m Jayne and today is my last day of a 2-week internship at Horse + BambooTheatre. What an experience! I suspected during my first visit to “the Boo” last June that the building was a place bustling with a host of various creative goings-on, with everyone involved. It was true. During the past two weeks, it seems the entire company has been literally buzzing with the thrill and excitement only the last few weeks leading to a new production can provide. Working in the shop has felt like being inside one of the special pods where the magic is made.

There seems to be both a heightened focus and increasing anticipation as the makers add those special details to each prop and puppet, and the masks and set move are finalized. Alison shopping for hair for the character “Blue” maks, Bob perfecting his calligraphy on the set of Little Leap Forward’s house, Vanessa working on meticulously cut shadow puppets and Mark finishing the hand puppets… it is such a pleasure to watch this show come together. I really look forward to reading this blog while I am back at Ecole Philippe Gaulier in Paris, imagining how the rehearsals will coming along, the dress rehearsal, and then… opening night! I hope “Little Leap Forward” tours to France one day, but before then I just might have to make a special trip out to see the last showing at Horse + Bamboo's Puppet Festival.

Jayne

Only 2 weeks before rehearsals begin!

The workshop at Horse + Bamboo Theatre has been a hive of activity today! Alison has almost finished all the masks for the show, with just one more red guard to go. Kathy Bradley and Andrew Kim from Thingumajig Theatre have been helping with the rigging of the puppets for the school scene. Bob finished painting the set last week, which is looking fantastic and standing prominantly in the workshop as Little Leap Forward's production team soldier on with rigging, painting and carving puppets for the show.

Last week, Jayne Walling, a physical theatre student who is currently studying at the E'cole Philippe Gaulier in Paris arrived at Horse + Bamboo and is helping Alison with various production aspects of Little Leap Forward. Jane is here to learn about the process of turning a story into a mask theatre production and so far has found the experience amazing.

I had a quick chat with Alison today, who is understandably apprehensive at this stage that all the production elements will fit into place by the time rehearsals begin in just under two weeks. The biggest challenge will be getting all the precise music timings ready for the 8 May, when Guo Yue is coming to the theatre to watch a rehearsal of the show and give his feedback. This puts alot of pressure on the first few weeks of rehearsal. Despite all the usual pressures and restrictions, Alison and the rest of the team are excited about the production and happy that everything is coming together.

Alithea