Four Days...

Only four days to go before I launch The BIG Project - and I'm buried in photos.  Tuesday was a good day for that - I had some friends help me out, so I wasn't just sitting alone painting myself up to look like a zebra.  I did a reasonable job of it - I know now how it should be done, so next time I'll be able to do a cracking zebra face.  It was a brown striped zebra, which initially felt a bit wrong as it meant I looked like I was blacking up.  Luckily the zebra-ness of the face came through and awkwardness was averted.
If anything the zebra face was a little too intense - you can see why tribes have used animal imagery for warpaint and the like.  He's quite a mild zebra really.
But, Hang it all, I can't tell you any more of that.  It'll all come out on Sunday 8th September at 1pm in the bar of the Quay Theatre, Sudbury or Live Streamed Online - at the Robert Crighton: Storyteller ustream channel.  Full Launch Info here.

So, as I can't show you the final shots themselves, here's a couple from the pre-shoot.

The Entire Spacefleet

"James Edward Whitaker.  Born Twelfth September Eighteen Ninety Three..."

David Jacobs has just died and so goes the voice of a thousand characters.  Though latterly known as a presenter, Jacobs did a fair amount of acting and so voiced some of my favourite characters in the classic radio series Journey Into Space.  I discovered these plays when I was ten and about to move house.  Much of the furniture had gone, the television we had left was very small and so we listened in radio plays on tape.  For years we'd had Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit and other BBC classics, and then we bought The Red Planet - the second and best Journey Into Space serial.
The primary cast was just four actors.  They did most the talking.  Mostly to each other.  When you're in a spaceship this works well.  But the story starts on a moon base where the lead explains the plot - sorry, is interviewed - by a group of reporters from different parts of the globe (this being an international space mission to Mars).

The pack of reporters, with differing accents, were all David Jacobs.

Then the space fleet takes off for Mars.  There's the flagship Discovery (housing the four leads) and then eight freighters.  Periodically the flagship calls up the rest of the fleet and they count off down the line.
"Number 1."  "Number 2."  "Number 3".  Etc.

The entire space fleet were all David Jacobs.

He made them work by putting the odd tonal shift and different accent (Number Eight was, I think, Scottish) into the mix.
Then Freighter Number Two calls up.  There are engine troubles and the crew, Frank Rogers and James Whitaker, need assistance.

Frank Rogers and James Whitaker are both David Jacobs.

Frank, energised and young (occasionally hysterical) and Whitaker, flat and monotone.  I loved Whitaker.  He's the best character that Charles Chilton (the writer of the series) came up with.  He's a dangerous, efficient, monotone zombie.  He was the reason I fell in love with the serial, which I listen to more frequently than is probably healthy.  And that is in no small part to David Jacobs, who brought the character (ironically, considering how flat he was) to life.
Greatly missed, but the recordings live on.

Make Up Time

The thing about launching any new thing, especially a BIG thing, is the moment you set a date for it time moves both incredibly quickly and incredibly slowly.  I want to launch The BIG Project now.  I've got all this stuff I want to tell people - and I can't.  And then I realise that the stuff I've got to share is not fully laid out yet; the blurb is nearly there, the graphics are nearly there, the website stuff is nearly there - BUGGER it's all got to be done for next Sunday!
Hence the weird time moving too quickly and slowly at the same time.
I've spent the last couple of days filming videos and doing photo shoots - there are still many more to do.  The first shoot went okay - barring a tussle over room booking - and next week it's zebra time.  Yup, time to make myself up as a zebra.  It's that kind of week.  I did look for a zebra costume, and looked online for one.  I found children's costumes (which would be too small) and sexy lady zebra costumes (which might be useful for alternate Thursdays).  I got seriously weirded out by the idea of a sexy zebra; I mean who came up with the idea that dressing AS A ZEBRA is sexy?  Has anyone, ever, EVER, looked at a zebra and gone... hmmnn, yes, I could do with a bit of that?
Actually, don't answer that question.

Anyway, there is a good reason why I will be photographing myself as a zebra.  But I can't tell you yet.  In the same way I can post this picture...

Maybe related to The BIG Project.  Maybe not.

... and not tell you whether it has anything to do with the BIG Project at all.  All will be revealed in a week - the longest/shortest week EVER.

THE BIG PROJECT LAUNCH PARTY
Sunday 8th September at 1pm
From the bar of the Quay Theatre, Sudbury
Live Streamed Online - at the Robert Crighton: Storyteller ustream channel

Casting for The BIG Project

This blog post was first put out before 'The BIG Project' was revealed on 8th September 2013.  I haven't updated it much, deliberately leaving it fixed in the past.  However, full details of what was revealed at the launch can be found here and the casting process below is still in place.  Do get in touch - either by email contact@milkbottleproductions.co.uk or Twitter me @RobertCrighton



Actors / Artists / Collaborators Wanted:

PROJECT 10/52

Milk Bottle Productions 2014

Next year will be a big year for Milk Bottle with lots of shows wanting actors, as well as more vaguely defined people, to collaborate with, to help make new and exciting shows... The work is sporadic, so, though fee paying, is not going to get anyone rich, but that means it should fit round other work commitments.

There’s no rush – I’m looking to cast as I go along and there are still many months to go before the first show will even start rehearsal.  I can’t even tell you about the shows themselves until the official launch on Sunday 8^th September – so, as I say, no rush.  [Actually, I can, follow this link!]

So, here’s how getting involved in what is currently known as The BIG Project.

Stage 1. Interest.  Now onwards...

Send me a general expression of interest and a CV.  I’m not interested in a photo, your physical appearance is of divine disinterest to me.  If I already know you and your work then just express an interest, we’ll go from there.  Just email me at contact@milkbottleproductions.co.uk

Stage 2.  Saying: ‘Hello!’  September onwards...

I need people I can work with – who I click with artistically.  So, rather than start with auditions, I’ll start with a meeting and coffee.  I want people who will respond and create, as well as performers who can do what I ask them to do.

Stage 3.  Auditions – Online and live.  November onwards...

By this stage there will be scripts and words and images and stuff which we can throw around.  Ideally I’d like to see online submissions on video before going to live auditions – though if you can’t make any of the live audition dates I will take your online audition as gospel.  I have cast people this way before.

Obviously, until I announce what I’m doing on Sunday 8th September at 1pm GMT (live andonline), you won’t know if this is something you want to be involved in.  But you can always say ‘Hello’ anyway.  It’s nice saying ‘Hello’.

Regards,

Robert Crighton

Launch of the Next Big Thing

THE BIG PROJECT LAUNCH PARTY
Sunday 8th September at 1pm
From the bar of the Quay Theatre, Sudbury
Live Streamed Online - at the Robert Crighton: Storyteller ustream channel

In ten days time Robert is launching a major, major, MAJOR project.  It's currently known on Twitter as the BIG thing, but it's bigger than that - it's a project, a BIG project.  That's a little vague, but everything will be revealed on Sunday 8th September at 1pm (GMT), live online as well as physically in the bar of the Quay Theatre.

Robert is going to live stream the announcement, and at the same time will be releasing a full blog and links to all the MANY strands to the project online.  So, even if you can't make the physical launch, through the wonders of modern technology you can still be part of the action.  This is a project without boundaries - wherever you are in the world, you can help, you can be involved.  Did we mention it was BIG?

WHAT WILL BE ANNOUNCED
Details of content
Details of events
Details for casting - for those actors out there, there's some work going! UPDATE HERE!
Details for generally getting involved, non-professionally
Links to new content
New artwork, new plays, new projects...
JUST LOTS OF STUFF - not quite enough to block out the sun, but Robert's working on it.

In other Milk Bottle news...

TEACHING GODS - AUDIO DOWNLOAD NOW AVAILABLE
At last, Teaching Gods & Bink! are available as downloads!  Just click the link below to get your hands on an award-winning piece of storytelling.  http://cdbaby.com/cd/robertcrighton1


Milk Bottle Audio Presents...
Teaching Gods & Bink 
by Robert Crighton

Bink!
Performed by Cat LaCohie
Molly was left alone a lot. Her parents were always out. So she started talking to herself, to the furniture, to the house. And then the house answered back. A children’s story... just not for children.

Teaching Gods
Performed by Robert Crighton
Winner of the ‘Best Writing’ Award at the Lost Theatre One-Act Festival 2007
The Gods have invaded the University. All thoughts of normal academic life disappear as the campus dissolves into chaos. 
The flowers walk and the squirrels clean kitchens. Will the agents of chaos win against the hard nosed grey suited form of the Vice Chancellor? What do you think?

THE SUMMONING COMES TO LONDON - ONE OFF PERFORMANCE - PAY-WHAT-YOU-WANT!

Milk Bottle Productions Presents...

The Summoning of Everyman

An Immersive Theatre Production

Adapted and performed by Robert Crighton

The Summoning of Everyman is a powerful morality tale, written by an unknown author in the late medieval period, telling of the struggles for one man, for every man, to let go of his life.  This interactive performance brings this struggle directly to the audience, asking them to become part of the story, asking them to stand in the footsteps of Fellowship, Good Deeds and even Death himself.  It’s a question that each generation has to answer: can you really take anything with you after death?  Moving, beautiful and thought provoking – ultimately the Summoning comes to Everyone.

This is an immersive performance, everyone will be asked to help create the show in various simple ways.  Don’t worry this isn’t Pantomime, there are no songs or catchphrases.  The audience is moved around the space by Robert as characters in the story – the performance is personally addressed to you.  No acting skills required, just to stand, sit and be yourself, guided by Robert through the story.

Tickets are Pay-What-You-Want, so you choose at the end of the show how much you want to give for the show at the end.  For general booking inquiries us at contact@milkbottleproductions.co.uk – or call 07704 704 469.

Performing Saturday 26^th October at 7.00pm

Doors open 6.30pm, show starts 7.00pm – NO ADMITTANCE FOR LATECOMERS

The London Theatre - New Cross, The Lower Space, 443 New Cross Road, London, SE14 6TA

Tickets Available from wegottickets.com - http://www.wegottickets.com/event/236696

WHAT THE AUDIENCE SAID: Guildhall Lavenham, Easter 2013

“We were so impressed... Robert Crighton is a one man tour de force he has you gripped from start to finish.”  DC Starpop

“A rewarding experience both as an audience member and a participant!  A fascinating interpretation of this medieval morality tale and I recommend it highly... a compelling one man show.”  Nick Elliott

“Touching and inspirational.”  Phil Hope

“With absolute ease he made the text accessible to a contemporary audience...” David Owen-Bell

“I would certainly recommend Robert and this 5 star performance to Everyman and Woman!!   A truly sensational performance by Robert!”  Dan

“... a compelling and engaging piece of storytelling...”  Annie Eddington

"A veritable tour de force..."  Rev. Stephen Earl

“Great acting, and what a memory!”  Arthur

At Last, Downloads Available!

At last, Teaching Gods & Bink! are available as downloads!  Just click the link below to get your hands on an award-winning piece of storytelling.  http://cdbaby.com/cd/robertcrighton1

What's all the fuss about?  Have a listen to our trailer below...

Milk Bottle Audio Presents...
Teaching Gods & Bink 
by Robert Crighton

Bink!
Performed by Cat LaCohie
Molly was left alone a lot. Her parents were always out. So she started talking to herself, to the furniture, to the house. And then the house answered back. A children’s story... just not for children.

Teaching Gods
Performed by Robert Crighton
Winner of the ‘Best Writing’ Award at the Lost Theatre One-Act Festival 2007
The Gods have invaded the University. All thoughts of normal academic life disappear as the campus dissolves into chaos. 
The flowers walk and the squirrels clean kitchens. Will the agents of chaos win against the hard nosed grey suited form of the Vice Chancellor? What do you think?

listen to ‘Teaching Gods & Bink! Trailer’ on Audioboo

Review of 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.” 

The Writing Before the Big Thing

There's a Big Thing coming.  A big thing that involves lots of small things, working in concert.  When the Big Thing comes then there will be no time for other things.  So I've got a few weeks left to finish the play I've been toying with this year - still without a proper title.  It's working title is still Portrait of a Singer which is dull and really doesn't get to the heart of the show.  I posted earlier in the year that I'd organise a read through for it, to force me to finish it in time for a competition.  But I was ill and no read through or finish of writing happened.  So, with time again against me, I'm determined to finish the play.  It's currently 14,534 words long (which is almost the minimum for a play to be no longer a one act and a full length beast) and I'm still transferring notes into the text - I'm in the middle of doing Act One, Scene Four, so there's still another six, seven scenes to do.  By the time I've done that lot, the play should be to length and ready to enter the first draft / read through stage.  So, I'll be advertising for readers very soon.  Probably a little before the Big Thing starts.
The difficulty I'm facing with the first act is the temptation to do really horrible things.  The reason the temptation exists is that, unusually, there are no consequences to actions from the first half in the second.  I could kill half the cast and it wouldn't matter.  So, my usual dictum, 'make things worse' is in danger of becoming an all consuming monster.  How to balance the needs of the moment, the excitement of dramatic action, with the integrity of the play overall.  Let's hope I sort it out before the Big Thing gets in the way.
But more on the Big Thing later.