In Between Everyman

It's a day off from the tour.  No show tonight, just lots of admin to do.  I'm currently editing lots of audio and video material for the tour, and trying to do some writing as well - though that's not really happening.
There are only nine more chances to see the show over the next few weeks - remember that Sunday in Leavenheath starts at 6pm!
So, here's a short video of a few moments from the last few shows - including the moment where the heating cut out in Cavendish...

The Summoning of Everyman Tour - April 2015
All shows will be Pay-What-You-Want and tickets can be reserved by phone or online.
Telephone: 07946 652 196
Email: contact@milkbottleproductions.co.uk
For emails or any phone messages please state your name, contact number, number of tickets and, most importantly, which date/venue you're booking for.

Leavenheath Village Hall                            -              Sunday 5th April at 6pm

Hundon Village Hall                                   -              Monday 6th April at 7.30pm

Creeting St Mary Jubilee Hall                     -              Tuesday 7th April at 7.30pm

Assington Village Hall                                -              Thursday 9th April at 7.30pm

Brettenham Village Hall                             -              Tuesday 14th April at 7.30pm

Steeple Bumpstead Village Hall                 -              Wednesday 15th April at 7.30pm

St Mary’s Church, Chilton                         -              Sunday 19th April at 3pm

Boxted & Hartest Institute                         -              Monday 20th April at 7.30pm

Stisted Village Hall                                    -              Wednesday 22nd April at 7.30pm

Hitching to Hitcham

After the first show in Offton I decided to only put out one row to start with -
so that it's full. I add more as the audience arrive.

Well, I didn't actually hitchhike to Hitcham, that would just be silly - it's just a nice post title.  Brief update, as I recorded a lot of footage last night which is taking an age to upload so no video yet.
Lovely venue Hitcham - by God is the heating good - and once I realised the odd banging noise was a couple of boys playing football round the back (I asked nicely if they could play further off and they were most pleasant about it - well brought up the youth of Hitcham) all was set up nice and easy.  Not many people from Hitcham in the audience itself though. Perhaps they were all watching the election debate - which I caught the tail end of on Twitter.  I think everyone lost, except the heckler, who will be forming a minority government.

No Bad Deeds for a while till I archive the shirt, so just a selection of Good Deeds for you...

Cleared a neighbour's wind-blown refuse from her front garden.
Comply with ---- processes ?? (unclear handwriting)
Nursed my son today
Taught my friends pupils for her when she was ill
Sorted my sisters phone out
Organised kids events
Looking after friends dog at her house.
Drink too little.
Fixed a ladies window blinds after they had fallen down
Taking flowers to a neighbour who had had bad news
Empowering others
Showing patience when taking my 96 year old father shopping

The Summoning of Everyman Tours March / April 2015
All shows will be Pay-What-You-Want and tickets can be reserved by phone or online.
Telephone: 07946 652 196
Email: contact@milkbottleproductions.co.uk
For emails or any phone messages please state your name, contact number, number of tickets and, most importantly, which date/venue you're booking for.

Maurice Rowson Hall, Gosfield                  -              Friday 3rd April at 7.30pm

Leavenheath Village Hall                            -              Sunday 5th April at 6pm

Hundon Village Hall                                   -              Monday 6th April at 7.30pm

Creeting St Mary Jubilee Hall                     -              Tuesday 7th April at 7.30pm

Assington Village Hall                                -              Thursday 9th April at 7.30pm

Brettenham Village Hall                             -              Tuesday 14th April at 7.30pm

Steeple Bumpstead Village Hall                 -              Wednesday 15th April at 7.30pm

St Mary’s Church, Chilton                         -              Sunday 19th April at 3pm

Boxted & Hartest Institute                         -              Monday 20th April at 7.30pm

Stisted Village Hall                                    -              Wednesday 22nd April at 7.30pm

All details correct at time of press – updates, corrections and directions to shows can be found online – or contact us direct.

Cavendish Calling

I really had fun this evening.  It was one of those performances that clicked.  It could have easily not done - as a few things conspired against me.  Or rather these things did.

Wall mounted heaters...

The heating.  It was a surprisingly cold day and the Cavendish Memorial Hall is many things (nice design, good atmosphere) but thermally efficient it isn't.  But I knew this and so left in good time to get the heating on early.

Cavendish Memorial Hall - all cleared away...

When I had a look round the space I was shown all the secrets - one of which is that the heating is powered by coin metres.  So, I'd sad to myself the other day - make sure you've got plenty of pound coins.  Which I did.  I loaded up my wallet with them earlier in the day.

What I forgot to do was then put my wallet in my pocket.  It was only when I was half way to Cavendish that I realised why my jacket felt a bit light.  Quick u-turn and much swearing later I was able to pick the key up only a little bit later than planned.

Then I realised that I didn't know precisely how long a pound in the metre would last.  An hour - more - less?  This was a problem, because if I got it wrong it could conk out in the middle of the show and freeze everyone to death.

Which it nearly.  Luckily, it conked out just as I was starting.  30 seconds later and the evening could have been ruined.  As it was I could rush up to feed a few more coins in.

And then the show - which felt really strong.  I felt on form.  But, of course, I could be delusional - here's what the audience said.

Audience comments: 

"Great one man show!"

"Thought provoking - thank you."

"Totally memorable! Thank you."

Beautiful Boxford

From outside...

I have to say I was a little worried about Boxford - I hadn't had much of a chance to do much extra publicity there and the postering had been a bit patchy.  So, the small but select audience was a relief - there is always a possibility that if I don't have enough people I can't actually perform the show.

And inside...

It's also a venue I booked sight unseen - so it's always nice to go into somewhere and find that it is not just fit for purpose, but warm and welcoming.  It is a space for events and drama, not for sport, and I have yet to play a space with a really high ceiling and a badminton acoustic.  There are one or two borderline places - we shall see.

So, tomorrow Cavendish! It's looking like a good house - so do get in touch to book. (Details below...)

An we'll end with a couple choice comments from the audience:
"Excellent - Thank you!"
"Engaging + compelling evening - Bravo!"

The Summoning of Everyman Tours March / April 2015
All shows will be Pay-What-You-Want and tickets can be reserved by phone or online.
Telephone: 07946 652 196
Email: contact@milkbottleproductions.co.uk
For emails or any phone messages please state your name, contact number, number of tickets and, most importantly, which date/venue you're booking for.

Cavendish Memorial Hall                           -              Wednesday 1st April at 7.30pm

Hitcham Village Hall                                   -              Thursday 2nd April at 7.30pm

Maurice Rowson Hall, Gosfield                  -              Friday 3rd April at 7.30pm

Leavenheath Village Hall                            -              Sunday 5th April at 6pm

Hundon Village Hall                                   -              Monday 6th April at 7.30pm

Creeting St Mary Jubilee Hall                     -              Tuesday 7th April at 7.30pm

Assington Village Hall                                -              Thursday 9th April at 7.30pm

Brettenham Village Hall                             -              Tuesday 14th April at 7.30pm

Steeple Bumpstead Village Hall                 -              Wednesday 15th April at 7.30pm

St Mary’s Church, Chilton                         -              Sunday 19th April at 3pm

Boxted & Hartest Institute                         -              Monday 20th April at 7.30pm

Stisted Village Hall                                    -              Wednesday 22nd April at 7.30pm

All details correct at time of press – updates, corrections and directions to shows can be found online – or contact us direct.

Rumble in Waldingfield

It was another lovely audience for Everyman at Great Waldingfield - collected some nice good and bad deed - though I'm afraid for the Bad Deeds you will have to wait.  The shirt of Bad Deeds is getting so full that I'm in danger of repeating old Bad Deeds, so from now on you won't get the bad till I've finished with a shirt and can document it as a whole.
And one of the audience even offered me a some spare shirts for the future - so that will solve a problem I've been thinking about over the last few weeks.
Here's a short vlog and a selection of Good Deeds - which are easier to catalogue - next show BOXFORD (see below)!

Good Deeds:
Help a random stranger who was in dire need of medical attention
Child minding for free!
Helped a man with a serious heart condition
Donated money to charity
I gave my dinner to a homeless guy in Hammersmith
Driving my folks to + from the airport
Smile!
Helping an old lady who fell over and called Ambulance
Rescuing a cat from jaws of dog
Being a veggie
I meet a friend every morning
Gave someone a lift in my car

Audience comments:
"An excellent show and performance. I was completely transported back to the medieval period. Great work!"
"Thank you Robert for another tour-de-force. Well done!"
"Fabulous - so many words! Thank you & well done."

The Summoning of Everyman Tours March / April 2015
All shows will be Pay-What-You-Want and tickets can be reserved by phone or online.
Telephone: 07946 652 196
Email: contact@milkbottleproductions.co.uk
For emails or any phone messages please state your name, contact number, number of tickets and, most importantly, which date/venue you're booking for.

Boxford Village Hall                                   -              Tuesday 31st March at 7.30pm

Cavendish Memorial Hall                           -              Wednesday 1st April at 7.30pm

Hitcham Village Hall                                   -              Thursday 2nd April at 7.30pm

Maurice Rowson Hall, Gosfield                  -              Friday 3rd April at 7.30pm

Leavenheath Village Hall                            -              Sunday 5th April at 6pm

Hundon Village Hall                                   -              Monday 6th April at 7.30pm

Creeting St Mary Jubilee Hall                     -              Tuesday 7th April at 7.30pm

Assington Village Hall                                -              Thursday 9th April at 7.30pm

Brettenham Village Hall                             -              Tuesday 14th April at 7.30pm

Steeple Bumpstead Village Hall                 -              Wednesday 15th April at 7.30pm

St Mary’s Church, Chilton                         -              Sunday 19th April at 3pm

Boxted & Hartest Institute                         -              Monday 20th April at 7.30pm

Stisted Village Hall                                    -              Wednesday 22nd April at 7.30pm

All details correct at time of press – updates, corrections and directions to shows can be found online – or contact us direct.

Brief Report from Chappel and Wakes Colne

It's a busy day today, getting ready for tonight's performance in Great Waldingfield, so I'll be brief.  I loved performing Everyman last night.  It can be a struggle sometimes.  Sometimes you're not feeling it, sometimes the audience needs to be drawn in, sometimes it doesn't quite click.  For the first time, ever, I felt ready to do the show last night.  Every time I've been Everyman, I've been pulling the show together for one or two performances.  Having now run tryouts and started a tour in earnest, I feel ready - ready to let the play take me where it needs to go.
It helped that the audience at Chappel and Wakes Colne Village Hall were very, very good.  The concentration and eye contact was superb.  Thanks must go to Christine Underwood for being such a good host, and Phil and Rachel Hope for helping with front of house.

Short video and a few comments from the audience - you'll have to wait for more Good and Bad Deeds till the next post.

"Great evening, interesting, makes you think!"
"Very thought provoking..."
"Message all too true! So well put over."
"A most enjoyable show - thanks!"

First Night in Darkest Offton & Willisham

ROAD CLOSED.  Never a good sign.

I really liked these curtains as a back drop for the table...

As signs go, it's not up there with FREE SWEETS or WE ARE CURRENTLY RUNNING A GOOD SERVICE.  I wasn't worried that I wouldn't make it to the venue - I'd been forewarned, there was access - but that it might put off the audience, which when your show is Pay-What-You-Want is really not good.
I meet up with my generous hosts for the evening and set up.  And they really are good at Offton and Willisham Village Hall - welcoming, helpful and really enthusiastic.  I was put onto the space by a friend Mark, who was in The Juliet Inquiry last year and he suggested touring the show there.  It went well and so I was really looking forward to coming back.
Slowly an audience arrived and the ritual began.  Share your Good and Bad Deeds - and the conversion begins.  It's usually around how difficult it is to think of a Good Deed and how hard it is to choose a Bad.
And they're a good audience, they listen.  The space works well with the play - a slight echo, enough to create atmosphere, not enough to destroy clarity.
Afterwards it's time for tea (I'm on antibiotics at the moment so can't have alcohol - boo!) and a chat with the audience.  Finally home and this blog.  As per, here are some of the Good and Bad Deeds we shared.  And a v. short snippet of video - I didn't have time to film more.

Bad Deeds:
Believing that I haven't done a bad deed!
Cheated on a test
Eating Whale Meat (Yummy!)
White Lie
Drinking in Excess
Grumpy
Over Indulgence
Got Up Late
Road Rage
Not Listening
Shot a Rabbit
Did not clean my teeth
I / will have wasted a myriad of opportunities to do a good deed.
Didn't put the wife's Valentine flowers in water - they were a bit floppy by 14th Feb

And one for debate...
Deliberately letting a competitor win a race

Awaiting the audience...

Good Deeds:
Looking after Grandchildren
Raised a family who have raised a family and married a woman who cares for others
Always be kind
Giving your time to charity
Helping others
Raise money for good causes
Volunteered for the RDA
Friendship
Youth Club Sailing Instructor
Volunteered at youth group
Loaned money
Oiled kitchen cupboards
30 years on Hall Committee
Youth Offending Panel
Flowers to a sick friend
Helped a lady out by mending her clutch cable by the roadside
Cleaned my elderly neighbours wheely bin