Hello Lovely People.

I can't stop smiling when I think back to my visit to Wales last weekend to work on the Play in a Day. It was so fab to be in the same physical space. I know we can't have that yet with the NZ lot and have to continue loving you all from afar.

So, lots to respond to here and I'm not sure I'll have the time to address all things right now but will do some more in the morning. Actually, I think I'm mainly saying 'hi' to The Strangers Massive!!

Design, yes, we've had lots of thoughts and when poor lovely Adrian gets out of his sick bed I'll ask him to share his fab thoughts with you all (Alex). We are hoping to go along the lines of generic costumes in neutral colours or rather base colours of black and white with accent colours, in basic style but with added detail pertaining to characters specifically. E.g. t shirts with a palu (the scarf worn with a salwar kameez in Indian dress) or a simple dress with a 19th century style bustle at the back. Kind of a fusion of the contemporary with the traditonal, the timeless and placeless with culturally specific signifiers. The hope is to keep budgets low but to add some interest through these added details. Does that make any sense? Also hoping to get some talented local person to create a graffiti style design that when transferred to lots of tshirts lying next to each other will be reformed when people wearing the tshirts stand in the correct order.

I'm not at the 'we've cast' stage yet. We actually are now looking for more performers because quite a few of our group have fallen by the wayside due to exam commitments here. I know you know that one, Nelson folk. Very excited that you have cast though and that is inspiring me in my choices here in Slough. It will be great to see you connecting with your overseas/overborder counterparts wouldn't it?! I have some ideas as to who will connect well with whom but until my decision is final you're all still in the dark. Sorry, I'll get a wriggle on. I can see you as Mr Silla Alex! (Our mr Silla is going to be played through shadow puppetry, (we think) and through voice over by our sound guy from the tech booth. We wanted to have him as ethereal a character as possible because of the unliklihood of a man living to 347 not washing with our audience. It also leaves lots of room for our disabled members to move and dance in their way without the pressure of learning and delivering dialogue which can be daunting.

Next Thursday we are taking part in Slough Young People's Centre's traditional Christmas cabaret. Remember Jermaine who left a lovely message some weeks ago, and of course, Sarah's old haunt? Well, it's a gorgeous, fluffy, creative, foody event and we'll be doing a rehearsed reading of some of the scenes to share with the rest of the young people and their families. That'll be fun.

We are also working for four afternoons over Christmas hols, which will hopefully allow us to catch up with you guys in Wales and Nelson, as we are a bit behind I think.

Funny, it's been like that from start hasn't it? One group leading the way for a bit then the other taking lead and another waiting in the wings 'til they see what the others are up to. It's very cool.

Ok, so i've rambled in Lizzie style. Soz Moz

Will address the merging issues in the morning, but really loving the Mr Silla is Charles idea. When he was created by one of our crew back in May, he was hotseated and he told us he was from New Zealand. So, why not have another incarnation of Charles in the form of the 347 yr olds Scrapyard guardian?

Not sure how you might use talk stick. Any further ideas on this would be cool.???

Love to all,

Lizzie xxx

Nadolig Llawen

Borre Dah (im trying to use the little welsh i know)

So yeah tuesday was really cool Gemma was really nice and just joined in she felt like a stranger (how weird does that sound)
And we have all been cast i think all the cast would agree that peri has done a fandabbydosey job of deciding (hint hint i got Mr silla and Charles)
Well i guess this is last thing ill say till christmas

Happy Summery Christmas to New Zealand (think of us with our cold cold cold wind)
Happy Wintery Christmas to Slough
Nadolig Llawen Cymraeg criw?

Alex

Merry Christmas

Hi every1,

Owain ere. What a good night it was tuesday. As peri sayd Gemma from Cyfanfyd came in to inspect how cwl we were and c if we were gd enough to go in the book.

It was also very cwl as WALES CREW has now got there characters...unfortunately for me i cant do the show as im Skiing in Austria. Dam It! : [ Oh well...cant do anything bout it.

I just feel gd that i can help Peri (the most wonderfull director in the world) organise and keep everything sorted untill i go.

Its gonna b gret!

Well only 12 days till Christmas Day now HWRE!!! that means 11 Nights! Yey!

Well Merry Christmas Every1

Nadolig Llawen :]

Owain

xx

Wales CAST the net

Hey everyone,

Just wanted to announce that Criw Cymru (the Wales Crew) has now been cast into our wonderful bank of international Strangers characters.

Last night in our regular rehearsal space at the pensioners' hall, we read through the scripts, discussed ideas for linking common themes and characters and by the end of the evening all performers were cast into their roles for the performance.

WOW! Things are moving sooo quickly now. Next week we shall start work on some ensemble and a handful of key scenes, amalgamation ideas and planning before breaking up (no tears now!) for a two week Christmas Hol.

When we return we shall be meeting so often that no one will ever tear us apart again!

Anyway, last night was also very exciting because we were "observed" by Gemma from Cyfanfyd (whaich means "whole world" in Welsh) It is a Global Youth Work Organisation and Gemma is very interested in using our very own Strangers Project as a Case Study for their handbook...WOOOOAAAAH - how cool are we?!?!?

I received an email from Gemma today telling me how much she enjoyed being part of our rehearsal and to congratulate us on the amazingness of our project across the world...watch this space... ;)

We also have the opportunity to spread the word of Strangers in a community Christmas Experience next week on the 20th in our local rugby club, and Peter has already started work on a powerful and poigniant power point presentation. Well done Pete!

Right, just looked back at this very long post and hope you're as excited as I am when you read about all the amazing things that are happening because of all you amazing young people around the world.

If anyone in Slough or NZ is able to post up a few photos of your work on the blog or email them to me at messupthemess@hotmail.co.uk before Tuesday we can fit them into the presentation... and that would be SOOO cool....

Get in touch if you need help with that...

Merry, Merry Christmas and holidays to you all!!! (and that's surely not the last time you'll hear those words on this blog!)

Peri ;)

Christmas Hello!

Hey Guys!

I hope you're all ready for Christmas and looking forward to a well deserved break from work! (I know i am!) I can't wait for next year! it won't be long until we're on stage!

Just to let you all know the Wales script is now finished! and ready to go! i hope you enjoy performing it as much as we all enjoyed writing it!

Have a very merry Christmas and a happy new year!

Pete xx

Set Design

Hey all as far as im aware wales have not really talked about set design (cept the week thing we did with alex) or costume. I think maybe as a group we could discuss something? ? Erm yeah so ill throw that open? Have New Zealand or Slough had any ideas?

Do you see what i see was really good btw !!!!!! i would write a review like i have done before but i wouldnt be there for long as it was soo good!!!

Lexx

Play in a day

Hey Guys!

This is the link to the Carmarthenshire County Council Press release on the play in a day!

http://www.carmarthenshire.gov.uk/eng/index.asp?locID=3451&docID=15632