Wow!

Hey Everybody.

I wish had time to sit here all evening and write about all my feelings on the performance last night in great detail but I will aim to do that tomorrow as there is somewhere very important I need to be this evening. Its called our Ammanford Miners Theatre and our final performance and I can't wait!

I was absolutely blown away by the perfromance in Wales last night and I can assure you that our audience felt the same. Lizzie absolutely loved the show and is really ecxcited about the final countdown to their show.

Everyone was focussed and told our stories with pride and dignity. The audience clapped and cheered and whistled and whooped for ages and ages because they knew what a massive achievement has taken place and they could tell how much energy has gone into this project over 6 whole months and more.

Tonight we just need to enjoy telling our story one more time as although we are lucky enough to be able to do an extra performance in Cardiff in 2 weeks time (YAY!) it will be an abridged version and we won't have the lights and special effects in the same way. Tonight really is our shining moment so lets get out there and blow this new audience into the cosmos with our magnificent beautiful and very speacial show.

I have added a photo of Tasha Moore as Anahera to show Anita the costume designer in NZ. Anita, thank you for making our show extra special with your hard work, and of course that same messgae goes out to everyone in SLough NZ and Wales - WOW, what a global team effort!

Break legs guys and see you tonight.

xxxxx

BIG congrats

Just wanted to say a TREMENDOUS congratualtions to Nelson Strangers who have now finished their section of the project, an ENORMOUS well done to Wales Strangers for a terrific opening night and a MASSIVE good luck to Slough Strangers who have another two weeks. It's come around so quickly but i think everybody will agree it was definitly worth the hard work and blood spilled!

Wales- Keep up the energy and focus for tonight's performance and we will (as alex says) ROCK THIS TOWN! (and i may even try not to screw up another sound effect- we'll see....!!!)

Love and lots of respect to all companies

naTasha (Wales)

STRANGERS BECOME FRIENDS

After a final performance the Nelson Strangers group said goodbye through songs, prayer, group hugs and all other manner of things. Over the last 8 months we have become friends rather than Strangers not only with eachother but in sprit across the globe. It was with great joy that we received news by text today that Strangers Brynamman blew the audience away! Myself, L'hibou(SM) and Anita(Costume designer) did a standing ovation on the street for all you Welsh crew!
Last night and today are a little sad for us post-show Nelsonians but it is so exciting to hear all about your Welsh journey as you take Strangers on its next leg. Thankyou for telling our story for us! Can't wait to hear about Slough's live on skype.
Nelson lot get on this blog and share your thoughts on the show, project and any other related themes. Say hi to the other Strangers overseas and make the most of the magic while the vibrations of our play still linger.
Big thanks to all of you, staff, actors, crew, cast in Slough, Wales and Nelson for making this crazy idea I had over 18months ago the beautiful beast it has become today. Mess Up The Mess could not have done it without any of you.
Enjoy your last show Wales! Spread the Strangers vibe!

Sarah-Nelson

OM DAISIES

Well that was our first performance of three lol and it went better than most rehearsals with a few cleverly hidden line mistakes the play was TREMENDOUS. Everyone acted to their upmost ability telling the story and improvising bits that made it even better. Im so exicited about tomorrows performance.! COME ON PEEPS WE CAN ROCK THIS TOWN!

Alex

(Happy Valentines day for thursday) And break a leg to all in Slough. And congrats to New Zealand for achieving this splendiforous task of Strangers.

First night of performance

hihihi peeps!

just got home from the miners theatre and im so hyper. Instead of talking my parents to death I thought I'd post a comment on the blog and share ma feelings.

IT WAS AMAZING !!!!! it was really, really koolio! I cant wait to do it again tomorrow. Its gonna be soooo sad after the last performance.

I hope it all went really well and koolio and amzingly for everyone in New Zealand, and I hope all will go really well and koolio and amazingly for everyone is Slough. yayayayay to everybody!!!!!

lurv
Haddy

Here we go Wales - Lets have fun!!!!

Hello everyone across the strangers globe,

This will have to be very quick!

This is a special message to you all but especially to the Wales Criw who are about to go up in 5 hours time.

BREAK LEGS!!! TYNNWCH COESAU!!!

Our play is such a beautiful thing and you've all worked extremely hard for 6 months - tonight is the fun bit we've all been waiting for and working so hard to bring together across the world. And guess what? Its not over yet as you get to play it all over again tomorrow AND you all get a copy of the show filmed by Roger and Paz to keep. And we're also going to do a mini performance of it in St Fagans in 2 weeks time...YAY!

Tonight, lets tell our wonderful stories loud and proud and show Ammanford that the Amman and Swansea Valley (and Pontarddulais!) youth here are extremely talented and amazing.

ENJOY THE SHOW!!!!

Peri xxx

GO FOR IT BRYNAMMAN!

We are 2 nights in with only one to go and I woke up this morning thinking of you guys on the other side of the world. I'm so excited for you Brynamman crew because you are going to have a wonderful time telling all our stories.
Everybody over here is so excited about us all getting together in a month or two for a Strangers movie night to watch each groups version of our play and the project doco too. I hear you have inventive ways of showing the battle sequence and I'm intrigued to see how it all fits together. Now hears a funny thing most of my family can't watch the show as Nelson is a bit far to travel of a night however they are all coming to see your show in Wales instead! So remember to tell every single member of the audience your story as I'm hoping for excellent reviews from my mum when she rings on Sunday morning!
Nelson group I'd just like it noted on the blogg for prosperity that I am very proud and humbled by what all of you have acheived. It has been a very special summer and I'm sure you'll top it off with a final cresendo of a performance tonight!
So go do it Brynamman! Hang in there Slough-it'll be your turn too! Keep up the great work Nelson! Strangers rocks!

Sarah- Nelson Director

Hoping legs break all round

Greetings and the traditional wish to the Nelson crew for the big night - also really looking forward to seeing the Wales production this weekend. Sounds like everyone's doing brilliantly and I'm really pleased to have played a part in it. Remember, nerves are good - an actor's fuel!

The Tech is done...now onto the Welsh Dress(er..)

Hey Everyone,

Before I go to bed and dream of strangers and lights and suitcases and a huge wardrobe and masks and fog horns and Mr Sillar's HUMUNGOUS white rocker hairstyle, and cardboard recycled tubes and whistles and all my other favourite things, like raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens, I would like to post a short note.

I am incredibly excited about our project and our performances at the weekend.

The young people in Wales have given up (pretty much!) their entire half term holiday to dedicate their time, energy, enthusiasm and creative talents and to continue building up a truely magnificent youth theatre company with professionalism to be applauded.



This week is only halfway through but we have already achieved sooooo much.

The set and costumes are beautiful and practical and absolutely perfect to assist us in telling our magnificent stories from around the world. The miming in Brynaman film is AMAZING!!!! Sub real are our favourite film crew in the world and do excellent interviews as well as encouraging an appropriate amount of fun and games during break times including frisbee throwing in the park and bendy sword fighting - BUT NOT ON THE STAGE!!!!!!! The characters are growing larger than life by the minute and voices are getting louder as the days progress...thank heavens!!!!! And most of all, we have an incredibly beautiful and important story to tell that we created ourselves from 6 months of extremely hard work and a passion to pass it on to others.

Peri's grey hair is only growing at is normal rate, Natasha is building up her sound and lighting crew every day, Alex R is keeping the crew calm with coffee and the cast calm with a loud voice ;) We have discovered a saviour in Rhian, and Carrie's commitment and support is absolutley amazingly fabulous and we long to have them on board with all future productions!!!

The youth crew has dwindled slightly but India and Louisa are wicked and pulling the final seams together, literally.

This is a huge big massive shout out to all the strangers across the world - NZers break legs in 7 hours time! We in Wales will join you through the webcam at 8.45am here whilst we have our breakfast at the community centre and long to find out how your opening night goes....

Slough, now that this blog is easily accessible to all, please think of us whilst you bask in your wonderous extra 2 weeks!!!! We're only a teensy bit envious but soooo much more excited and we just can't wait to see Lizzie and Mikey and Dan on Friday and show them our version of your Slough Stories too.

Anyway, I really should probably go to sleep now as I need to get up bright and early for the NZ post show skype and then go great guns on the morning rehearsals pre Wales Dress.

NZers, we're all thinking of you as we go to sleep tonight and REALLY REALLY REALLY looking forward to talking to you after your show.


BREAK LEGS!!!!

Lots of Love from Peri xxx

THE FINAL WEEK

Wow.... when i looks back its been just under a year now that this idea was first announced with joy in peri's heart to the youth of brynaman (Not many people turned up on the first night now we have had loads of people come and go). The film crew asked me 2 questions today 'whats been your greatest moment' and 'whats been your worst'. Ive had so many great times to name them all and i honestly hand on my heart never ever had one bad moment.

Well im gonna stop before i get to emotional.
This was meant to be a *sob sob sob* message just to wish all they guys worldwide to break a leg!

Alex



(this was one highlight during the october halfterm)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLJ5xPakCo4

Dress rehearsal is here!

Its the Nelson dress rehearsal today! Can't actually believe we are finally 36 hours away from show time. I'll keep this brief as I've got silly amounts to do. Do your self proud Nelson and tell our story with all the detail and excitement it requires. If you do this it will be a beautiful experience for the audience and you as performers too. I'm very proud of all of you and know that you will raise your games even higher tonight and further more tomorrow.

Brynamman enjoy the show! Peri has told me all about it. I'm so dissapointed that I don't get to see your show live as I'm particularly keen to see your version of our battle! I'm confident you'll do the Strangers project huge credit with energetic and inspired performances. Really looking forward to the video.

Slough make the most of this last week or so. Every rehearsal is precious!

Will let you all know how it goes on Thursday morning,

Go be a Stranger

Sarah

Break a Leg!!

A strange expression but meant with only the best intentions. Wending you all Edders and NZedders a big ,warm, smiley, squeezy hug to say good luck this week with last minute rehearsals and opening nights and exciting things like that.

I'm sure there are mixed feelings abound, from mild butterflies to downright jitters and crises of confidence; from quiet anticipation to hyper excitement.

All this is normal and where you will find solace is in the person standing right next to you, feeling the same, playing the game, telling the story with you.

I hope you really enjoy this dive for the line guys. You are amazing. Truly. You have been part of something totally unique and should be soooooo proud of yourselves. The committment, talent, friendship, warmth and imagination you have brought to this crazy venture has really paid off so far and has made Strangers what it is!

Keep up the pace, the focus and the fun! We here in Slough are right behind you, feeling it all with you (and quietly thankful that we have a few extra days rehearsal than you...mind you, we only achieved a full cast last week! AAGH!! But what a cast they are. Yes, you Slough ites. If any of you are reading this).

Big Big Love to all in Brynamman and Nelson.

From your pal in Slough, Lizzie xxxxx

P.s. Can't wait to see you guys in Wales on Friday afternoon. Give me lots of jobs!
Sarah and Co, wish too that I could physically be there to help out and enthuse with you all on Wednesday but we'll certainly be connected in spirit as you storm Nelson audiences.
xx