The Milk Bottle January Newsletter

The run at Barons Court is over and we're taking a little break now to regroup, plan and prepare for the year ahead.  We'd like to thank everyone for their help, it was a really great run this year and much fun had by all.  The Natural History of Trolls really grew across the run and was beautifully performed by all the casts throughout the year - and we sold out our second print run of the script well before the end of the run!

As always your help is vital.  Please, spread the love.  If you're a facebook person then do join our group Milk Bottle Productions or follow Robert Crighton: Storyteller.  If you already do, then share it with your friends.  Or if you’re a twitter person @RobertCrighton:Storyteller.  Or check out Robert's blog  

http://robertcrightonstoryteller.blogspot.com

Help spread the word about the work we do.  It really does help.

There are few plans for many performances before the autumn, just a few one offs, as Robert has decided the duck and cover method is the best way to get through the run up to the Olympics.  However, we do plan to tour a revised version of GhoStoryteller for the autumn and another six week run at Barons Court at the end of the year - performing a number of stories, new and old, over the run. 

Rough Artwork for Pickwick

One of the projects planned will be a reading of the Complete Pickwick Papers over Christmas - in a similar fashion to The Complete Holmes from 2010/11 - with a shorter 'selected papers' performances for single nights across the year - the first planned for May.  We will also hope to produce our second CD (and umpteenth book) of the GhoStoryteller show available in autumn.

Beyond the writing work that Robert's doing (adding finishing touches to GhoStoryteller and other editing work) we're just about to start work on the first of the productions for Storyteller 2012 - The Examiner of Beauty - a full length version of an earlier story The Examiner of Small Ailments.  The new script is mostly complete and will be added to during rehearsals across the year.  This, like Trolls before, will be the show that will get a higher profile than other pieces, with higher production values and a larger team.  We're looking for collaborators, actors, designers, sound and lighting people to help create this work - more details will be released next month about that. 

For those who haven't been following the shows so far, details can be seen on Robert's vlogs (video logs), his first vlog this year, covering much of this newsletter, can be reached by clicking here.

New Year, New Storyteller

So, it's been over a week since Storyteller 2011 ended.  I normally finish a run very tired and irritable, unable to quite get into any structured activity, stumbling from one futile task to another.  I tend to focus on tidying, doing the accounts, things that require no use of my higher functions.  I can't say I have got a lot done since the run finished as I have had something of a day job this week, but I have tidied, I have gone to meetings and I have planned what I'd like to do for the rest of 2012.  Some of this is sorted - green lit and agreed - some of this is purely speculative.  But, broadly, I know what I'm doing for the next 12 months with Storyteller 2012.
This isn't far off how I spent this week last January - planning the year, making lists - but unlike last year I am infinitely less tired, depressed and generally low.  Last Christmas was terrible for me, this Christmas has left me with options.  I know I'm going to tour the GhoStoryteller show - or try to (have to get the bookings) - and I will be doing another six weeks at Barons Court at the end of the year.  I know what I plan to schedule into those six weeks - but plans from this distance have a tendency to change. 
I've just been watching the vlogs I made charting the progress of 2011.  I can see where various plans came to nothing - there were going to be a whole selection of stories for Storyteller that just went out the window - and where many little projects were left alone after a few months.
One of the stories I was going to stage for 2011 was the new version of The Examiner of Small Ailments - currently retitled as The Examiner of Beauty.  This is definitely something I'll be working on 2012 for Barons Court.  I have really exciting ideas about how I want it both to look and, more importantly, sound.  It's going to be crazy - I think.  That's the Trolls type show for 2012 - the show with more production values, less just someone telling a story, more theatre.
I have ideas for two more stories to have ready for Barons Court - the oft mentioned Attack of the Christmas Squirrels (abandoned because I couldn't think of a complete plot) which is shaping up nicely in my mind as a complete piece, and a spoof lecture on the life of William Shakespeare, which I've got some great material on.  The difficulty with Shakespeare is making up something that is stupider than some people actually believe in.  And I'm also planning to do some readings of The Pickwick Papers - edited and a complete version - like I did with the Sherlock Holmes readings of 2010/11.
So, including GhoStoryteller, that's five different shows to have ready for autumn.  Nothing much.  One thing I do intend to do this year is share more of the process of creation.  I didn't share much of the last years material because a lot of it worked because you didn't know where it was going.  The Examiner of Beauty is based on already published material, so there's little to hide.  I will share.
All this and more burbling can be found on this week's vlog - the first proper vlog I've done for a while.



And there's also my compilation blog of 2011 - all the silly bits edited together. 

Till next time... Robx

The Obligatory New Year Message

Happy New Year - 2012.  I would love to say I did a lot of celebrating on New Years, that I spent the evening doing incredibly exciting things... nah.  Really couldn't be bothered, got far too much to do and this is one of the few decent breaks I get during the run at Barons Court so... a lot of sleep and watching the Vienna New Years concert on television next day is about as exciting as the last 24/48 hours have got.
There's only one week to go, six performances of GhoStoryteller left.  Last weeks four performances were a very mixed bag.  There was a heckler on the first night - he wandered into the show after five minutes and then started saying, very loudly, that ghosts were real and that I wasn't showing them enough respect.  As the opening of the show is all about why we like ghost stories he was missing the point - but then the slurring in his voice suggested his alcohol levels had taken him beyond the limits of nuance.  I asked him to leave and he did so, very slowly, until the audience asked him to go away.  He then started to swear at them, repeatedly, until he finally disappeared.  Oddly enough, this acted as a bonding exercise between the audience and I, we were on the same side for the rest of the show.  Might introduce guest drunks into every show from now on.
The second night was interesting as one of the audience was registered blind.  I often have partially sighted audiences for my storytelling - it is a logical entertainment form in these increasingly visually based theatre work days.  Unfortunately, I realised that my opening, about fear and ghost stories, probably sounded absurd to a blind person.  It was all about the way fear works in the dark and when we cannot see everything.  I realised that I had made some big assumptions and hadn't taken into account how fear works for those who live with darkness or poor vision all the time.  I cannot change this now, but it's a fascinating area to look into in the future.  Perhaps the visually impaired are more disturbed by sounds - or by objects being in unaccustomed places in their homes - or being aware of another person in the room who makes no noise at all.
These are important ideas to play with because I intend to tour with GhoStoryteller later this year.  I'll need to write a new story and expand the opening to fit other ideas and visions of the world.  At present the show is very British in focus, British settings, British type ghosts.  I would also like to visit other ideas of ghosts from around the world, as I'm sure they vary quite a lot.
The third night was uneventful, but the fourth night was great.  It was such a warm audience from the start; listening to them talk as they came in, I knew it was going to be fun.  My ghost stories are quite funny and when I think the audience is up for it I also add audience participation and on Friday they lapped (literally - you'll have to see the show to understand why) it up.  It was only towards the end of the show that I turn the temperature down a bit for something a bit... darker.
That was the first week, cut off by New Year, but the second week might be even more exciting.  It will if you're there.

This week I'm going to be thanking people for all their help in this year long project, but for now HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE.

P.S. This is a blog by Adam Curtis, a documentary maker who always makes you think, even if you don't agree with the argument he puts forward.  The blog tends to be fragmentary, using archive footage from the BBC to put together a piece relating to modern life, events or just for the hell of it.  His latest blog is all about ghosts on television and that seems appropriate - some lovely snippets.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/adamcurtis/2011/12/the_ghosts_in_the_living_room.html

GhoStoryteller: Full Cast List...

Merry Post Christmas!  I spent Christmas mostly watching the fantastic The Strange World of Gurney Slade on DVD.  Such joy.
Now, it's the question everyone keeps asking me - when is the full special guest list coming out.  Today.  It's an all male first week, which is very usual for Milk Bottle, we are usually lady heavy.  But the second week redresses the balance.  If it helps, think of the show as a phone in reality show, call the box office and vote for your favourite performer by buying a ticket for that night.

Tuesday 27^th December – Robert Crighton (yes, I am my own special guest!)

Wednesday 28^th December –Alexander Gordon-Wood

Thursday 29^th December – Rich Cline

Friday 30^th December –Simon Nader

Tuesday 3^rd January – Denys Gaskill

Wednesday 4^th January – Richard Ward

Thursday 5^th January – Elizabeth Quinn

Friday 6^th January – Jessica Moore

Saturday 7^th January – Elizabeth Nicholson

Sunday 8^th January – Kate Steel

Milk Bottle Productions Presents...
GhoStoryteller

Written and Performed by Robert Crighton - plus Special Guests

Tuesday 27^th December 2011 to Friday 30^th December and Tuesday 3^rd to Sunday 8^th January 2012 (No performances 31^st Dec, 1^st or 2^nd Jan)

Two weeks of real ghost stories collected during our autumn tour.  From the ghosts of empty houses, to the personal ghosts we carry around us, this collection is a mixture of the fantastic and the “real”. 

Tickets £12 / £10 concessions

Tuesday to Saturday starts at 7.30pm – doors open 7.15pm.  Sunday at 7pm, doors open 6.45pm.

Box Office: 020 8932 4747

Barons Court Theatre, “The Curtain’s Up”, 28A Comeragh Road W14

Nearest Tube:  Barons Court (Piccadilly/District Lines)

GhoStoryteller: Meet the Cast 7

Todays blog is brought to you in association with the letters B, Y, T.  B. stands for BUY.  Y. stands for YOUR and T. stands for TICKETS.  Put together they can be put into such sentences as 'buy your tickets for Trolls, there's only six more performances left'.  
But back to the new show - and todays featured guest artist is Simon Nader, who appeared with us at the New Wimbledon Studio in July and many, many previous shows before.  I've only got him for one night as he keeps flying abroad to appear in big budget TV shows that he's not allowed to talk about.  Boring.  Oh, and he also has another iron in the fire which he does talk about - see below.  He joins us for GhoStoryteller on the 30th December 2011.

Simon Nader

Simon Nader is a core member of Milk Bottle having played Teiresias in BLIND SPOTS, Treplev in THE ALTERNATIVE SEAGULL and several solo pieces including KEYNOTE SPEAKER. He trained at London’s Academy Drama School. Previous stage work includes: Billy, BILLY BLISTER’S CIRCUS (Watford Palace Theatre); George, OF MICE AND MEN (National tour); Colin/Policeman, MAGGIE’S END (Shaw Theatre); All the male roles, THE OTHER SIDE (Gilded Balloon Edinburgh); Otto, CURSE OF THE WEREWOLF (Union Theatre); Gary, THE REVENGERS (Barons Court Theatre) and many others. Feature Film work includes forthcoming horror THE DEAD INSIDE as Wayne Andrews; Guildenstern in HAMLET (Fodor’s 2006); Horst in FUR MEINEN VATER and as a voice actor on IRONCLAD. He recently played The Journalist in BBC Radio 4’s THE CHESS GIRLS and Claudio in MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING for Rooftop Theatre in St Albans.

Milk Bottle Productions Presents...
GhoStoryteller

Written and Performed by Robert Crighton - plus Special Guests

Tuesday 27^th December 2011 to Friday 30^th December and Tuesday 3^rd to Sunday 8^th January 2012 (No performances 31^st Dec, 1^st or 2^nd Jan)

Two weeks of real ghost stories collected during our autumn tour.  From the ghosts of empty houses, to the personal ghosts we carry around us, this collection is a mixture of the fantastic and the “real”.  Do you have your own ghost stories?  Let us know and we might add it to the show.  Send to contact@milkbottleproductions.co.uk 

Tickets £12 / £10 concessions

Tuesday to Saturday starts at 7.30pm – doors open 7.15pm.  Sunday at 7pm, doors open 6.45pm.

Box Office: 020 8932 4747

Barons Court Theatre, “The Curtain’s Up”, 28A Comeragh Road W14

Nearest Tube:  Barons Court (Piccadilly/District Lines)

***
And now a word from Simon...

***

Hi there! If you need someone professionally trained and experienced to help you with the presentation of a monologue for an audition; if you are having a crisis of confidence; if you feel that you just need an acting check up: help is at hand!

My students usually contact me because they want help preparing for an audition for drama schools, theatre companies or just to improve their general skills and confidence. Many of my previous students have gone on to train at accredited drama schools including RADA, DSL and BSA amongst many others, or attacked their next audition with a new approach and confidence.

My own acting career has evolved through many years of stage, feature film, television, radio and voice work. As a theatre director, I have worked on many professional productions at venues as diverse as the Southbank Centre and small fringe theatres to foreign tours. I also have many years experience directing and working with young people and consequently hold an advanced CRB certificate.

Rates

I charge very competitive rates with some room for negotiation depending on the number of lessons you would like to have and what you are seeking to accomplish.

Base rate for a one-hour session is £25

A two-hour session is discounted to £40

I can provide a tailored quote according to your needs, please get in touch to discuss.

My new studio is an intimate space on the Old Kent Road near to Elephant & Castle and South Bermondsey which is easily accessible from all parts of London by bus, rail and tube connections.

I look forward to working with you!

Simon Nader

t: 07976 399 825

e: sayhello@simonnader.com

GhoStoryteller: Meet the Cast 6

Todays blog is brought to you in association with the letters B, Y, T.  B. stands for BUY.  Y. stands for YOUR and T. stands for TICKETS.  Put together they can be put into such sentences as 'buy your tickets for Trolls, there's only six more performances left'.  
But back to the new show - and todays featured guest artist is Denys Gaskill, who appeared with us at the New Wimbledon Studio in July.  She joins us for GhoStoryteller on Tuesday 3rd January 2012.

Denys Gaskill

Acting credits include: The Handwitch of the Second Stage (Camden Peoples Theatre), Rashmon and Hello Paris (Edinburgh Fringe Festival),  Antigone, A Christmas Carol, Trap for a Lonely Man (all at the Lion and Unicorn), ‘House of Bernarda Alba’ (Pentameters), ‘Macbeth’ (The Scoop), ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ (Rose Theatre Bankside)

Student films: ‘One Word’’, ‘Paul Thomas’, ‘ Spring Clean’ and ‘Man and Dog’.

Milk Bottle Productions Presents...
GhoStoryteller

Written and Performed by Robert Crighton - plus Special Guests

Tuesday 27^th December 2011 to Friday 30^th December and Tuesday 3^rd to Sunday 8^th January 2012 (No performances 31^st Dec, 1^st or 2^nd Jan)

Two weeks of real ghost stories collected during our autumn tour.  From the ghosts of empty houses, to the personal ghosts we carry around us, this collection is a mixture of the fantastic and the “real”.  Do you have your own ghost stories?  Let us know and we might add it to the show.  Send to contact@milkbottleproductions.co.uk 

Tickets £12 / £10 concessions

Tuesday to Saturday starts at 7.30pm – doors open 7.15pm.  Sunday at 7pm, doors open 6.45pm.

Box Office: 020 8932 4747

Barons Court Theatre, “The Curtain’s Up”, 28A Comeragh Road W14

Nearest Tube:  Barons Court (Piccadilly/District Lines)

GhoStoryteller: Meet the Cast 5

Only 7 more performances for The Natural History of Trolls, but after Christmas we have some Ghost Stories.  But who are my special guests?  Well, today's featured performer is Kate Steel who is performing on Sunday 8th January 2012.

Kate Steel

Kate trained at East 15 Acting School.  Theatre credits include Tzeitel in "Fiddler on the Roof" and Madame Aubert in "Titanic the Musical" at Hull New Theatre. Last year she toured Slovenia with the Alzaytouna dance/theatre company and has recently finished “n Her Time” in which she played a 17^th Century prude and a Scouser bride-to-be who was on the edge of sanity!

Kate was in Los Angeles from January until April this year and was thrilled to be cast as Liz in "Me as a Penguin" by northern playwright Tom Wells – although it was a slightly surreal experience for her to play a lass from her native Hull.... in Hollywood! She also played Emma in Harold Pinter’s "Betrayal". Playing a Renaissance Fair Maiden in a US commercial was also an experience! 

Kate also loves film and her favourite role to date was when she gallivanted across the North Yorkshire Moors as a 17th century governess in "The Legend of Beggar's Bridge". Her first feature film, ‘Peter’ (based on the life of The Yorkshire Ripper) is due to be released early next year. 

As a former primary school teacher, Kate has always loved telling stories and after being cast by Robert in "The Natural History of Trolls" earlier this year, she is looking forward to being part of “GhoStoryteller”.


Milk Bottle Productions Presents...
GhoStoryteller

Written and Performed by Robert Crighton - plus Special Guests

Tuesday 27^th December 2011 to Friday 30^th December and Tuesday 3^rd to Sunday 8^th January 2012 (No performances 31^st Dec, 1^st or 2^nd Jan)

Two weeks of real ghost stories collected during our autumn tour.  From the ghosts of empty houses, to the personal ghosts we carry around us, this collection is a mixture of the fantastic and the “real”.  Do you have your own ghost stories?  Let us know and we might add it to the show.  Send to contact@milkbottleproductions.co.uk 

Tickets £12 / £10 concessions

Tuesday to Saturday starts at 7.30pm – doors open 7.15pm.  Sunday at 7pm, doors open 6.45pm.

Box Office: 020 8932 4747

Barons Court Theatre, “The Curtain’s Up”, 28A Comeragh Road W14

Nearest Tube:  Barons Court (Piccadilly/District Lines)

GhoStoryteller: Meet the Cast 4

Only 8 more performances for The Natural History of Trolls, but after Christmas we have some Ghost Stories.  But who are my special guests?  Well, today's featured performer is Elizabeth Quinn who is performing on Thursday 5th January 2012.

Elizabeth Quinn

Elizabeth’s interest in drama started when she was very young and in 2009 she graduated from East 15 School of Acting during which time she performed in both The Cherry Orchard and Richard III. Since then she has worked in several theatre productions including playing Mrs Whitticker in Chivalry and devising and writing a new and exciting play 300 Friends with Whitespace Theatre Company. Her work with this company has given Elizabeth a real passion for new writing as well as devising and most recently she has worked with Crow Theatre on their newest play Crowd. Her film work includes several short films and the lead role in the independent British film The Dead Inside, due to be released later this year. Elizabeth is also a keen ‘Ripperologist’ and takes Jack the Ripper tours around the East end of London.

Milk Bottle Productions Presents...
GhoStoryteller

Written and Performed by Robert Crighton - plus Special Guests

Tuesday 27^th December 2011 to Friday 30^th December and Tuesday 3^rd to Sunday 8^th January 2012 (No performances 31^st Dec, 1^st or 2^nd Jan)

Two weeks of real ghost stories collected during our autumn tour.  From the ghosts of empty houses, to the personal ghosts we carry around us, this collection is a mixture of the fantastic and the “real”.  Do you have your own ghost stories?  Let us know and we might add it to the show.  Send to contact@milkbottleproductions.co.uk 

Tickets £12 / £10 concessions

Tuesday to Saturday starts at 7.30pm – doors open 7.15pm.  Sunday at 7pm, doors open 6.45pm.

Box Office: 020 8932 4747

Barons Court Theatre, “The Curtain’s Up”, 28A Comeragh Road W14

Nearest Tube:  Barons Court (Piccadilly/District Lines)

GhoStoryteller: Meet the Cast 3

And, of course, usual rules apply - still nine performances of the fabulous The Natural History of Trolls - so no excuses not to come down.


Anyway - who is our featured artist today?  Well, it's one Rich Cline - who I met on OnFM a few weeks ago.  He was discussing films, I was discussing orange penguins, it was a normal day, and I decided to invite him to be in the show whilst on air - he has a fabulous voice and I just couldn't resist.  He is appearing on Thursday 29th December.  For more info go to his film blog. http://www.shadowsonthewall.co.uk

Rich Cline

A journalist by training, Rich Cline has been obsessed with cinema since he was about 8 years old. Born in Los Angeles, Rich moved with his family to Quito, Ecuador, at age 12, graduating from an American high school then returning to Southern California for university. He hearned a bachelor of arts in journalism/communication arts. While a student, he started writing film reviews for a local weekly newspaper, but after graduation he had to get a real, paying job.
Shadows on the Wall was first published in Los Angeles in September 1985 for a readership of 120. Even then the readers were located all across North, South and Central America; the Far and Middle East; Africa; Central Asia; and Western and Eastern Europe.  Rich continued publishing Shadows as a newsletter while living in Miami for six years and after he moved to England in May 1992. The Shadows ezine made its debut in March 1995; this website went online in October 1996.

Milk Bottle Productions Presents...

GhoStoryteller

Written and Performed by Robert Crighton - plus Special Guests

Tuesday 27^th December 2011 to Friday 30^th December and Tuesday 3^rd to Sunday 8^th January 2012 (No performances 31^st Dec, 1^st or 2^nd Jan)

Two weeks of real ghost stories collected during our autumn tour.  From the ghosts of empty houses, to the personal ghosts we carry around us, this collection is a mixture of the fantastic and the “real”.  Do you have your own ghost stories?  Let us know and we might add it to the show.  Send to contact@milkbottleproductions.co.uk 

Tickets £12 / £10 concessions

Tuesday to Saturday starts at 7.30pm – doors open 7.15pm.  Sunday at 7pm, doors open 6.45pm.

Box Office: 020 8932 4747

Barons Court Theatre, “The Curtain’s Up”, 28A Comeragh Road W14

Nearest Tube:  Barons Court (Piccadilly/District Lines)

 

GhoStoryteller: Meet the Cast 2

As I might have mentioned last time - there's still two weeks of The Natural History of Trolls so get your skates on down to Barons Court, it's a lovely show.

But on with the next show - GhoStoryteller and today's featured performer:  Elizabeth Nicholson.  I first met Elizabeth online - no it's not as bad as it sounds.  Elizabeth joined the company for the New Wimbledon Studio version of Trolls by auditioning online, one of many hopefuls who took up this novel audition process and it proved successful as six months later I'm delighted to see her return to Milk Bottle, performing on Saturday 7th January 2012.

Elizabeth Nicholson

After performing in stage productions whilst growing up in Nottingham and then Dorset, Elizabeth graduated from the University of the West of England in Bristol and went on to train full time as an actor in her Postgraduate studies.

 

She has recently filmed a commercial in Romania and been busy filming 3 shorts and a feature film, including the ambitious indie feature ‘Red Heart’ (redheartmovie.tumblr.com), sci-fi short Proximity (vimeo.com/22052733) and the Andy Edwards’ horror ‘Six Ghosts’. Theatre work includes ‘Like a Fishbone’ by Andrew Weigh at the Cockpit Theatre, Robert Crighton’s ‘The Natural History Of Trolls’ and ‘The Sugar Syndrome’ by Lucy Prebble. 

 

Milk Bottle Productions Presents...

GhoStoryteller

Written and Performed by Robert Crighton - plus Special Guests

Tuesday 27^th December 2011 to Friday 30^th December and Tuesday 3^rd to Sunday 8^th January 2012 (No performances 31^st Dec, 1^st or 2^nd Jan)

Two weeks of real ghost stories collected during our autumn tour.  From the ghosts of empty houses, to the personal ghosts we carry around us, this collection is a mixture of the fantastic and the “real”.  Do you have your own ghost stories?  Let us know and we might add it to the show.  Send to contact@milkbottleproductions.co.uk 

Tickets £12 / £10 concessions

Tuesday to Saturday starts at 7.30pm – doors open 7.15pm.  Sunday at 7pm, doors open 6.45pm.

Box Office: 020 8932 4747

Barons Court Theatre, “The Curtain’s Up”, 28A Comeragh Road W14

Nearest Tube:  Barons Court (Piccadilly/District Lines)

 

GhoStoryteller: Meet the Cast 1

Firstly, just to make it clear, there's still two weeks of Trolls, so just because I'm writing about GhoStoryteller doesn't mean you can forget about the show that is ON AT THE MOMENT.  Get down to see it now (if you haven't already).

Anyway, having clarified that, back to business.  Like the New Wimbledon run of The Natural History of Trolls (as seen at the Barons Court Theatre for another two weeks!), GhoStoryteller has a number of guest performers, a different one each night.  Each performer is doing a special short ghost story in the middle of the show.
Todays featured special guest is Richard Ward - a lovely chap who brought such gravity to his part in Trolls that I'm delighted he's agreed to join me again.  We first met on a production of A Woman of No Importance about three years ago - or is it four?  How time flies.  I think he played a hen pecked husband and a bishop... but I could be wrong.  Richard is performing on Wednesday 4th January - so if you'd like to watch his performance, that's the night to catch it.

Richard Ward

Richard Ward trained at Drama Studio London and has appeared in several one act festival plays at the Lost One Act Festival and elsewhere.  Other theatre includes "We The People" (Shakespeare's Globe) and "Twelfth Night" (Saviour Theatre).  Film and tv includes "Midsomer Murders", "Blue Peter" and "Tortoise In Love".  

Richard specialises in audio books and role play and is absolutely delighted to be making his second appearance with Milk Bottle Productions.  

Spotlight  9376-9059-3054.

 

Milk Bottle Productions Presents...

GhoStoryteller

Written and Performed by Robert Crighton - plus Special Guests

Tuesday 27^th December 2011 to Friday 30^th December and Tuesday 3^rd to Sunday 8^th January 2012 (No performances 31^st Dec, 1^st or 2^nd Jan)

Two weeks of real ghost stories collected during our autumn tour.  From the ghosts of empty houses, to the personal ghosts we carry around us, this collection is a mixture of the fantastic and the “real”.  Do you have your own ghost stories?  Let us know and we might add it to the show.  Send to contact@milkbottleproductions.co.uk 

Tickets £12 / £10 concessions

Tuesday to Saturday starts at 7.30pm – doors open 7.15pm.  Sunday at 7pm, doors open 6.45pm.

Box Office: 020 8932 4747

Barons Court Theatre, “The Curtain’s Up”, 28A Comeragh Road W14

Nearest Tube:  Barons Court (Piccadilly/District Lines)

 

GhoStoryteller Preview

First thing, just want to get this off my chest.  I can write witty blogs, I can write exciting blogs, I can write controversial blogs - hit rate remains the same for each.  But if I write a blog about a DOG then the hits go through the roof.  Here is a picture of the dog, her name is Tinkerbell.  I am now going to change the name of Milk Bottle Productions to Tinkerbell's Magnificent Ensemble Company of Performing Humans.  Here is a picture of the artistic director of the company. 

The New Artistic Director

Do not feed her after midnight.


Anyway, this post concerns the GhoStoryteller show which starts after Christmas - there are still two and a bit weeks of The Natural History of Trolls, panic ye not - and which I am rehearsing now.  It's a much looser show than Trolls, more relaxed.  It's a few ghost stories tied together with a few thoughts of my own on the nature of ghosts.  It's gone down well in the three tryouts and I've been tweaking the script for the last month.  But now comes the proper rehearsal, which means on top of the four / five hour commute, the three hours at the venue performing, I'm adding another two hours plus of rehearsal a day.  This is fine, at present, as I can learn my lines on the train - in-between reading Great Expectations (which has been rather enjoyable).  I expect by next week this routine will start to pall, but thems the breaks.  Then I get a couple days off for Christmas and straight into the new show.
And it will be a slightly different show each night.  I've got a number of one-off guest performers joining me across the two weeks, and I'll be posting the details of these fine performers on my blog over the next week or so. 
Well, all that remains is to do my preview of the GhoStoryteller show which follows after this announcement from a friend of mine....

***

Hi there! If you need someone professionally trained and experienced to help you with the presentation of a monologue for an audition; if you are having a crisis of confidence; if you feel that you just need an acting check up: help is at hand!

My students usually contact me because they want help preparing for an audition for drama schools, theatre companies or just to improve their general skills and confidence. Many of my previous students have gone on to train at accredited drama schools including RADA, DSL and BSA amongst many others, or attacked their next audition with a new approach and confidence.

My own acting career has evolved through many years of stage, feature film, television, radio and voice work. As a theatre director, I have worked on many professional productions at venues as diverse as the Southbank Centre and small fringe theatres to foreign tours. I also have many years experience directing and working with young people and consequently hold an advanced CRB certificate.

Rates

I charge very competitive rates with some room for negotiation depending on the number of lessons you would like to have and what you are seeking to accomplish.

Base rate for a one-hour session is £25

A two-hour session is discounted to £40

I can provide a tailored quote according to your needs, please get in touch to discuss.

My new studio is an intimate space on the Old Kent Road near to Elephant & Castle and South Bermondsey which is easily accessible from all parts of London by bus, rail and tube connections.

I look forward to working with you!

Simon Nader

t: 07976 399 825

e: sayhello@simonnader.com

***

And now the promised GhoStoryteller Preview:

WOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Hope that wasn't too scary for you.

 

The Egg Sucking Guide for Grandmothers

I wrote the following for the New Wimbledon cast which was a while ago now.  I didn't meet many of them properly until the day of performance so wrote an idiots guide to performing their section.  I thought I'd share it with you today.  Imagine you've got a three minute monologue to perform and read on...

The Egg Sucking Guide for Grandmothers

Or Storyteller: An Idiots Guide

Obviously we will rehearse, so there will be a lot of me telling you precisely what to do.  However, if you have time to do more than simply learn your lines then here is some general advice, suggestions and best ways to prep...

1.  Storytelling isn’t stand up.

You’re alone on stage, you’ve nothing to hold - the temptation to wander around, pace back and forth and punctuate every sentence with your hands is enormous.  Don’t.  Start with no movement, standing still, doing naught.  Then add elements if and only if you have a really good reason to do so.  What will hold the audiences interest is your connection with them, the story itself and the fact that you’re the next person of a chain.  And you’ll be gone in three minutes.

2.  Boredom.

Rehearsing storytelling / monologues is the most tedious task known to mankind.  It is horribly dull.  Prep for a show is primarily about repetition to the point where your brain is melting – because you’re alone up there and need to know the text like it’s your own skin.  It is primarily dull because rehearsing a story misses the most important ingredient – the audience.  A monologue is a conversation and until you get in front of the audience you will have no one talking back. 

3.  Be prepared for change.

Prepare, play around, come up with a full physical and vocal score... go on surprise me.  But also be prepared for me to say NO straightaway and tell you to do it differently.  Don’t get attached to your performance – it’ll only end in tears.

4.  If in doubt, do less.

See 1.  Fairly safe rule.  It’s a studio theatre.

5.  Arms are for nothing.

See 1.  Let em hang there.  Unless you want to do some serious pointing.

6.  Only Connect.

Don’t shoot ‘till you see the whites of their eyes.  Yes, the audience will be (dimly) lit throughout the show.  You will be there for most of it as well, as both performers and audience members.  You give your attention to the person performing, watch them, laugh and smile.  When it’s your turn, you take that out to the audience.  Look them in the eye.  Pick people for different lines.  Make them watch you.

7. Pass the baton.

We’re all interconnected.  We pass the story to each other, so it’s vital to keep that flow going, not leaving gaps, passing on the baton – unless your story goes off on a tangent.  You can’t prep this – it’ll come out in rehearsal.

8. Your performance is you.

You are not pretending to be a different person, you’re simply giving a more performed version of yourself.  Don’t change your accent, character, just tell your bit of the story.  Use appropriate voices for speech – but there isn’t much of that, so that’s not a major worry.

9. There may be typos... but they might be the words I chose...

Sometimes I get it wrong – it’s the wrong word entirely.  And sometimes I’m just awkward.  (Or aukward, for those who like a pun that only works off the page.)  If in doubt, ask.

10.  And.  A story tends to be made up of a lot of ands.  Try not to add more.  And remember that and ends in a d.  If you let a lazy tongue drop it then the audience will notice. 

11.  Learn fast. 

I don’t mean learn the lines in a brief period of time.  I mean learn it like it’s going at a rate.  Fast.  Few gaps.  It is easier to slow a text down in performance than to speed it up.  Usually.

12. Enjoy.

I hate writing things like this, but best not to let people go unguided.  Most important thing to remember about all of the above – I believe and follow all of the above guidelines... except when I don’t.  The only absolute that matters is to enjoy yourself.  If you enjoy performing your story then the audience will enjoy watching and listening to it.  ‘nough said.

The Milk Bottle November Newsletter

Milk Bottle Productions Presents... 
STORYTELLER 
The Natural History of Trolls 
Written and Performed by Robert Crighton, plus Special Guests

“Whatever you do, don’t think about orange penguins!”

Multi-Awarding Winning Storyteller Robert Crighton is returning to his roots with a new collection of stories for 2011.  Featuring his trademark wit and dark humour, Storyteller will draw you into unusual worlds and introduce you to people you’d not normally meet.

This first show is the world premiere of the ‘The Natural History of Trolls’, three stories covering a hundred and fifty years of history, two Queens and their subjects in the fairy kingdom.  Midst this epic timeline is the story of an ordinary commute gone wrong, when a troll-like tramp in an Underground carriage turns out to REALLY be a Troll.

Funny, thoughtful and with occasional attempts at wisdom, let Robert Crighton lead you through a world like ours – just a little off centre.

LONDON RUN - The Barons Court Theatre 

Tuesday 29^th November to Friday 23^rd December 2011 - Tickets £12 / £10 Concession

Tuesday to Saturday starts at 7.30pm – doors open 7.15pm.  Sunday at 7pm, doors open 6.45pm.

Box Office: 020 8932 4747

Barons Court Theatre, “The Curtain’s Up”, 28A Comeragh Road W14

Nearest Tube:  Barons Court (Piccadilly/District Lines)


SUFFOLK TRYOUT - The Quay Theatre
Sunday 20th November at 7.30pm - Tickets £7, Friends of the Quay Concession £6
Box Office: 01787 374 745
The Quay Theatre, Quay Lane, Sudbury, Suffolk.

Praise for Robert Crighton in previous Milk Bottle Productions...

THE COMPLETE SHERLOCK HOLMES - 2010 / 2011

★★★★  London Theatre Network: “Crighton is an accomplished story teller... Immersive, enjoyable and cosy, you will leave the room with a satisfied smile on your face, as if you’ve just visited some old friends.”

The Stage: “... a seasonal treat.”

★★★★  Remotegoat: “Robert Crighton gives you a unique evening of storytelling... It is easy to see why Robert Crighton has won awards for his performance.”

TEACHING GODS & OTHER STORIES... - 2009

Fringe Report: “Verdict: Funny, fast-paced, with depth... There are a lot of good reasons to see the show. It's funny, fast-paced... surreal fantasy, with an edge of revenge... Robert Crighton performs with great energy and no little charm... well viewed after a drink, before a bigger one and some cheese, in celebration perhaps of strange dreams and the campus cat.”

Milk Bottle Productions Presents...

Robert Crighton:

GHOSTORYTELLER

Written and Performed by Robert Crighton

Two weeks of real ghost stories collected during our autumn tour.  From the ghosts of empty houses, to the personal ghosts we carry around us, this collection is a mixture of the fantastic and the “real”.  Do you have your own ghost stories?  Let us know and we might add it to the show.  Send to contact@milkbottleproductions.co.uk 

BE WARNED:  The first two tryouts sold out completely - book now to avoid disappointment!

Tuesday 27^th December 2011 to Friday 30^th December and Tuesday 3^rd to Sunday 8^th January 2012 (No performances 31^st Dec, 1^st or 2^nd Jan)
Tickets £12 / £10 Concession

Box Office: 020 8932 4747

Barons Court Theatre, “The Curtain’s Up”, 28A Comeragh Road W14

Nearest Tube:  Barons Court (Piccadilly/District Lines)

Radio Times

I've done a few bits on local radio in the past.  I've a natural face for radio, of course, and I like talking, which is apparently what people like to here on air.  So, yesterday was an adventure into the world of London community radio - the lovely Anjul and Jenny at OnFM invited me along for a natter about the show, along with their other guests.  And natter we did, for a good hour or so, about all sorts of topics beyond the obvious plugging of show.  In fact, I even gained an additional cast member - my fellow guest was a film critic with a very rich voice perfect for storytelling and who has, subject to dates, agreed to join the GhoStoryteller show for one night in December.  More on that soon.
I did intend to take a few pictures whilst there, but I completely forgot, so I didn't.  Which is a bit sad.
The day before the radio show I was in Sudbury doing my penguin act again.  I did arrange my good friend Marian to film a bit of that - to be seen below.  Though I present it here as a mockumentary.

 
This week the publicity machine gears up a notch, as do rehearsals.  It's a big weekend coming up and a lot of footwork to get everything together.  A tryout for GhoStoryteller on Friday, all day rehearsals with the cast on Saturday and Sunday, leading up to the performance of The Natural History of Trolls at the Quay Theatre.  Busy, busy...

Endgame

We're into the last two weeks of rehearsals now - that is prior to the last tryouts.  That means everyday a full run of both The Natural History of Trolls and GhoStoryteller, plus other activity, like publicity work and eating.  Today, after the two runs, I explored one short speech, which I'm a little worried about.  It's mostly fine but there is a noise I have to make during it which is troublesome.  It's a complicated noise to make, technically, and I got really good at it for the Summer.  Unfortunately, at the New Wimbledon Studio, after the first night the sound would not come.  The cast all said to me on the second night: "what happened?"  I fear that it's a sound that only works when my voice isn't grounded.  After a few weeks rehearsal and performance the voice tends to drop a tad, to be properly warmed up for the duration - this is why over time old actors and vicars sound very fruity.  This year I have been performing far less than usual and so was able to find this sound - now that I'm back up to speed, it might not come out to play.  But I am working on it - I won't give up - because it sounds positively weird if I get it right.

Troll with Georgina Blackledge

This last week was spent with my lovely cast for Trolls, who've been fabulous in comparison with my own confused burblings.  During the rehearsals I took a few pictures - just compare the glamour between the others and myself.  I look a wreak because I spend most of the rehearsal time scratching my head, pulling my thinning hair and pulling at my face, in between taking my glasses on and off.  I also find that I don't sleep the night before a rehearsal, a kind of Christmas time excitement, and fear that I'll oversleep and turn up late to rehearsal.
I actually enjoy rehearsing with other people, but I can be a little indecisive at the first few rehearsals.  I'll make a whole list of ideas and then slowly dismiss them as we go along, till I have some idea where we're going.  And then I'll talk a lot about stuff that is almost to do with the piece, but not quite.  Like unfortunate subtexts.

Sophie Morris-Sheppard with Troll

Actors love subtext.  They love it so much that sometimes they forget the sub part of it.  They love to identify the subtext and then play it, over and above the text.  Directors sometimes do this as well - Jonathan Miller springs immediately to mind.  The thing about storytelling is that, though the piece will have a subtext (and boy have I found one or two interesting ones in Trolls) the performer usually doesn't - because they aren't a character, they aren't feeding off the traditional inner life.  Some actors can't cope with this very well and insist on hunting shadows that are not there - luckily my lovely cast do not do such things.
I, however, keep stopping rehearsals to point out a resonance in a line I hadn't noticed before.  It doesn't help because it's a resonance I want suppressed, but it does make me chuckle and I can't resist pointing out something amusing.  Along with any mistake in the text that I've only just noticed.
So, roughly speaking, I'm a rambling, shambling mess at present - but I don't think I'd do it any other way.  The work seems to be good, even if I'm not looking or sounding my best.  I get to spend many hours with lovely, professional people and so too, hopefully, will you - when you come and see the show, again and again and again...
In two weeks time the last tryouts will be over, it'll be eyes down for London.  We'll know once and for all what needs to change, what needs to remain the same.  Then the fun really begins.

Troll at Work

Milk Bottle Productions Presents...

STORYTELLER

The Natural History of Trolls

Written and Performed by Robert Crighton, plus Special Guests

SUFFOLK TRYOUT -

Sunday 20^th November at 7.30pm

Tickets £7 / £6 Friends of the Quay

The Quay Theatre, Quay Lane, Sudbury

Box Office: 01787 374 745

LONDON RUN - 
Tuesday 29^th November to Friday 23^rd December 2011

Tickets £12 / £10 concessions

Tuesday to Saturday starts at 7.30pm – doors open 7.15pm.  Sunday at 7pm, doors open 6.45pm.

Box Office: 020 8932 4747

Barons Court Theatre, “The Curtain’s Up”, 28A Comeragh Road W14

Nearest Tube:  Barons Court (Piccadilly/District Lines)

Halloween in Glemsford

Halloween - a gig in the Angel Pub, Glemsford.  It's the second outing for what will become GhoStoryteller for two weeks in London.  As it's still a work in progress I read from a script, but I did add a lot of local bits for that night only and needed to not confuse my brain when learning the final draft.
I rose late on Halloween and spent the day wandering around collecting my thoughts and my material.  I dressed carefully - not too Halloweeny, just in a black waistcoat and tails, a bit butlerish.  I arrived at the pub quite early to help judge the space.  I had been once before, but who'd want to get it wrong.
The Angel isn't a large pub and it is fairly oddly shaped - there are two rooms diagonally placed from one another, linked by the bar.  You can see both rooms so long as you stand in the linking archway along the bar.  This is where I performed, popping between the two halves.
Normally this would be a problem, but I opted for a microphone to hold both rooms together without physically being there at all times.  With another show I wouldn't have bothered, (never knowingly undersold) but ghost stories need soft speech which amplification makes happen rather well.
Unfortunately, though the PA at the Angel was good, the shape of the space meant it was difficult to avoid feedback.  I had a couple moments of howl around and it did limit my movement slightly, but otherwise was fine.
The major drawback with arriving early was there wasn't much to do.  Normally I would find sitting in a pub quite easy - but as I couldn't drink any alcohol before the show time flowed slightly slowly.  There were a number of trick or treaters who came in.  Some were little boys and girls dressed to the nines and accompanied by a responsible adult, but others were obnoxious teenagers who (completely uncostumed) burst in and tried to nick a handful of sweets.  They went away with a verbal thick ear.
The audience now arrived en masse and the place was soon very busy.  After a short argument with the microphone I began.  Now, I had been warned before I started that the locals might be a bit loud, that there might be hecklers.  Not a bit of it, they were all lovely and quiet.  There was one moment when a loud knock on the front door (possibly a projectile pumpkin thrown by the disappointed teenagers, jury is out on that one) coincided with a particularly tense moment of the first story.  My word, the room didn't half jump.
After the show I was, at last, in a position to have a drink or four, and swapped a few ghost stories with the locals.  It was a lovely evening and I must thank everyone at the Angel, and my good friend Fiona, for inviting me along.
Today has been the aftermath.  Using the response to edit the text down a bit more, make notes on what worked and what didn't.  As a result the show is now 500 words shorter and hopefully 500 words better.
Robx

Milk Bottle Productions Presents...

Robert Crighton:

STORYTELLER

Written and Performed by Robert Crighton

GhoStoryteller

Tuesday 27^th December 2011 to Friday 30^th December and Tuesday 3^rd to Sunday 8^th January 2012 (No performances 31^st Dec, 1^st or 2^nd Jan)

Two weeks of real ghost stories collected during our autumn tour.  From the ghosts of empty houses, to the personal ghosts we carry around us, this collection is a mixture of the fantastic and the “real”.  Do you have your own ghost stories?  Let us know and we might add it to the show.  Send to contact@milkbottleproductions.co.uk 

Tickets £12 / £10 concessions

Tuesday to Saturday starts at 7.30pm – doors open 7.15pm.  Sunday at 7pm, doors open 6.45pm.

Box Office: 020 8932 4747

Barons Court Theatre, “The Curtain’s Up”, 28A Comeragh Road W14

Nearest Tube:  Barons Court (Piccadilly/District Lines)