Live Streaming Again

I've been playing around with the possibilities of live streaming over the years - live in studio, with audience, using different platforms.  I'm desperately waiting for facebook live audio to kick in so I can start there - I've been playing with the live video and it's just a sod with my bandwidth.
For the moment I'm going back to live streaming with ustream - there are adverts, but life's a bitch sometimes.  I'm also going to use it to drive my new storytelling.
Instead of doing new work for my patrons on Wednesday, streaming it Saturday and then releasing it again properly to the world on the following Tuesday, I'm going to use the Saturday live streams to try out works in progress.  They'll be full and proper things, just I might want to change it after the live stream and I'll be actively looking for thoughts and comments from the audience.  You.
Then I'll start work on turning that live stream into something for normal podcast release.  It's a process.
So, this week, Saturday at 1pm I'll be streaming the long promised bit of storytelling The U.N. Special Representative.
You can catch the live stream here, this Saturday at 1pm (BST) and there'll be something streamed every Saturday at the same time, unless advertised otherwise.  I will also start scheduling what will be performed prior to each show.
You're probably going to hear versions of other promised shows on the live stream first. We shall see, I may even do some live streamed drama.

My work couldn't happen without the support of my patrons - if you think you could contribute to the work I create, go to www.patreon.com/robertcrighton and see if you can help - there are bonuses and you can get to listen to my new work before anyone else.
Also, as there's a lot being planned at the moment, if you want to keep up to speed, why not join my mailing list.  I know, so last century. 

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Live from the Get In - March

It's only a month and a bit before the next Live from the Get In! and the tickets are on sale.  It's going to be a bit different to the last two shows in that there will be two halves, and the first half will be a little shorter than before.  So, we're still aiming for an hour of comedy - and then some - just it'll be spread out over two halves.  The first half will be a show much like the previous two, a tumbling arrangement of comedy material with myself and the core group, and we're aiming for a run time of forty-five minutes which will be live streamed.  The second half will be more a mix of curated material from other performers, and a comic monologue from me.  This will be recorded but not streamed and released at a later date, first to my patrons who help make all this happen, and then to the world.
Why the change in format?  Well, I've found in the last two shows, the shorter sketches and some of the monologues didn't fit into the overall pattern of the show very well.  Whilst all the material worked, it didn't always want to stand next to each other.  Also, when edited in post production, the shows were drifting to 45 minutes naturally, the hour format being just a little too long and some padding was creeping in.  I'd rather record a tight show than edit one down - you get more and better laughs.  It also means the second half can be for material that wouldn't fit anywhere, encouraging more randomness and new voices to get involved.
And if you happen to be a new voice - then get in touch - I'm on twitter @RobertCrighton

LIVE FROM THE GET IN!  

Written by Robert Crighton

Performed by Abbie Broom, Heidi Bernhard-Bubb, Robert Crighton & Michael Fouldes.  And maybe some special guests.

Live from... is a radio comedy and sketch show – live from in front of the set of whichever show is getting in the following week at the Quay Theatre.  New material, sketches and monologues streamed live online.  And the live stream can be heard on the night here -

www.ustream.tv/channel/robert-crighton-storyteller

Two shows lined up Saturday 4^th March and Saturday 6th May at 7.30pm

Tickets £6 - www.quaysudbury.com

And you can catch up with the last two episodes by listening here.


My work couldn't happen without the support of my patrons - if you think you could contribute to the work I create, go to www.patreon.com/robertcrighton and see if you can help - you get to listen to my new work before anyone else.

Also, as there's a lot being planned at the moment, if you want to keep up to speed, why not join my mailing list.  I know, so last century. 

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New People Wanted

Hello Lovely People!
Live from the Get In! prep continues apace.  This second show is all ghostly - so I'm hoping you all dress up in your finest Halloween gear, though, let me make this clear, no scary clowns.  They are not allowed.  So, silly costumes please.  Especially as, at only an hour, you can still go out to a good party if you so wish.

Anyway, Live from the Get In! has been renewed for further shows next year - woohoo - and I'm looking for new comics to join us.  I want to find new local comics from the Sudbury area and beyond for next year.  If you think you’re funny, write your own material, or want to perform someone else’s, then I want to hear from you.  It won’t be a turn up, open mic show, the event will be curated and I want to help emerging comics hone their craft and make sure the audience get the laughs for their bucks.

Anyone interested in performing on the show next year can contact me at contact@milkbottleproductions.co.uk or see me after the next show, this Saturday night.

Milk Bottle Productions Presents...
LIVE FROM THE GET IN! 

COMEDY GHOST NIGHT

An hour of radio comedy and sketches with a Halloween Theme

Ghost’s are funny, especially because all they do is play dress up in sheets and creak the odd floorboard. New material, sketches and monologues – it’s an hour of laughter, curated by award-winning writer and performer Robert Crighton and streamed live as a radio show from the auditorium of the Quay Theatre.

Tickets £5

Saturday 29th October at 7.30pm

Box Office: 01787 374 745 

Or book online at www.quaysudbury.com
Live audio streaming on the night can be heard at www.ustream.tv/channel/robert-crighton-storyteller


My work couldn't happen without the support of my patrons - if you think you could contribute to the work I create, go to www.patreon.com/robertcrighton and see if you can help.

Live from the Get In - Ghosts

Hello!  The next show is going to be a cracker, I know, I'm writing it now.  Live from the Get In! will be live streamed in two and a half weeks time, and tickets are on sale now for the live experience.

It'll be like the last show - available to listen below! - but different... as it's all about ghosts... whoo... or possibly scary clowns (there will be no scary clowns)... 

First of all, if you're coming - dress up!  I want to see lots of silly costumes.  Especially as, at only an hour, you can still go out to a good party if you so wish (I know it isn't actually Halloween, but it's the Saturday before, that's as good!)

So, lots of good silliness.  And then ghost comedy.  Because, and I know it's possibly an unpopular view, but ghosts are stupid and deserve to be mocked.  I've been watching lots of supposed ghost shows on television as research (sitting in bed watching daytime tv is research! honest! stop looking at me like that!) and, seriously, they're unspoofable.  Because they are their own spoof.  

But I'm having a go anyway.

Milk Bottle Productions Presents...
LIVE FROM THE GET IN! 

COMEDY GHOST NIGHT

An hour of radio comedy and sketches with a Halloween Theme

Ghost’s are funny, especially because all they do is play dress up in sheets and creak the odd floorboard. New material, sketches and monologues – it’s an hour of laughter, curated by award-winning writer and performer Robert Crighton and streamed live as a radio show from the auditorium of the Quay Theatre.

Tickets £5

Saturday 29th October at 7.30pm

Box Office: 01787 374 745 

Or book online at www.quaysudbury.com
Live audio streaming on the night can be heard at www.ustream.tv/channel/robert-crighton-storyteller



My work couldn't happen without the support of my patrons - if you think you could contribute to the work I create, go to www.patreon.com/robertcrighton and see if you can help.

Soooo... I'm quite poor now

Continuing the theme of my last post, the problem with doing a piece of theatre, an act defined by the relationship between the performer and an audience, is that without an audience the whole shebang falls apart somewhat.  And, more importantly, you end up being quite poor.
Let's not be vulgar and discuss precise amounts of money - but here's how the balance sheet stands.

Income:  Ticket sales - about eight sold over the run (three pre-sales, plus some walk ups)
Total Income:  Bugger all.

Costs:  Venue hire, publicity, transport, rehearsals, technical... etc.
Total Costs:  Far, far, faaaar too much.

Sooooo... I'm quite poor now.  How can you help, internet?  Well, all I've ever asked for is an audience, a chance to sing for my supper.  There are four ways you can help.

1.  I've a live show radio (Live from the Get In) coming up the end of the month.  If you're in the Sudbury, Suffolk area, or know someone who is, please book tickets and come.  It's also being streamed online - have a listen.  Saturday 29th October, at 7.30pm - LIVE FROM THE GET IN - The Comedy Ghost Show - come dressed up, have a laugh, have a drink, and go onto whichever Halloween party you might have been invited to that night.  More on this show will be blogged shortly!  Tickets can be found here - live streaming on the night here.

2.  Buy a script!  I've a whole load of Undead Bard scripts unsold, they're really quite good and they'll be signed!  Use the paypal link and order one - there are a couple of old scripts available as well.  Well worth a read.  If you're going to Live from the Get In, then they'll be available there too. Any problems with ordering, get in touch.

Script Sale

Undead Bard £10.00 GBP Ghost Storyteller £6.00 GBP Fantasy Terrorist Variations £6.00 GBP All Three Scripts £20.00 GBP

3.  Become a Patron!  I've so many wonderful patrons - though not many use my official Patreon page.  This is a really easy, one stop place to help support my work, and you're linked into everything I create automatically.  It's a monthly payment system, it will take tiny amounts, and you'd be amazed how quickly donations of 70p a month really start to stack up into a proper budget for a show.
To become a patron go to www.patreon.com/robertcrighton

4.  Invite me round to do a show!  I do house parties, telling stories and entertaining you - invite me to yours, get some friends, food and wine round, and I'll do a show in your living room.  I generally pass a hat round at the end of the show and it's a blast.  There's some more info on my website - or just contact me direct.

Regardless as to whether you can make a show, buy, or donate, my work is going to continue online and live for the foreseeable future and I will make as much of it free at source as possible.  For those who missed Undead Bard I will be creating an online version soon and there may be some live one off options coming up.
Thanks people, comrades, supporters and random google searchers.

Live from the Get In

Next week, I'm launching the first of (hopefully) a regular series of comedy nights from the Quay Theatre in Sudbury - live streamed on the internet.
LIVE FROM THE GET IN!  THE IMAGINATIVELY TITLED FIRST SHOW
is over an hour of radio comedy and sketches – live from in front of the set of whichever show is getting in the following week at the Quay Theatre with a wonderful cast.  New material, sketches and monologues – it’s an hour of laughter, curated by me and streamed live online.
Tickets are available for the live show at www.quaysudbury.com
And the live stream can be heard on the night here -
www.ustream.tv/channel/robert-crighton-storyteller
Saturday 3^rd September at 7.30pm GMT  

This show couldn't happen without the support of my patrons - if you think you could contribute to the work I create, go to www.patreon.com/robertcrighton and see if you can help.

What is the show going to be?  Well, it's a comedy show - so I'm aiming for it to be funny.  The last couple of days a theme has emerged - so the sketches are mostly about what our world is really like.  There's a return of the Museum of Tat, as a live event, the latest news from a very odd committee meeting and the future of health in a privatised world.  I don't want to say more, because then I kill the comedy.  There are also at least three incredibly bad jokes.  Fully awful jokes.

Even though I've had several rehearsals, I keep forgetting to take any photos - so here's the fantastic cast for the show mostly in words...

Abbie Broom -
Abbie is talented local performer, who I have regularly planned world domination with.  So, she's joining us in a sketch about a village hall committee meeting.

Heidi Bernhard-Bubb -
Heidi recently played the prospective father in law of my daughter in The Tempest.  Heidi is playing Professor Fidelis Graeber, our guest speaker for the first live performance of The Museum of Tat.

Gillian Horgan -
Gillian has returned to Milk Bottle after appearing as a duck and other animals in the last comedy show, Hang. She is performing various parts for the show, including the internationally performed monologue Sleep Inc. 
Gillian is from Cork, and trained at Drama Studio London.
Theatre credits include: the one-woman show #nofilter at The Bread & Roses Theatre, The Conservatory at The Bread & Roses Theatre, Storyteller: The Natural History of Trolls at The New Wimbledon Studio, No Dogs at The White Bear, Susanna at Theatro Technis, Tilt at The Cockpit Theatre, Famine at The Old Red Lion Theatre, and Monsieur Venus at the Theatre Royal Haymarket. Screen credits include: The Wives Did It, Persona Non Grata, The Inner Life of Veronica, Wounded, Three, Forget-Me-Not, Camden Calling, Verge, and Black Coffee. Radio credits include: Hang.

Sîan Notley -
Sîan has performed in countless shows (not actually countless, I just will never count them) including a number of readings of early English drama I've produced over the years.  So, I've cast her as pie maker extraordinary Tyb.  Her husband in the scene is played by...

Mark Jenner -
An actor who has also appeared in many shows, possibly also countless.  I've directed them a few times as well, together or separately.  Mark is playing John and spends a lot of time playing with candles in a suggestive way - which will work brilliantly on radio.

Michael Fouldes -
Michael isn't in the show because of a prior commitment that he'd forgotten about.  But as he's part of the double act that is The Museum of Tat, I thought you should see a photo the meeting we had about the show before his wife pointed out he was doing something else that night. He's almost apologetic in the photo, before the fact.  He will be performing in the next live show.

Shaking the Delusion

I rehearsed The Shakespeare Delusion yesterday.  Well, that's hardly news, is it?  I've been rehearsing daily for weeks.  But yesterday I rehearsed it in London.  With Colin.  Which was a very nice change.
Now Colin runs a thing called the Face to Face festival - aimed at showcasing solo performance - which I've performed at a couple of times and have been invited to do again this year.  Not only that but Colin agreed to give the show a once over.  Which was very helpful.
As well as, a little bit, painful.  But pain is good, pain is growth, pain is just ego having a tantrum - because what Colin said was true - page x needed a trim.  It wasn't flowing.  It stuck out like a sore thumb and lost him.  So we cut it.  Almost the whole page.  Which was painful, as it does feature some of my favourite jokes.  But the show isn't just about cheap laughs, so sometimes you have to get rid of them.
Not only that, but when we ran it again, sans page x, not only did it run smoother (WHOO-HOO!) but we also discovered a lovely bit of physical action that makes the ending far sadder.
Only now, I've got tonight and tomorrow to learn the reworked pages around page x.  So, pain.  But also joy.
Thank you Colin.

The Shakespeare Delusion

Written and Performed by Robert Crighton

Professor Ashborn invites you to share in his latest discoveries and lead you through the terrible secrets behind the man people call Shakespeare.  Did he really write the plays?  Was he really bald?  Did he like cheese?  Using recently uncovered documentation Professor Ashborn can finally tell the true and completely true, truly true, utterly true, true story of the Shakespeare delusion!

Performing at the Quay Theatre on Monday 26^th May at 7.30pm

To listen to the Live Stream on the night go to www.ustream.tv/channel/robert-crighton-storyteller

Also performing at the LOST One-Act Festival in London on Wednesday 28th May at 7.30pm

The Shakespeare Delusion - Press Release

The Shakespeare Delusion – Press Release

 

New comedy drama by the Quay Theatre’s Artist in Residence Competing in London

Live Streaming Across the World

 

As part of Milk Bottle’s Shakespeare Trilogy – three plays on a theme of Shakespeare to celebrate Shakespeare’s 450^th birthday – Robert Crighton presents his mock lecture, The Shakespeare Delusion.  Not only is it premiering at the Quay Theatre on Monday 26^th May, it is also competing for the prestigious LOST One-Act Festival in London, as part of their 30^th anniversary season.  Robert is the only competitor for the festival in its history to have won three awards in three successive years – he only stopped entering when he was no longer eligible to pass the age restrictions.  The age limit has been dropped this year, so Robert is eager to win a fourth award if he can.

The play is about the so called 'Shakespeare authorship question' which is ruthlessly satirised throughout.  "It's the worst of all conspiracy theories because there is literally no evidence at all to suggest Shakespeare didn't write the plays and vast amounts of evidence to say that he did.  Some of the theories are so absurd it's almost impossible to satirise because anything you try to make up has to be crazier than that which has already been suggested."  Robert Crighton

 

Robert is also appealing for help in writing the play – looking for the worst line from all of Shakespeare.

“I need the worst line I can find – either incomprehensible, weird or just awful.  It isn’t an easy thing to find - he was generally speaking, a brilliant writer.  The winner of my favourite quote will see it featured in the play, and will also get a free copy of the published script with a thank you inside!”

Entries can be sent via tweet @RobertCrighton or email contact@milkbottleproductions.co.uk

 

The play is being live streamed as well – the last play Robert streamed, Hang, was listened to around the world.

“With the advent of the world wide web, theatre need not be tied down to one location.  Now, even a small arts centre can produce, not only world class drama, but show it to anyone around the world.  We are no longer bound but the traditional ideas of what is rural theatre or cosmopolitan theatre – there is only theatre, drama, comedy – the excitement of the new.  We are just as important as any other broadcaster and can be judged, not on our location, but on our content.  That is an exciting change in the world.”  Robert Crighton

 

Milk Bottle Productions Presents...

The Shakespeare Delusion

Written and Performed by Robert Crighton

Professor Ashborn invites you to share in his latest discoveries and lead you through the terrible secrets behind the man people call Shakespeare.  Did he really write the plays?  Was he really bald?  Did he like cheese?  Using recently uncovered documentation Professor Ashborn can finally tell the true and completely true, truly true, utterly true, true story of the Shakespeare delusion!

 

To listen to the Live Stream on the night go to

www.ustream.tv/channel/robert-crighton-storyteller

Performing Live and Online on Monday 26^th May at 7.30pm at the Quay Theatre, Sudbury

Tickets: Pay-What-You-Want

Box Office: 01787 374 745

www.quaytheatre.org.uk