We wanted to find theatrical substance to this extraordinary writing and make it just as powerful and effective off the page as it is on it.We explored different ways of framing the text from a short story in the book called 'But Not Really' to lift the drama and we filmed alot of our process to show the NTW, Rachel herself ,of course, and also to have a record of it ...when we develop it further down the line.

I think the main memory i have of these days is laughter (and Chapters Cafes' Bakewell Tart...but i digress). We also spent time talking about films ..images and ideas from films ( The Shining, Fatal Attraction, Goodfellas and many more) that inspired us to create something...i wanted the work to be powerful and the poetry in the words demands strong and sharp visual conventions/ imagery. I wanted the text to be there in the room without making it simply first person narrative..so ..one night before the workshops , i scrawled fragments of text, a phrase here , a description there, on to clothes, old videos , Cds, and cardboard innocently waiting to be re-cycled at my house...bubble wrap and jiffy envlopes..bottles and books...and well..anything really that would the pen would adhere to and dragged a van load of resources objetcs and music to the rehearsal to create a textual living world..and we started from there.

A generous, experienced, ego free team makes my job a real treat ..and its not easy for them when you dont have a script at all..but just a series of ideas from my note book.

Rich Tunley is a practitioner with so much experience as an actor and director. He works quickly and in such a perceptive way that he soon responded to my ideas and talked through the possible pathways for the work to develop..We worked closely together to develop a series of snapshot scenes to share with the NTW. The actors Shelley, Jonny and Lauren also contributed ideas as we went along and found how compatible and electric the atmosphere became in the room as the text and the work became a real labour of love for all of us. Shelleys physical commitment to the piece was awesome and Lauren listened and observed with an eye for detail and such subtle and intelligent characterisation..Jonny was a master of the improvised comedy monolgue ..able to develop instant improv from an idea as if it had been scripted and learnt for weeks.

The response from NTW and Rachel T was positive and encouraging. They said that it felt as if we were sharing a weeks work not just two days and thats a credit to the actors who worked so hard to create the work and present it on the day. We are meeting John Mcgrath in about 2 weeks to discuss the potential next stage of development....and we are all excited about the future of the project..in whatever shape, when ever it happens and at whatever venue it turns out to be.

We would like to thank NTW for this opportunity. This kind of funded research and development has never been available before and i also applaud the voice that practitioners from all specialisms in the arts are being given on this website.

So..with large glass of wine in hand..im an exhausted but happy lady.

Keep an eye on the group for future development of Fresh Apples. Eventaully we hope to stage many more of the stories for a thorough exploration of this fabulous book

Julie B X

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