Rehearsing real life: A Story to Call My Own

We are in the midst of three people's lives - Terri, Marianne and Jeff .In our rehearsal room at Chapter, we are immersed in their memories, stories and time-lines. Time and again we listen to hilarious, painful, profound episodes from 70+ years of living, we are humbled and honoured by their openness and then one of us utters the words we've all come to dread "That's great...but I don't think we can fit it in the show"...Reality. We are creating some kind of performance (is it theatre, is it storytellling, is it catharsis?) from the life stories of three people. The show is not based on their lives, the show is their lives. Nothing is fictionalised, no names are changed. The responsibility is huge - we, as "directors" are constantly balancing the needs of the performers and the needs of an audience. We feel a protectiveness to our three, they have shared their lives with us and next week will share those lives with an audience. They do not cower, shy away from the mistakes, the shame, they face their memories squarely, look the past in the eye with a directness that is unnerving at times. Many times as I sit in rehearsals, I ask myself "Could I do this? Could I lay myself bare in this way?" And yet the pay off looks good. After a long day of reflecting and re-living, the three of them charge out of Chapter with the energy of 20 year olds, laughing their heads off and shouting "Tu-qwaaa".

We have a dilemna about getting the show reviewed. A fear of criticism? An urge to protect the three perfomers? They are not playing a role, they are playing themselves, being themselves..perhaps the most vulnerable you can be in the theatre. But we are choosing to put it out there in the world, we want to know how people feel about it, what they think about this kind of work so perhaps we should be encouraging people to review it?
Any thoughts gratefully received!

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Comment by Guy O'Donnell on October 26, 2010 at 4:38
Hi
I coordinate the Young Critics Scheme for 16-25 year old critics.
I am sure they would like to come and review the show, would this be possible ?
Thanks
Guy

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