It was 6:45pm and we had just got into our warm-up when I, Nathan took on to see who may well be turning up. I looked outside to see a vast crowd of air. However when visiting the crowd downstairs I found our audience. The loveliest fact was that the numbers kept coming in making our cameraman become an usher. Due to this rather premature fetching of our audience we did start five or so minute too early. No one that came in at seven o’clock missed much of the opening exploration of the suggestion.
So I, Nathan opened the show like any other improvisation show. Apart from keeping them waiting in a semi-amused state beforehand with a meet and greet of who we had. Even managed to get a doorstep, sorry I was corrected doorstop. What is one little letter in a word anyway. A ship is still a ship with a little letter changed? We began with enough energy to start a wind turbine and plenty of interaction. Warming their suggestions up with the norm: names, colour, and holiday destination. Wasting no more time we started the show.
Our suggestion was ice cream, and they were amused, shocked that the next hour would be all on ice cream. To be quite honest in a normal long-form show that would be one of the best suggestions ever! Our show isn’t normal, but the stuff we got was pretty cool.
The show comprises of drawing, processworks*, scenes and alternative skills. Using the content of what we have done in the past we surpassed my expectations of the preview production ‘s possibilities by far. The cast worked well and hard and picked up on the offers and utilised alsorts of wonderful ‘adds’ to scenes that enhanced them tremendously. Recently we saw a return of a game we played once in rehearsal months ago and it turned up in the show too. These moments of agreeing and doing are wonderful to watch and definitely beautiful to be in.
Well done cast for such an amazing production to be in and great to be onstage with you all.
We have one more preview booked currently:
The Ballroom in The Bedford, Balham, South London – Saturday 30th July 2011, 1pm.
It’s a part of a mini-festival of Edinburgh Previews.
We are in Edinburgh for PBH’s Free Fringe:
Kiwi Bar @ Walkabout, Omni Centre, Leith Street – Sunday 14th August – Saturday 20th August 2011, 8.45pm (1 hour show)
~ Nathan Keates
* Processworks is based on Improbable's 2007 show where they used it as a freeing method of discussing.
Showing posts with label emblem. Show all posts
Showing posts with label emblem. Show all posts
Thursday, 9 June 2011
Saturday, 28 May 2011
What's happening now?
With some big projects on the go at the moment, we take the time to enjoy the beauty of sharing.
Improvisation is a shared experience. With an audience its a wider sharing too. Tales of great depth and lovely humour can be in conjunction with the trauma of being spontaneous. Spectators revel and improvisers play. All from a suggestion that may have been grabbed from the onlookers.
Instead of grabbing some form of suggestion from NTW for this blog though, I shall just type. And thus share.
A little about us: As you may know or may not, Ludus Ludius Improvisation Theatre Company was founded in 2007 by Nathan Keates and Matt Mills. We began to create theatre through improvised playfulness. Now we are a collective. Various performers, artists, actors, dancers, musicians and obviously improvisers are called upon when a project could be ideal for whom ever. Ludus Ludius are moving towards applying improvisation skill and techniques to those that may benefit personally, socially, emotionally and collaboratively. This therefore means that along with productions that we explore and workshops we share, move to applied improv.
A workshop that is coming that we are sharing the art form through is open to all. People in the theatrical world and those that aren't. This generally makes for better improvisation in any case and is always really interesting. In a weekend workshop we shall cover the basics of improvisation. Covering topics from Keith Johnstone, Viola Spolin, John Wright, Chris Johnston and some from the infamous Nathan Keates (amongst others). By the end of the weekend you should have a good understanding of the art form of improvisation and can stroll through the wonders that is your journey to the unknown.
We call the process the 'journey to the unknown' because no one can tell you how to improvise and everyone has a different 'journey' or process to finding their approach that suits them.
Next Weekend is planned for: Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th July '11, 10am - 5pm @ Rummer Tavern
(14 Duke Street - Opposite the castle)
Book via: www.ludusludius.co.uk > Workshops (tab)
Or Skiddle, Brown Paper Tickets or Eventbrite
And the ALMIGHTY Edinburgh Fringe production that we are rehearsing for too. Read about it on Ideastap or our Blog. Initially set out as aiming to explore an emblem or theme/issue spontaneously and improvisationally as a free-form long-form improvisation and now after months of processing we are nearing the stage where we can state what it is. This very day we opened the rehearsal sentimentally and reflectively. It was nice to recall what we have done in the past and use that energy to look to the future.
Subsequently we are previewing the production, 'Emblem: Spontaneous Thoughts on Perception' in ATRium Studio (CB218) on Wednesday 8th June, 7pm. Its free, but it is a fundraiser so help us out and come support a welsh-based production get to Edinburgh. (I know there are more than just this show that is going from Wales). There is some welsh in the show too, perhaps. It may not arrive on the preview - lets see.
Do not panic if you are busy as we are also previewing in London near the end of June. With a lot of other Edinburgh Fringe previews. That will take place in Balham in South London. The Bedford is the home of great shows and some massive famous names have played in the venue. Even great improv has been shown there. The likes of Hoopla have used the venue a lot in the past.
Once more if you do not make that date either, then there is always the run itself in Edinburgh to come to. It would be advised that you come anyway, whether or not you saw a preview. Mainly advisable as the previews are where we fine tune it for the fringe itself and thus not the complete finished product.
Kiwi Bar @ Walkabout (Venue #344), Leith St nr the railway. From Sunday 14th August - Saturday 20th August, 20.45pm - 21.45pm. Free entry there too, but donations welcome to make sure we survive doing the fringe.
So what's happening with Ludus Ludius? A lot, big projects.
Improvisation is a shared experience. With an audience its a wider sharing too. Tales of great depth and lovely humour can be in conjunction with the trauma of being spontaneous. Spectators revel and improvisers play. All from a suggestion that may have been grabbed from the onlookers.
Instead of grabbing some form of suggestion from NTW for this blog though, I shall just type. And thus share.
A little about us: As you may know or may not, Ludus Ludius Improvisation Theatre Company was founded in 2007 by Nathan Keates and Matt Mills. We began to create theatre through improvised playfulness. Now we are a collective. Various performers, artists, actors, dancers, musicians and obviously improvisers are called upon when a project could be ideal for whom ever. Ludus Ludius are moving towards applying improvisation skill and techniques to those that may benefit personally, socially, emotionally and collaboratively. This therefore means that along with productions that we explore and workshops we share, move to applied improv.
A workshop that is coming that we are sharing the art form through is open to all. People in the theatrical world and those that aren't. This generally makes for better improvisation in any case and is always really interesting. In a weekend workshop we shall cover the basics of improvisation. Covering topics from Keith Johnstone, Viola Spolin, John Wright, Chris Johnston and some from the infamous Nathan Keates (amongst others). By the end of the weekend you should have a good understanding of the art form of improvisation and can stroll through the wonders that is your journey to the unknown.
We call the process the 'journey to the unknown' because no one can tell you how to improvise and everyone has a different 'journey' or process to finding their approach that suits them.
Next Weekend is planned for: Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th July '11, 10am - 5pm @ Rummer Tavern
(14 Duke Street - Opposite the castle)
Book via: www.ludusludius.co.uk > Workshops (tab)
Or Skiddle, Brown Paper Tickets or Eventbrite
And the ALMIGHTY Edinburgh Fringe production that we are rehearsing for too. Read about it on Ideastap or our Blog. Initially set out as aiming to explore an emblem or theme/issue spontaneously and improvisationally as a free-form long-form improvisation and now after months of processing we are nearing the stage where we can state what it is. This very day we opened the rehearsal sentimentally and reflectively. It was nice to recall what we have done in the past and use that energy to look to the future.
Subsequently we are previewing the production, 'Emblem: Spontaneous Thoughts on Perception' in ATRium Studio (CB218) on Wednesday 8th June, 7pm. Its free, but it is a fundraiser so help us out and come support a welsh-based production get to Edinburgh. (I know there are more than just this show that is going from Wales). There is some welsh in the show too, perhaps. It may not arrive on the preview - lets see.
Do not panic if you are busy as we are also previewing in London near the end of June. With a lot of other Edinburgh Fringe previews. That will take place in Balham in South London. The Bedford is the home of great shows and some massive famous names have played in the venue. Even great improv has been shown there. The likes of Hoopla have used the venue a lot in the past.
Once more if you do not make that date either, then there is always the run itself in Edinburgh to come to. It would be advised that you come anyway, whether or not you saw a preview. Mainly advisable as the previews are where we fine tune it for the fringe itself and thus not the complete finished product.
Kiwi Bar @ Walkabout (Venue #344), Leith St nr the railway. From Sunday 14th August - Saturday 20th August, 20.45pm - 21.45pm. Free entry there too, but donations welcome to make sure we survive doing the fringe.
So what's happening with Ludus Ludius? A lot, big projects.
Sunday, 8 May 2011
Extra rehearsal #1: ProcessWorks
Although we didn't take any photos or videos and therefore have no media from the night for sharing here, we did get exhaustion.
Processworks in the words of Nathan is a way of discussing. Processing a discussion in a way that frees and allows everyone to engage by whatever means they need to. Processworks was explored by Improbable in their production, 'Spirit' and we shall be trying to use this too.
"Process Work methods support artists to get in deeper contact with the material and its innate structure, feel in touch with their performance, and build new levels of contact between performers. It's not about pushing across boundaries into the unknown, but more about using your awareness to meet and unfold the creative tension, found in the most difficult bits, and by playing with the most suprising and minimal cues. It's about both catching the creative spark, and giving the necessary play and work to bring it to life - whether working with a script, in a process of devising, or in moment to moment performance." - Arts Artelier
"Process Work was developed by Jungian analyst Arnold Mindell in the 1970s when Mindell began to research illness as a meaningful expression of the unconscious mind. He discovered that the unconscious manifests not only in nighttime dreams but also in physical symptoms, relationship difficulties, addictions, and social tensions." - ProcessWorks
It was a great night with a lot of natural flow and amazing discoveries within each other. From the sublimely abstract and releasing the tension with a most likely inappropriate exploration to the intense fiery discussions that upset someone as they couldn't speak. Frustration certainly ensued.
All in all, a good time.
Processworks in the words of Nathan is a way of discussing. Processing a discussion in a way that frees and allows everyone to engage by whatever means they need to. Processworks was explored by Improbable in their production, 'Spirit' and we shall be trying to use this too.
"Process Work methods support artists to get in deeper contact with the material and its innate structure, feel in touch with their performance, and build new levels of contact between performers. It's not about pushing across boundaries into the unknown, but more about using your awareness to meet and unfold the creative tension, found in the most difficult bits, and by playing with the most suprising and minimal cues. It's about both catching the creative spark, and giving the necessary play and work to bring it to life - whether working with a script, in a process of devising, or in moment to moment performance." - Arts Artelier
"Process Work was developed by Jungian analyst Arnold Mindell in the 1970s when Mindell began to research illness as a meaningful expression of the unconscious mind. He discovered that the unconscious manifests not only in nighttime dreams but also in physical symptoms, relationship difficulties, addictions, and social tensions." - ProcessWorks
It was a great night with a lot of natural flow and amazing discoveries within each other. From the sublimely abstract and releasing the tension with a most likely inappropriate exploration to the intense fiery discussions that upset someone as they couldn't speak. Frustration certainly ensued.
All in all, a good time.
Tuesday, 29 March 2011
Our Edinburgh Fringe Production
After three weekends of rehearsals and a photo shoot for a title image we have...
Weekend One we played with some Portuguese in Bute Park and killed off a middle aged man with a baby wolf whilst the rabbits flooded the village of South America. Also the baboon didn't get his smelly way!
Weekend Two we had a transgender politician who had to come to terms with his or her original desires of playing the piano.
Weekend Three we had more politics when we had a chair law which became rebelled against by a murmuring Scottish rapper. Also, how artist like Gainsborough are nothing to children. Nonetheless they who grow up to the same struggle and unemployment in fits of jealousy and raging pains towards the successful.
Photographer: Stefani Johnson Photography
Weekend One we played with some Portuguese in Bute Park and killed off a middle aged man with a baby wolf whilst the rabbits flooded the village of South America. Also the baboon didn't get his smelly way!
Weekend Two we had a transgender politician who had to come to terms with his or her original desires of playing the piano.
Weekend Three we had more politics when we had a chair law which became rebelled against by a murmuring Scottish rapper. Also, how artist like Gainsborough are nothing to children. Nonetheless they who grow up to the same struggle and unemployment in fits of jealousy and raging pains towards the successful.
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