....Thing is.... im working with actors who say the following things

Caroline Bunce - eating cake - Chapter Arts Centre ' Steve?....ive got just one word to day to you' ( Steve is our designer) ' Pants!' she says nearly at the top of her voice..'Oh its alright love. says Steve....'I

dont expect you to go on stage - commando' ..and thats the end of that bit of the costume meeting.....

Nathan Sussex....you lot go around calling your selves Lady Bunce, Lady Barclay and Lady Cage etc..but when am I going to have a title? Fair play Nath..Arise Lord Sussex of Newport...and by the way, can you remove that silver spoon from your mouth whilst you are rehearsing..makes for much clearer speech.

But joking aside..im also working with actors who at 4.50pm say to me ' can we run it again?' when everyone else is thinking of going home on a friday night....these dedicated actors want to completely run the show again..one last time before the weekend. They wore the costumes for the first time. Steve was there to see them, the costumes i mean, moving around on flesh and bones and he was smiling and relaxed...and i forgot to take notes becasue i simply forgot to be a director..bang goes my chances of future employment....

Nathan Sussex deserves a special mention this week....hes such a consummate actor..he really is a listener too..he observes so well and assesses his pathway to the character with such accuracy.We were queuing up ..in the cafe...first thing yesterday morning and he said...i think ive got the shade of the character but not the light...and to be honest - i agreed with him..So yesterday we worked on finding the light so that the 'husband' and the human part of this educated consultant doctor hes playing could be revealed

Claire Cage is great when she contributes an idea. Its like a whole new bright perspective has arrived in the room...like a parachutist hitting their mark on terra firma...she says ..'well im not an academic but ..it seems to me that.....and then this pearl of wisdon will land in the room and benefit the whole process.Shes modest but extremely talented actress and watching her act is a like masterclass in the craft and directing her is a treat and a great laugh.

Caroline Bunce is bringing such grace,vulnerability and fire to this role..theres been a few run throughs where ive just had to cry and let her performance move me..again not a great quality for the director to be in tears but she has the weight of the drive of the play on her shoulders and she carries that responsibilty with such experience and inventiveness. Ive been a big fan and friend of Carolines for many years now and shes haunting and funny all at once in this role, really something special.

so enough of the gushing.....its the end of the week before the week before the show....the posters are up in force at Chapter and coming to an area near you very soon and we are busy e..mailing all our contacts to come along..The play lasts 52 minutes and so plenty of time to gossip in the bar.

For me ..Im learning alot about the role of a director,my strengths and weaknesses...and soon im adapting and devleoping a new project for the NTW. I cant think of a more invigorating and positive experience than working with this cast and crew. Thanks to Andy for his creative imput..for being at rehearsals ..even when i got the time wrong and allowing us to make mistakes....and lisa whose been poorly..get well soon Lisa.

next blog next friday ..when we will only be a few days away....Nos da..xx