Learning lines - how do you do it...(part 1)

As the play has progressed, the realisation has dawned on many of the cast. We now have to learn outlines!

This always attracts debate. What's the best way to learn lines? In amateur theatre, this is a whole other predicament compared to professional theatre. In general, professional actors have all the time to learn their lines. That is their job. In amateur theatre however, people have jobs which tend to take up most of their time (pesky things). So how do people in amateur theatre learn lines?

Whats my line again?

 In order to get to the bottom of this problem, I questioned members of Codsall Dramatic Society. They all had their prefered ways (as we all do) so here is the first half of a two part blog (oh look at me being all professional) with Top Tips from CDS Members when it comes to learning lines in amateur theatre.

1. A Dictaphone

A tried and tested method, get yourself a trusty dictaphone, and say your lines into it. Then amuse yourself for hours replaying key scenes, trying to get those lines exactly right. This method definetly has a number of pros going for it. The main one being, once the lines are recorded, you can listen to them in the car, while at work, walk the dog and practice your lines. How much more perfect could it get?

As with any method, this does have it's drawbacks. I find listening to dialogue very distracting, more so when you're actually trying to learn some of the dialogue! How can you drive a car while trying to remember what was said two minutes ago. I realise that part of this is about just listening to the scene and engrosing yourself in the character, but that comes to a bigger sticking point. You're not just recording your own part. You need to read ALL the parts. Which can reach particular levels of hilarity when it comes to actually men reading in for women and vice versa. 

A good start, can we improve on this. Well, how about the next solution...

2. A Whole Cast Recording

Ah now surely this is ideal for amateur theatre fanatics everywhere! Get the whole cast to sit down and record the script together. Everyone gets the benefit, and you get the whole play to listen to, with everyone reading the right parts! No men reading in for women (unless it's that sort of play, am I right fellas?) and no hilarity of trying to tell who's voice you're immitating this time!

In theory yes this sounds like a great idea! However, the CDS member who remembers using this technique did point out that they did this with a close knitt cast of 3. Which is fine, but most productions have an average cast of about 5, usually more, and it's hard enough getting rehersals on with the whole cast, never mind recording the whole play! You could argue this could be done during the first read through, but people make mistakes in early read throughs, so this isn't ideal. Another great suggestion, but not perfect. We need to dig deeper, maybe get away from recording...

3. Que cards

An old technique from my school days, when you need to learn chunks of information really fast. They're easy to set up (usually) and can be a very effective way of learning your lines. A tried and tested method, so surely it's one of the best?

You'd think that, but no. Que cards are good for short, snappy snippets of information. Like, whats the capital of Botswana (Gaborone in case you were wondering). Scripts aren't short pieces of information. I have it on good authority that they are usually ten pages, maybe more! So sure, que cards could be helpful for speaches, or those little sticking points, but for learning a whol script, there may be better ways.

Till next time...

Like all good writers (and all bad ones) I will leave it there. Maybe next week, I will be able to get to the bottom of finding the best way for people in amateur theatre to learn lines!

Want to get involved in amateur theatre in Wolverhampton and Codsall? Visit Codsall Dramatic Society or like us on Facebook. Come see our next amateur theatre production in Wolverhampton and Codsall, The Memory of Water, by Shelagh Stephenson, 25th-28th September at Codsall Village Hall.

Writing The Script In Amateur Theatre

You want to put what in the play?

During the current production, thoughts are already turning to the next production (in amateur theatre, you've always got to think one, probably 2 plays ahead!).

It was actually quite warm in that costume!

Our next amateur theatre production in Wolverhampton and Codsall will be one that is always highly enjoyable, and warmly recieved, our Children's Play. Yes, bright colours, crazy costumes and slap stick comedy that once every 12 months we come back round to and make fools of ourselves doing, all for the enjoyment of normally packed houses of children and adults alike. Last year was another successful year with Snow White being staged, but in the past, Dick Whittington, Robin Hood, Hansel and Gretel, Jack & The Beanstalk, Aladdin and many more wonderful productions have been staged.

Right, who killed a member of the cast again?

  While not revealing what the next production is, we haven't performed this for some time (I was only just born the last time it was staged) so the script feels a bit rusty. So we need a rewrite!

That however does bring new amateur theatre challenges. How do you balance it? There are hundreds of things to consider, not least the available cast. No point writing a script for 6 men and 3 women if you've only got 2 men and a Chihuahua. And think about the audience. Macbeth is a phenomenal play, but isn't going to be suitable to 5 year olds.

Writing a script is a challenge I have never been able to master. Thankfully, there are far more talented people than me in the society. I look forward to reading the fruits of their labour. Because no matter what, its going to be a scream!

Want to get involved in amateur theatre in Wolverhampton and Codsall? Visit Codsall Dramatic Society or like us on Facebook. Come see our next amateur theatre production in Wolverhampton and Codsall, The Memory of Water, by Shelagh Stephenson, 25th-28th September at Codsall Village Hall.

My Amateur Theatre matters

Recently, I found this webpage coming out in support of theatre:

http://www.mytheatrematters.com

I could not be more in support of this campaign. When I arrived in my current home, I knew no one. I needed to make friends. How did I do that? I joined my local amateur theatre company, Codsall Dramatic Society.

Now? I have new friends, and a real sense of purpose. That is where amateur theatre is so important! Its about more than just people on stage and fancy costumes. It's about that sense of community! My name is Chris Fairhurst, and My Theatre Matters!


Want to get involved in amateur theatre in Wolverhampton and Codsall. Visit Codsall Dramatic Society or like us on Facebook. Come see our next amateur theatre production in Wolverhampton and Codsall, The Memory of Water, by Shelagh Stephenson, 25th-28th September at Codsall Village Hall.

Amateur Theatre In Action! - Getting it on it's feet!

There's nothing quite like starting...

So cold...

In amateur theatre, the process is very simple:

1. You read the script
2. You cast it
3. You read it with the cast
4. You get it on its feet

In Codsall Dramatic Society's latest offering, The Memory Of Water by Shelagh Stephenson, we've started to get the show on its feet. And even though we've got some tables as a bed, a water bottle pulling double duty as a whiskey bottle and a phone(?!?), you can start to see how the production will shape up.

You see, for me, in amateur theatre and when reading plays in general, a script is a tabula rasa. There is no identity in the words themselves. Sure, there are stage directions, and a lot of scripts these days come with a set layout from the production its based on, that can bear no resemblance to the finished product.

In amateur theatre as in all theatre, the director calls the shots.

A finished amateur theatre production is the culmination of the vision of the director. But while it's not always possible due to time restraints, there's a wonderful feeling of collaboration. The cast in this amateur theatre production feel confident in suggesting things, and discussing the finer points with the director.

That is another of the wonderful things about amateur theatre. While at the end of the day, it is the directors choice, the odd suggestion from the cast is welcome. It will often meet with "lets try it" during the formative weeks of the production. But once all is blocked, there can be no more compromise. Already over a third of the way through the play, this amateur theatre production is gathering pace...

Want to get involved in amateur theatre in Wolverhampton and Codsall. Visit Codsall Dramatic Society or like us on Facebook. Come see our next amateur theatre production in Wolverhampton and Codsall, The Memory of Water, by Shelagh Stephenson, 25th-28th September at Codsall Village Hall.

The Memory Of Water by Shelagh Stephenson

Hey All, the next amateur theatre production I'm in, "The Memory Of Water" by Shelagh Stephenson, has started selling tickets! Exciting, I know. Here's a link to the official blog post:

http://codsalldramaticsociety.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/tickets-for-memory-of-water-by-shelagh.html

Hope to see lots of people there!

Supporting Amateur Theatre (or what happened to my weekend?)

Getting an amateur theatre production up and running is not easy. Normally it needs a huge amount of hard work and time. This all depends on the scale of the production. Take the last amateur theatre production I was involved in, Codsall Dramatic Society's Bring Me Sunshine, an evening of sketches in association with Codsall Singers.

This was done very simply, with seats around the outside, and all the action taking place in the centre of the room. This did not take a long time to set up, as staging goes. However, the amateur theatre production before that was The Titfield Thunderbolt...

 This involved a great deal more work, including the building of a train station, and a train(ish). This was an ambitious amateur theatre project, but it was also a highly successful one. Codsall Dramatic Society has gained a bit of a reputation in amateur theatre in Wolverhampton for set building, be it a train, a boat even for Way Up Stream, no challenge appears to be beyond this amateur theatre group. So, what can you expect from our next production? Why not join us and find out...

Want to get involved in amateur theatre in Wolverhampton and Codsall. Visit Codsall Dramatic Society or like us on Facebook. Come see our next amateur theatre production in Wolverhampton and Codsall, The Memory of Water, by Shelagh Stephenson, 25th-28th September at Codsall Village Hall. 

Memory Of Water - Rehersals Begin in Earnest

You're getting me out of bed for this?

Rehearsals began in earnest last week for Codsall Dramatic Societies exciting new play, The Memory Of Water by Shelagh Stephenson. Amateur Theatre presents many interesting challenges, not least of all being getting yourself into character at the drop of a hat, turning it on and off like a tap.

I still don't know why I'm getting up...

There are many ways that people can do this. Some, simply sit quietly to themselves, have a brief moment before heading out onto the stage. Others will go for the method acting approach (not always that easy in amateur theatre), where they act like their character constantly (Daniel Day Lewis is an example of a Hollywood performer famous for this). However, in amateur theatre the same time can't be spent on developing a character as in professional theatre. Amateur theatre relies heavily on performers giving up their spare time to learn their lines to and from work, giving up their evenings and putting 110% into a project, making it one of the most demanding undertakings anyone can go for. But it is also the most rewarding.

Some even learn their lines during rehearsal...

Want to get involved in amateur theatre in Wolverhampton and Codsall. Visit Codsall Dramatic Society or like us on Facebook. Come see our next amateur theatre production in Wolverhampton and Codsall, The Memory of Water, by Shelagh Stephenson, 25th-28th September at Codsall Village Hall.