Project ’25 – CMS Lucknow
It has been my modus operandi to seek out theatre projects around the world by myself, and these have frequently developed from personal contacts. But even these have to be
June 8, 2025
Productions Aesop
What does AESOP stand for?
Which is the rather charming question that I was asked by one of the cast over our newly-established WhatsApp chat group the other day. Asking a question when one doesn’t
June 20, 2025
High drama
I suppose I ought to deal with the picture first, since that is bound to attract attention. First of all, I am fine. Not entirely fine, as I have a
June 23, 2025
Zombie apocalypse
I am teaching three times two hour sessions a day at the moment: an “audition” class with the cast to start with, and then two INSET classes with groups of
June 24, 2025
Casting
Much to my surprise, I am enjoying the sessions I am leading with the teachers immensely; what is causing me headaches at present is casting the play. I have had
June 26, 2025
Aesop and Faustus
One week on from our arrival… and the play to be cast tomorrow. Refugee Week seems a lifetime away, but an awful lot has happened in a very brief time.
June 28, 2025
Still casting
First day of rehearsals today. I was somewhat apprehensive, having spent much of the weekend desperately trying to sort out the casting. It has proved an administrative nightmare. I am
July 1, 2025
Stage plan
Having been asked to prepare a plan of the staging and seating for Aesop, I took myself (got my driver to take me) off to Gomti Nagar 1, where we
July 3, 2025
The King of the Birds
in previous productions of Aesop, the sections involving the Birds have always been seen, even by me, as the weakest element of the play; they were dropped altogether for the
July 4, 2025
Singing together
[kad_vimeo url=”https://vimeo.com/1100680214″ width=600 height=370 ] (Which happens to be the name of a children’s radio programme from the early sixties. Broadcast to primary schools who were, presumably, without a music
July 11, 2025
What a perfect day
Not that one would have been able to tell at first, since the heavens opened in the most extreme manner on our drive into Aliganj, the school where I was
July 12, 2025
A hole in one
Slightly disconcerting to arrive at the Examination Hall to find no-one there. Not an exam, but no cast members for rehearsal either. They had given up on being able to
July 15, 2025