August 6th. The Edinburgh festival begins with a display of talent akin to the amount of wine bottles in a wine bar. The Stitches cast arrive in Manchester after a long – if not eventful – train journey, to begin their first rehearsals for Claire Urwin’s third play. It’s not an ideal time interval to have before beginning a run on 17th… but if anyone is up to the task… it’s Scratch That theatre company. Plus a nice wine. Plus sun and Platt Fields park.
After an intense week of rehearsals in Manchester, we make our way up to Edinburgh on a very crowded train with the ever-needed supplements of alcohol and chocolate. Arriving at the station (minus the production crew in a hire car with the entire set and shopping for two weeks) we decide to take the easy way out and pay for a taxi to what will be our home for duration of the festival. Sorry did I say our home? I meant our top-floor palace on the Meadows where we’ve managed to cram so many actors, producers, directors and friends into our flat that sardines is a game we know so intimately we’d smash any world record.
It’s the second day of our run, 10.10pm, and after a long day of rehearsals, flyer-ing, a performance, notes (and the obligatory after-show drinks) we’re all pleased with how the show is progressing and developing. Yesterday we had The Scotsman in, as well as the NSDF selectors with some useful feedback for us, and after using this to improve our performance, we all felt that today’s show managed to ease us into what we hope will be a very impressive and fulfilling run.
The show hasn’t all been smooth-running, though. The Royal Mile is not only a gauntlet for un-assuming passers-by, but to us represents a race of competitors that threaten to whip away our eager audiences. Not to mention the crowds that we managed to fend our way through for some much-needed sustenance (muffins, falafel… COFFEE). I think in that way we’re all still learning… flyer-ing techniques can always be improved, as well as knowing when to give up the fight. E.g. It is not appropriate to have a few drinks and continue flyer-ing in a pub where actors are trying to forget their stressful day, they do NOT want to be harassed by a keen drama student. Lesson learned.
But tomorrow’s another day, as we have reviewers from All The Festivals, and, (if rumours are to be believed…) Three Weeks, as well as selectors from Midlands Arts Centre before the week is out.
Edinburgh, the land of opportunities.
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