MET2
RESEARCH
Theatres in London
I been looking at theatres before a production is on stage along with the negative, but sometimes positive effect that COVID-19 has had on theatrical organisations.
I explored YouTube videos, news articles and websites to get a more rounded image of how both actors and theatres were impacted. Additionally, to this I have had a look to see how many people have had similar ideas to my FMP and placed them online.
The video below shows an eerily quiet London once all the theatres had shut during the second coronavirus lockdown of 2020 (the film was posted on 1st December 2020). The words 'back soon' are a common theme on each of the theatre's websites but so is 'please support support us' as many are lacking in money and are being supported by government funds. Some such as Southwark Playhouse and The Finborough Arms have chosen to move their services online and provide a theatrical experience in a cinematic style. Others, such as Jackson's Lane, are using the lack of attendance to their advantage and are a renovating their buildings.
Backstage at the National Theatre
One of the most enjoyable things I found whilst researching was a 30 minute long video backstage video shown below. This allows viewers to see the process of actors getting ready to perform at the National Theatre by following both some well known TV faces but also some more that are less familiar. There is more than one play about to be performed at the Theatre and therefore a range of styles are focused on, from an actor that doesn't get in character until the very last minute to a director that insists on actors being in character an hour before being on stage. The video also shows a few backstage treats that are specific to the theatre alone. I honestly didn't look away for a second. It is most definitely a must-watch documentary. I'm hoping that just maybe my documentary will be just half as entertaining as this one.
I also found a video of 70 west end stars performing the most well known song from one of my favourite musicals, both on stage and in film, Les Misérables. The video shows a collection of west end stars gathering together, but separately, to try and raise money for the NHS. The video allows viewers to see the humanity of actors, with some showing microphones and music but many just in the kitchen or bathrooms (even Biggins seems to be in his bedroom).
Earthquakes in London
Earthquakes in London follows the lives of three sisters who were abandoned by their doom-mongering father. The father is a prominent climate scientist who predicts environmental apocalypse. The eldest sister works as a cabinet minister who is trying to stop airport expansion to help the environment. The middle sister is heavily pregnant and growing increasingly uncertain about the future her child will be born into. The youngest sister is a teenager and a nuisance to her career-minded eldest sister. The three women are attempting, in their own different ways, to come to terms with the fact that their father's forecasts may, in-fact, be right.[3]
Written by Mike Bartlett and Directed by Rupert Goold and theatrical touring company, Headlong, Earthquakes in London Premiered at The Royal National's Cottlesloe Theatre on 4th August, 2010 with Previews from 29th July.
The show was given four stars by The Guardian, The Independent, The Telegraph and Time Out and was published in 2010.
Goold was longlisted for the 2010 Evening Standard Theatre awards, with Miriam Buether receiving the Set Design Award. She was also shortlisted for the 2011 Laurence Olivier Awards.
The first Chicago based production of the play took place at the Steep Theatre.[4] Previews took place between January 21th and 25th in 2017 with a press opening was held a day later. Performances took place every Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings at 8pm along with Sunday afternoons at 3pm until March 18th
Below is a range of posters used to advertise the production.
Each of these posters are very different but nearly all show London, or at least something that represents a version of it. Some use main tourist attractions such as the London Eye, Big Ben and Tower Bridge to show that the photo is of London. Others show a bright light or meteors and fire to represent the end of the world. I have combined elements of two of these to create a new poster. This way I show that it is London but things are broken to represent an earthquake taking place.
Camcorders
In the link below this I have explored five different types of Camcorder: Mini-DV Camcorders, DVD Camcorders, Hard Disk Drive Camcorders, Flash Memory Camcorders and Combo Models exploring how they all work. I have also compared them to each other as well as to my Phone.
She Kills Monsters
Originally based in Athens, Ohio, 1995, She Kills Monsters follows the story of a
young woman, Agnes, that loses both her parents and little sister, Tilly, in a car
crash. Whilst clearing out the house and moving in with her boyfriend, Agnes
discovers a whole new world to her but a very familiar one to Tilly: Dungeons and
Dragons. A game in which Tilly had used to escape the real world but also include
parts of her, such as the struggles with her sexuality, that she dared to share with
her sister, to whom she wasn't incredibly close. Agnes starts to play the game to
get the closeness to Tilly that she now wishes she had and discovers who she
really was through a module in which Tilly created, and the people who were
important in her sister's life.
She Kills monsters was written by American Playwright Qui Nguyen and Premiered
at The Flea Theatre, New York in November, 2011.[1]
The Play's poster was designed by American company, Samuel French; a publishing and licensor for musicals and plays[2]. Founded in 1830 by American entrepreneur Samuel French and British actor, playwright, theatrical manager, bookseller and theatrical publisher Thomas Hailes Lacy, Samuel French now have offices in New York City, London and Los Angeles and have dealt with people such as Thornton Wilder, Neil Simon and Agatha Christie. In 2018 the company was bought by Concord Music and has now combined to become Concord Theatricals.[3]
The pictures below show the progression of the logos used by Samuel French through to becoming part of Concord Theatricals. [4]
