WOW - What a Week!

Hey Everyone,

I am exhausted!!!! But for all the best reasons. We have had a roller coaster of a week in Wales with Awards night and yesterday we performed at the brand new rugby stadium Parc y Scarlets and had soooo much fun doing belly dancing and getting henna tatoos and I even had the chance to do some Djembe drumming which we haven't done in AGES!!!! I am so going to dig out those drums and get drumming in the new year!!!

I would like to say a HUGE thank you to Carrie and Rhyanon for their wonderful technical skills, Jacob and Andrew for their stage management and health and safety initiatives and all the performers for performing so beautifully and sensitivly in the most fabulous costumes.

Thank you all for working so hard this week and really looking forward to BASE's Christmas event to celebrate before we break up for the holidays.

For those of you who are coming carol singing - YAY! Can't wait for that either!

See you soon!

Peri :)

TONIGHT'S THE NIGHT!!!

Hello everyone,

Well its been a while since we posted on our first and original strangers blog and so many project blogs have come along since.

I would just like to say that I am so proud of our project and every single person who has ever been involved in all three countries as well as those who have even been part of the project from another country again such as Mel in the USA!

Tonight in Wales in our fantastic community centre, the Children's Commissioner For Wales will be presenting the Wales group with their certificates and DVDs to keep as we launch the official and fabulous documentary.

I know that everyone is pretty excited and although some people are unable to be with us tonight, either due to clashes or because they have moved on I want EVERYONE to know how this project only worked because of every single person's contribution big or small.

A HUGE THANK YOU TO EVERY STRANGER>

Here's to a great party tonight!!!

Peri xxx

Good Luck!

Hi,

Just wanted to say Good Luck to you guys on your way to London!!! Hope you have a lovely time there. Well done to all involved, the award represents all the hard work each and everyone of you put in!

Well done!

Juls

Congratulations

Hi MUTM Wales,

Just wanted to let you know how proud we are of you for winning The Impetus award on behalf of the Strangers worldwide. Great to see the pics on the other blog-very presentable you all look too. Wish we could be with you to celebrate in style but maybe you could represent us in October by singing a kiwi song at the showcase in London? Just a thought!

Keep up all the great work with Peri for MUTM and make sure you keep these blogs updated so that we over here still know what you are up too.

I'm having lots of meetings over here to try to secure support for Strangers 2 so watch this space. We are hoping it will involve MUTM Wales, NZ and a youth theatre called Back Bone Youth Arts in oZ!

Keep in touch,

Sarah
MUTM NZ

Hey Strangers :D

OK so I really am a stranger!! I haven't been on here in months.. I was just sitting here watching 'The Bill' and the word 'Strangers' ran through my mind.. So I decided to jump infront of the computer and post something!!

So.... not much has happened in the 10 months that I've been on the other side of the world!
I got back from the D&A rehab about 2 months ago and things have been going great! I am completely SOBER aaaand I managed to get the whole eating thing sorted - but I'm not 100% happy as the weight came back at an alarming rate.. so I am SO afraid of going back to step 1... which would be the worst thing in the world!! AND I've been cut free for almost 2 months :D *very positive!!*

Anyhoo.. enough of the boring stuff!!
I recently decided that I needed a change after all of my personal changes.. SO I decided to ditch the blondes and I am now - BRUNETTE!! *dun dun duuuuun!!!* lol
But yeah.. I like it and I'm getting used 2 it!!

Anyway.. hope all is well and can't wait to see whats next from the Strangers Worldwide!!
Write me back!!
Mel
xoxo

Just a Hey

Hey everyone,

i thought i'd just pop and say how much fun me, peri and peter had in 2active8 today. we had a chance to help lots of disabled children and play new games with them. they also tought us a few new games too. i just hope we can do more with them in the future. peter also made a new friend called shaun. lol. anyway i know this is only short but i have to go. See you soon.

Laura
xxxx

The longest gap!!! It will be DENIED!!!

I just HAD to write a post when I realised that it is now almost a month since we updated here!

Strangers developments...

We now have a rough copy of the promotional DVD for the entire project in the three countries! WOW!!! "How exciting," I hear you cry! Well this means that in the coming months over the summer (thats winter in NZ of course!) there will be launch nights happening across the world to spread the strangers love and create more plans for Strangers 2, The Return...!.

I will update the Wales criw with dates soon and I'm sure Sarah will be already rounding up the NZ guys for their get togethers over there! We need to present certificates to all involved and invite everyone to watch the three countries' films of the shows...So watch this space....

In the meantime the Keeping it Real Project is developing smoothly in Wales alongside the Music Video project CFC/MVC which is really getting exciting now we're ready to take our ideas to Tinopolis Production Studios!!!

More watching of this space needed BUT there are plans to develop bebo/facebook/myspace/youtube pages V soon so any thoughts very well received yes please thank you!

Peri :)

grrrgg

and so.......work experience draws to a spectacular, fantazmagorical and even.....sad end...im sitting here in my kitchen, waiting for my food to cook.....reflecting at all the amazing experiences we've had...all the people we've met......and how it all seemed to not last long enough.....in one week of working with peri, ive learned more skills than i have in one year of drama classes.....i just shows how determined peri is to get young people into theatre.


.....but.....

there is one thing i will never do.........never ever in a million years will i ever do this thing that i am about to tell you.....it is so horrifyingly dreadfuly horrific....that i have forgotten what it was.....



the week we had was so fun....it was soo random aswell....some of the people we met were realy profetional.....when others were talking about the time they got a kettle to start boiling after the show!!whitch is realy cool, i never thought of doing that.....getting a kettle to boil just before im off stage....i'll have to do that......anyway on to something a little more to the point.......errrm.......


i wish i was back on work experience :'(




i do like spoons

Yet another WOW

Hey Y'all,

Over halfway thru work experience week at MUTM headquaters and so far so good - I'm having a cool time too!!!

Carmarthenshire Theatres are so cool. Yesterday we got to watch a really good piece of children's theatre by renowned Welsh company Cwmni Theatr Arad Goch form Aberystwyth ALL FOR FREE!!! We even got to interview one of the actors after the show and went right up into the top of the fly tower and Mike the technical guy explained how it all worked.

Unfortunately Tess couldn't make it today but luckily for Lewis that meant there was more room in the car and he could join us in our adventures! And now he's also going to join the team for animation training on Friday so we're adding to the troops each day now...soon to take over the world!!!

Talking of which, had a great Skype with NZ HQ last night and ran through loads of plans and ideas with Mrs Sarah Jones. She has just returned from Australia at the World Conference of Theatre for Children and Young People. I'm sure she'll be on here writing about her experiences soon but just thought I'd give you news hot of the press that global connections with other youth theatres are blossoming and Strangers Two is becoming more than a very eciting idea.....

So, next week is Half term and there's loads going on like dance workshops and trips to TV studios and make up workshops NOT TO MENTION DRAMA ON TUESDAY NIGHT!!! So get in toucgh if you want to get involved...

See Y'all.

;P

Work experience ( this tk me 3 times 2 write)

Heyy its Tash frm WALES again........ Just 2 say me, jake nd tess r all doing work experience with Peri ....... and it is awesum!!! We do all different kinds of stuff evryday we've already learned how to do basic lighting skills and to do animation. Yesterday we all played around with moving stick men, it sounds boring but it was really cwl and my cousin taught us aswell which made it even better!!!!

2day wer all going to Carmarthen theatre to watch a performance ... wer all waiting for Jake to arrive he's 50 mins late!!!!!!! :O...

So 2day is goin 2 b awesum!!

JAKE JUST TURNED UP ND IS NOW TELLING US HIS SOB STORY WHILE CROUCHED IN THE CORNER NEARLY CRYING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


nd Peri isn't even shouting at him but sayin sugar will help u nd complimenting him on his theatrical performance



byeeeee Tash



xXxXxXxX

apologies for my rudness

well.....i feel like a noob......ive been part of this shindig for the better part of 5 or 6 months.....and i have yet to post a propper (....errr.......what do you call these things??).....see.....thats how much of a noob i am....i dont kno what these are called!

anyway, my full name is Jacob Gregory Thomas.....i live in a place called Ammanford....and im moving out of it as soon as the opertunity comes around.....not because of the people living there...or theres nothing to do....its just.......i n to going to get anywhere living in ammanford.....you know?? like im not going to reach the places i want to reach.......if any of that makes sence to youm, please comment me to say so......because you can;)

i was born in swansea city....not sure what hospital......im sure it wasnt expencive tho........swansea is a good place to go......to go meet my peeps from the town that is swansea is always a good way to spend a saterday.......go into the town and spend unnessisary amounts of mony on things you don't really need.....always fun..........yeah.......but then you realise that you just spent the money you need to use to get on the bus.....then you panic......but then one of your amazing friends that you have gives you a lift.....so all in all you've gaind XD


the most important thing to me...........i hard question that.......a question that few people can answer.....but a question that all can ask.....if i was to say the most important thing to me was my life.....i would be lying to you......it is important to me.....but not the most important.......i would say........love.....not as in romantic love......we can live without that........but its the friendhip love that keeps this world from falling in on itself......and i think that can be everyones answer to the question: "what is the most important thing to you?"


my life.........i live my life following simple rules that you too can follow:

1)no matter what happens, get out of it with a smile, and you'r head held high.

2) the only people who's opinions should change you, are the people you love, and the people who love you back.

3)not everything in life is there to be taken seriousely, lighten up.

4)if you don't want to hear something, don't listen. a simple solution to an anoying problem.

5)if it ist you'r problem, don't make it you'r problem.

6)who care's? sing it loud, sing it proud!



and thats me......not much to me........but i've lived with it so far.....might aswell carry on......

wanna talk??MSN addy!!

jacob-greg-thomas@live.com


we love you all

errrrr....sup?

Hello in the land of wales:)

my name is jacob.....im this tall.....im 15......and i dont realy know why im telling you this.........yeah........ive been with the strangers progect since september, 2007.......and im now currently doing work experience with mess up the mess.....so really what im doing is filming random stuff, and going to theatres for free:).......so while everyone else is making tea for some monkey in a suit....im here with my friends having a great laugh! and to top it off.....some monkey is making me tea!!........irony or what?

In work experience, its not all fun and games.....peri made sure:(..........so we are traveling the country, searching for the perfect spoon......i like spoons.......but more to the point, we are making animations, music traks and editing films profetionaly.....we are also intervewing profetionals in thier fild of work, in the theatre.......tis good fun:)

Sun is shining !!

Well its been ages since i commented last. The sun is SHINING brighter than ever!!!!
i should be doing my coursework but it popped into my head to do this.
So we have strangers on tuesday i think were rehearsing for the Global Day!!
Any ideas?? Its all about economical issues involving young people and stuff??


Time to bounce and get back to my essay
Cheerio
Alex

Hey!

Hey everyone

Sorry I haven't been on here in AGES! life's been a bit stressful of late! exams, revision, drama mock devised piece! it all builds up! but anyway as it is the bank holiday tomorrow! (WWWWWWWWWWWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO) I thought I would pop onto the blog and say hey! anyway...
Firstly huge congratulations to EVERYONE who took part in the mini festival! I heard from someone in school that it was excellent! so a massive well done and huge apologies that I couldn't be there, I was sat in a very boring meeting in Carmarthen, but being in that meeting does mean that I am now officially Brynaman's Carmarthenshire Youth Council Rep, so if you have any issues you'd like sorting (in Wales only, sorry New Zealand and Slough) give me a shout and I'll see what I can do! but back to the festival, I can't wait to hear about it and hopefully there might be a video of it somewhere?

Secondly another thank you note to all of the Strangers who attended the BASE DVD premier on Tuesday, I hope you all enjoyed it! and there should be a press release about it in the paper soon! (if you would like to buy the dvd give Alex, Me or Owain a shout and we can get you a copy)

Thirdly another thank you (there seems to be a pattern forming) to Peri for organising the trip to see Full Circle in Ammanford, it was absolutely great! and defiantly did deserve its title of wow!

well that's enough of me rambling, hopefully I'll see the Wales lot on Tuesday and we can catch up on all the gossip! hope all of the other strangers groups are well!

Speak soon!
Pete

"WOW"

That was the response from all of us after watching Hijinx's summer production "Full Circle" on Thursday night. It was such a beautiful piece of theatre with such strong and clear messages about following your dreams and having a circle of friends around you to support you. The audience even got the chance to join in kareoke stylee!! Wicked!

I must also point out how fortunate we all at MUTM were to be offered such reduced rate tickets. £2 to see such an amazing production is really special - the tickets were actually £7.50!!! A big thank you to Hijinx Theatre and The Miners' Theatre for that opportunity of which 8 lucky young people from MUTM took advantage of - Peter, Tess, Jacob, Sophie, Katie, Laura, Haddy and Alex - really glad you could make it.

After the show I was bombarded by you lot with ideas and feedback on the performance and its style and how we reckon we might be able to work with Hijinx in some way in the future....I spoke to Gaynor Lougher, the artistic director, after the show and they are keen for us to get involved in stuff going on at the Wales Millenium Centre, Cardiff - where they are based - some time in June...SO WATCH THIS SPACE!!!

In the meantime, plans are coming together for the Keeping it Real project in July and I am currently recruiting professional bilingual theatre artists for us to work with....Keep watching this space!!!

Anyway, I'd just like to say how much I enjoyed the trip to the theatre on Thursday and how you guys make a fab audience and are clearly watching theatre with a reflective eye. I drove home with a really happy feeling and am getting really excited about all our summer events!!!

Take it easy y'all,
Peri :)

MINI FEST-TASTIC and lots more to come!!!

Hey everyone,

"Our Square Mile" fest took place at the Pensioners on Wed and was a great success. Using all the work and ideas you guys came up with over the past month with Sarah was a great way to showcase and highlight your hard work for your parents and local community. Jess from Siop Laria was very impressed with the physical nature and style of your performance as she is a movement performance artist. So huge thanks to her for making the effort to come along and support your work.

In the meantime, the MUTM plans keep on rollig and the next events are

Trip to AMT tomorrow night to watch Hijinx Theatre perform Full Circle - Eloise from Play in a Day will be performing so please come and support the show if you can - tickets £2.50 if you meet Me at the door.

Saturday 17th May is Global Day at Glanamman Resource Centre - Last year Tess, Jacob and Sophie attended and took part in a workshop and mini performance. This year I hope there will be a few more of us so that we can perform bits of strnagers and some of the work from Our Square Mile. We will rehearse for this on the next 2 tuesdays, k?

Monday 19th May is a youth event in Brynaman with hotdogs, climbing wall and DJ workshops at St Catherine's Hall which I'm volunteering at and everyone is welcome to attend.

Also that week Tess, Tash and Jacob will be on work experience with Mess Up the Mess at the community centre and Ammanford Miners Theatre...Looking forward to seeing you guys soon!!!

The following week is May half term and The CFC Music Video Project starts up with trips to Tinopolis Studios and Makeup workshops and dance sessions. This project will continue through the summer and there are loads of ways you can get involved so watch this space...

Also during the summer there will be drama workshops which I will keep you updated on as we go along.

WELL...I think thats enough to be getting on with and I'm bound to have missed something out!

Hope all you strangers out there are cool and you guys in NZ are looking forward to getting Sarah back in a few weeks time when she gets back from the World conference of theatre for children and young people in Adelaide Australia ... WOW!!! Good luck Sars!!!

Peri xxx

Hey

Hia Strangers....

Just thought id say hello...i havent blogged for ages!!

As Peri mensions on the next comment we had a Physical Theatre Workshop in BCC Thursday...It was great but my legs hurt after.

Also we have a Mini fest as Peri also says 'Our Square Mile' ... cant whait!

Wel speak soon

Owain

xx

Physical theatre in Brynaman is energetic and amazing!

I simply HAD to post about last night's amazing physical theatre workshop at the community centre.

9 young people from the Amman Valley attended and created 2 full hours of incredibly focused and high quality physically devised theatre. The level of concentrationa and standard of work was excellent and Sarah and I are both VERY impressed with the maturity of the group.

Only 6 days now until the mini fest at the pensioners hall and I've no doubt that some of last night's work will be included in some way or another....

Looking forward to putting the structure of work together on Tuesday and planning the stories/images you guys want to tell the audience.

Please remind your parents and friends that we need an audience on Wednesday at 7.30 (only for 30 mins or so) and that tea and biscuits will be provided!

See you Tuesday!!!

Peri ;)

Exciting things still going on...!

Hey everyone,

Just a quick post to update everyone on the world of Strangers - post Strangers in Brynaman.

The group are currently still meeting every week for physical theatre and devising workshops with Sarah and Peri at the Pensioners Hall and coming up with some FANTASTIC ideas and possibilities. We have now set a date for the "Our Square Mile" mini drama festival wich will take place at either the Aelwyd Hall or the Pensioners on Wednesday 23rd April . . . only 2 weeks away!!!

We're going to use the event as an opportunity to present our work to parents and friends during the evening and it will start at 7.30pm.

Its all about the way we feel about the area we live and work in and what Brynaman means to us...ITS GOING TO BE WELL COOL!!!

Looking forward to Tuesday, Guys. And if you're reading this in Wales and feel like you've been missing out - come and join us again - you're MORE than welcome!!!

Peri :)

A few months on.....

Just a message to see how people are? I know slough are only just breaking up for holidays (ive been off for 3 weeks and i go back monday its been seriously boring) so i hope you all have a nice break. We've been slowly getting busier lol with more drama to do and gatherings/meetings to organise. Some of us met up today to arrange a parrty lol whilst peri chris and julianna worked on an old dvd adding welsh subtitles... ITS ALLL GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD.
So anyone got any ideas for futurew strangers???


[Bounce Back]

Alex

(p.s. we've kidnapped sarah mwahahahaha)

IDEAS

Me and haddy sat down and brainstormed.!! Sensible conversation and everything. We feel strangers should create a cluster of performances where we all create individual performances (ie. monologues, dance, drama, art etc.) and Create their own ideas. Mine and Haddies idea- A Contemporary dance/Physical Theatre representing an arguement with a monologue over the top where each side dance and monologue respond to each other. And possibly using Neon UV paints to create something out of nothing. ( its hard to write down but we know what i mean)

Hope everyone is ok..xxx

THIS BLOG IS STILL ALIVE....HONEST!!!

Hey Strangers round the world,

Just been talking to Alex Griffiths about ideas for keeping the Strangers project going for a bit longer while Sarah Jones is here in Wales - HOORAY!!!! Sorry NZ that we've stolen her a for a little while.

Really good to see that Polly and Laura from the Welsh criw have been blogging while I was in Italy and that there is still life in this blog yet!!!

We all still need to get back together in the 3 countries to watch our films of the performances and have a kind of Strangers Finale Event in Wales - not sure how possible this is in Slough and NZ but where there's a will there's a way! And inventive ideas are always welcome here...! So get blogging everybody!!!!!

Alex tells me that some Wales Strangers have been discussing where we go from here and the idea is evolving about some street theatre opportunities to "spread the word of Strangers" so to speak, and more physical/dance ideas for the future. I'm sure that Sarah and I can come up with some exciting workshops and schedule some inventive programmes for you all to get involved in and make sure you have your say about and learn to lead yourselves through as well.

May I also add how proud I am of all the Strangers who were able to attend the Heritage Lottery "Your Square Mile" event on Saturday. The Dynamix Youth Consultation leaders were well impressed with your knowledge and understanding of heritage and how you obviously all gell so well as a group - "Everybody needs good Strangers"!!! I think oneof my favourite bits of the day was taking Barney the Puppet on a tourist guide of Brynaman. He's sooooo cute! As soon as I get the photos off Tashy's phone I'll post a pic on here - or maybe Tashy could do it quicker...? Race you Tash!

Anyway, really really sorry that Strangers had to be postponed to next Tuesday, but something good did come out of it...Alex and Peter attended a community meeting with me and Juliana about getting things going in the village and by the end of the meeting we were all discussing an exciting Lantern Parade of all the different groups with masks and music and lights and fire and circus!!!! Thats my kind of village event if ever I heard of one!!!

Also I just need to add a big congratulations to Peter and Alex for joining up on the Youth Council - YAY! You guys are some of the most motivated and positive young people I know...as well as all the rest of you strangers WORLDWIDE!!!

Right must sleep soon so Ciao for now!! Bella Pasta Bellissimo!!! Yay!!!!

Peri/

missing you all!!!!!

hi guys!!!
i just wanted to say how mush i am missing the stangers project i can garantee that we were all having loads of fun.
maybe we could talk to u on skype soon.
or come and visit on a trip! hint hint peri!

Hiia everyone

Hope everyone had fun in the shows.

I cant wait to see the films!!!

Its going to be so funky!!! lol

Well i hope everyone is having fun in whatever your doing!!!!

See you soon.

Love

Laura

xxxxx

Dear New Zealand Post Show Skypers

Guys, thanks soooo much for getting up early on Saturday to share the buzzy moment of having just opened our Strangers Slough show.

With your help and support over the past chunk of a year, we told a great story with some wonderful characters and our audience were wowed by what WE have created together.

I must apologise though to you all if at all you felt that we somehow bulldozed your beautiful Maori song by singing along with the tune at the end of your rendition.

It was meant to show you that we too knew it in our hearts and that it has become an anthem for us these past few months. Of course, what it must have come across as was a load of excited teenagers laa - ing away in a hyper sort of way. We were hyper, yes!

When we used your song in our show we used it in sync with a physical theatre boat, gently swaying as the settlers arrive on the shores of New Zealand to hear this beautiful melody. Our actors then sang it in Maori, then hummed it quietly whilst signing and speaking the words, 'If I were a bird on the wing etc.' It was definitely one of our favourite elements in rehearsal.

It highlighted for us the effects of colonialisation, how often the real beauty of a people is overlooked in favour of one's own blind intentions and desires. And it has happened all throughout history all over the world.

What I am trying to say is sorry if we offended in any way and that truly, truly, we are so grateful that you shared your folk music with us and we now carry it in our hearts for ever.

Thank you.

Looking forward to seeing all three plays together on DVD now and sending big love v ibes to you all.

Peace n love all ,

Lizzie x

Happy St David's Day Strangers

I've just seen Peri off in her little green car, back down the M4 on her way from seeing the Slough Opening night.

It was great to have her around last night to help rush around getting things sorted and to greet audiences and manage the skype with New Zealand. We all felt very connected with our pals across the globe.

But alas, for me, Peri has to return to you lovely Edders to get you all ready for your next showcase of your fab story.

So, I hope it goes swimmingly and that you have a wonderful day in honour of strangers and your homeland's celebration day.

Daffodils all round.

Lizzie x

St 'Fangans'

Hello all

Just eating my breakfast and getting ready to drive to St Fagins for the last (scheduled) appearence of Wales' 'Strangers' at our national museum. Went there yesterday to look at the set up and it is going to be brilliant. The sun is shining and i can't wait to see all the Strangers again (two weeks seems like FOREVER!) Good luck everybody and again WELL DONE to Strangers World Wide for all your hard work and creativity. I think you'll all agree it's been well worth it.

naTasha (Wales SM)

Post-show Slough Skype

Skype between Nelson and Wales after Slough's opening night!
Strangers Magical Nelson T-Shirts!

Pre-Slough Skype Blogging

We are so organised we have finished setting up for our post-Slough show skype early! I'm here with Charlotte now waiting for the others to show up. We are so excited and hope that the Slough group will have as much fun post-show skyping as we did with Wales! We've got questions to ask but if they are as crazy as we were post show then not much chat will happen! Instead maybe we'll just sing eachother a tune or two!
Jess has just got here and is not sure if he is up for the day. Hopefully we can persuade him to enjoy the moment! By for bnow Mr Bloggg-talk soon!

Mel's Video

Hey Mel, I'm Tess :)

*Waves*

I Go To Strangers In Wales..

You Asked For People To Let You Know What We Think Of Your Video, Tis Very Awesome!

I Love Evanescence, This Is a Drawing Of Amy Lee..

Well Done And Keep It Up!

Hope You're Okay, And Enjoying :)

X x x <3

strangers!!!!!!!!

heyyy its tash from wales!! just wana say that our play was awesome and evrything went smoothly!!!!!!! i felt guilty cause all our rehearsals was takin up our half term and i started 2 complain but wen we did the play everythin was sooooo worth it and i wud definately do it again!!!!!!

anyway the first night was amazing and we wer all really xcited 2 finally get 2 do our play which has taken ages 2 do........ so it was awesome nd our set was AMAZIN!!!!! nd the mime film was def 1 of the best parts of it( :'( i cudnt do it) ....... but the second night we werent as xcited nd it didnt feel as good but aftr a while we all felt awesum again nd wer in a way relieved it was ovr but upset at the same time!!!!!!


So soon wer gna start writing a new 1 cant wait!!!!!!!!!!! lol its bn awesum 6 months met loads of new ppl nd learnt loads!!! oh ye nd me nd peter went on the radio advertising lol twas funny but missed out on breakfast :( ................. cant wait 4 next play sooooooo xcited!!!!!



tash xXx

A "Jesy" View on the Strangers experience

Tena Koutou Katoa (a modern protical from me 2 u bloggers right?)
good to c this thing still going strong and buzi fof the past month. (my absence).

now, the "view", haha
The perfomances got a good feedbacks from the audiances, which is what i rated the over allshows on, oh, and how our actor/ess performed.. I, personaly, not to bragg or anything got lots of unexpected positive feedback from teachers and other persons on the nelson streets that i strugled to remeber their names....whoopz,

before shows the others would get real nervous, but I felt kynda out of the group cause I was fine. almost not into it. how RUDE!!!

oh well,
PIZZA is here now

Ka kite ano koutou!!!

Jesy

hey guys this is the strangers crew from nelson nz
Our performance was OFF DA HOOK, CHOICE AND PRIMO
we enjoyed the summer rehearsing. strangers was an unbelievable
experience we will never forget. we liked meeting new people and liked being involved in an unique production. We learned alot more acting skillz, how to connect with our characters, and the History of different places. We cried when it ended!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! big shout outz to da slough krew good luck, and well done wales.

my video :D haha

Hey,
Just thought I would share this video of me playing guitar...
I've been taking guitar lessons at school and thought I would
make a video :D Playing guitar took up most of my time after
DRAMA CLASSES WERE CUT!!!

Hope you all like it and let me know what you think...
Mel
xoxo

IM BACK!!!!

Hey everyone!

Just thought I'd stop in and say HI as I havent been on in a while...
Just trying to get myself together and become a regular teen again!
Woohoo... but being normal kinda sucks... atleast I think it does!
Heck! Everyone involved in Drama has to have a wierd side :D
(Especially Peri and Lizzy!) only joking :D

Anyway, It looks like two of the productions went REALLY well! I cant believe
that its already performance time.. it seems like only yesterday that
we were told about the project and we weren't really sure how well
it was going to go.. or if there would even be a final production!

Anyway, enough of memory lane! ... I just wanted to say CONGRATS to everyone involved in the
project and good luck to the Slough team who should be performing
soon! Its going to be great... I wish I could be there in person to see it
but unfortunately I'm 11 hours away :( But I suppose everything happens
for a reason and HOPEFULLY there will be more performances?!

Anyhoo..
Luv ya all and wish everyone the best!
Mel
xx

PS. My school dropped drama and music from our school curriculum so I'm
not the happiest person at the moment... :( I even started learning to play
piano and my guitar skills are WAY better now.. I even performed on stage
doing singing and guitar playing with a friend... and now its all over :( it sucks!

ur pictures!

hello fellow chums :)

hope u r all well :) i am thankooo!

jus had to say, this may sound wellll sad, but i have everyone's pictures stuck to my corkboard in my room!

but i'm not so sad as to like say hello to them every morning nd gud nite every nite haha wel.. maybe the morning but that's all i swear!

anywayyy, haha..

i'm very bored and very very sad that the production's over, but hey it's not entirely over!

check out my profile or whatever it is u call it on this thing..

keep in touchie!

love, tessss xxxxxxx<3

deslie message

hi wales new zealand i play mum and gwen ive had so much fun with both charaters we just done the mountin in a very spiritual way and me and talent who plays julie hav done peeping tom.were having so much fun and i hope we still stay in contact.

hey guys :)

hey guys!

wow i cant believe we've actually done the perfoormances, it was so quick!

i've got to say, this has been the best thing i've ever done.

i've met so many great people, and all with the same hobby as me, being a drama queen!

*cough* peter *cough* ;)

well done to everyone, and thank you.

you're the best!

x x x x x tess<3>

WOW!

Just wanted to say a MASSIVE congratulations to the Brynaman team. Came to see the show on Saturday night and it was amazing! So much focus and concentration onstage, everyone pulling together and helping each other. I shed a little tear when the two Gwen's climbed the mountain - Peri shed a whole bucketful. The music and lighting and the script made it beautiful, as did the two Gwens, but most of all it was because everyone was working together so brilliantly. I could probably spend the next half hour or so boring the pants off everyone with all of my favourite bits....but I won't. It is enough to say that you were all fantastic...every single one of you....you really pulled together as an ensemble and it absolutely worked. I wanted to give you a standing ovation at the end because I was so impressed.... and I'm not easily impressed! Well done to everyone involved, onstage and off! Eloise :-)

My first .... Blog ( is that the write way to put it )

heya everyone!!

i hav found out how to use it!

i suppose now most of our shows hav finished this will be the only way to talk to u guys.

well i got to go

bye bye

xxxxx

Polly

Morning Wales and Slough, Good evening Nelson

It is now Tuesday morning here beneath Y Mynydd Du and the sun is just rising. Three days after our performacnces in Wales, the land of song, and I am still excited by the buzz in the air around our achievements. Today I head west to the sea in Pembroke, where my actual roots really really are and take part in a Global Youth Networking Event where I have been specially invited to do a presentation on our project - Strangers across the Globe.

How cool are we?!? Very.

Tonight, however I shall return and meet with Criw Cymru for an evaluative debriefing session at the Pensioners Hall and I'm really excited about that too!

What have we really learnt from this project? We know how much fun it has been over the last 6 months but what will we actually take away with us? One thing I've learnt, asna I'm sure many others, is to simply write on a blog for the fist time in my life! I remember asking the Wales group in September whether anyone had ever used a webcam for a conversation with someone elsewhere and noboday in the room ever had. Now that seems strange as its so normal to us to get up at 8 in the morning and roll out of bed for tea and toast with Strangers Nelson!

I have also learnt that in Brynaman people really are "kind" like Stranger tells Gwen on the Mountain. So many volunteers pulled together on Friday and Saturday night - not to mention all the staff who had no choice!!! People were packing folders full with info on the project and selling programmes and collecting feedback forms and stopping some audience members from leaving at the interval when they thought it was the end! Jess from Siop Laria (the shop used in the Miming film!) was there and loved the line about the tic tac! Staff from the centre loved the show and all the local references, epecially "This is Brynaman Public Hall" - thank you Brian for allowing us to use the cinema for the film and supporting our ideas.

The whole of our play was founded on the cinema in Brynaman still being used today as in 1926 and I think that we should arrange an group outing to celebrate it soon! Even though some people have already started this trend with Elmo in Grouchland! ;)

Anyway, I think I should probably be getting ready to drive now and preparing my thoughts for the presentation but I really just wanted to say - Thank you to everyone and I'm really looking forward to seeing Criw Cymru tonight and Slough Massive on Thursday. Nelson, perhaps we can catch up on the webcam when Sarah's back in Wales - I'm sure we'll all be missing each other by then, won't we?!

Wish me presentation luck! xxx

Hey guys!

Just wanted to say that I had a real awesome time with everyone. I had so much fun, even though it was hard work somtimes and I hope everyone enjoyed it as much as I did. I think we all did a good job. I'm actually missing you already...

Congratulations to Wales, sounds like you had great performances!
Good luck, and enjoy the rest of your time to Slough!

Thanks to everyone,
Charlotte

Strangers Review

Six months work is a long time for what is essentially a small youth project, most average scale tours would take less time. But then this hasn’t been your usual ‘small’ project. A piece of theatre, devised by 3 separate youth groups, directed by 3 directors, designed by 3 designers, all merged to make one play performed by the different parties in, Brynamman, Wales, Slough, England and Nelson, New Zealand. No, certainly not the usual thing you see in theatres, anywhere!

I’d first like to say a massive well done and thanks to everyone involved, it really has been a collaborative effort, and there in lies the ‘something’ that has made this project very different indeed. Collaboration’s.

Theatre is by its nature a collective and a highly collaborative experience, where different people with different ideas come together to produce a play/performance/piece of art, for an audience in a live situation. But with Strangers, how the play was made, the very sharing of ideas and melding of cultures, personalities, and the journeys taken, were the celebrated basis for the performance, rather than a component hidden form the audiences attention.

This is all unique to Strangers, and because it is unique, it has to be seen as a grand experiment. For me it was ultimately rewarding, even if the path was at times unclear. Communication was key in this, as it would be in any theatre show, but because of the nature of the project it was vital, and a lack of it would have been catastrophic. So the Blog is brilliant, an almost uncharted venue with which to show and explore ideas. It really helped when you needed to check you were going in the same direction as everyone else. Also, the 8pm/9am Wales - New Zealand production meetings, yet another unique aspect to this project. If anything, there could have been more sharing, but saying this, when do you stop sharing and start actually doing?

So, going into this not really knowing what to expect, meant it was easier to take it as it comes, trying to ground the design in the ideas of my group, as well as respecting what was happening in the other camps, this was a personal challenge for me, and one that attracted me to the project. I did have reservations however, over what we could achieve; not forgetting that this was an experiment. An experiment with a new youth theatre comprised of young people, most of whom had never devised or acted in theatre before. But I was to learn, the journey and the process was just as important to the projects ethos as the performance itself. Because as said before, the process was celebrated not kept in the theatre wings.

In fact what we created was of excellent quality. I love working with young people, you often find that they uncomplicated things and come up with amazingly clear ideas. Multiple that by three youth companies and something special happens. In particular the scene with Lt. Charles on a bench, (on the projection screen, in New Zealand) talking to Julie sat on a bench on stage (in Wales), while the ghosts of who they are discussing Waltz around stage. A scene not only symbolic of journeys and strangers, but describing perfectly the power in the collaboration. If you were to witness this done by a National Theatre, it would be celebrated and talked about for years. This just one moment of many; not forgetting ghosts coming through the cinema screen and the physical theatre creation of the black mountain, moments all worthy of a larger stage.

I learnt a lot on Strangers as I hope did all involved. With the Slough end of the project still to go, it will interesting to see in months to come how this project is viewed. But one thing is clear, ‘the experiment‘, whether successful or not, this time or next. It’s very process and collaboration has given young people an insight into different worlds and opened up the arts in a very unpretentious and non-school-type way. Long may learning like this continue.

Alex Robertson

Well Done Wales!

Hi all,

I just want to say a huge well done to Wales! It was a fantastic performance and you all did a great job! It left wanting to see more :) I also want to say a big well done to Peri and all the others who have been running around behind the scenes for months, you've done an excellent job with Strangers! I know you won't rest much Per, especially with St. Fagans coming up but just wanted to say great job!

Juls

WOW!

Hey Guys

The title kind of says it all for me, wow. I can't think of another way to describe it, looking back at all of the work that has gone into this performance and all of the weird and wonderful ideas that made the performances so great! I would like to say a MASSIVE thanks to everyone who helped with this project, the writers, the actors, the crew, the volunteers and the randomers who got roped in, without each and every one of you this project wouldn't have been so great! so thank you! and of course without Peri, Lizzie and Sarah this wouldn't have even happened, so absolutely massive thanks to you!
*New Zealand, well done! your photos look great and i can't wait to see how you adapted it all together!
*Wales, you're all fab! well done! love u loads!
*Slough, i cannot wait to see how your play goes! the best of luck! you'll all be GREAT!

Anyway before i burst into floods of emotional tears i had better shut up! Speak to you all soon! and enjoy the buzz!

Pete xxx

Last Night

Hey everyone!
Thought I'd blog here for the first time and tell everyone how last night went as the last show in Wales.
It was so much fun =] although Alex R needs to stop waving his stick around and stop calling me plain odd. LOL. Everything went smoothly and the audience loved the play (Y)
Here's hoping everything goes well in Slough!!

Lots of Luck and Love <33
Lubbi xox

IMAGES FROM STRANGERS-MAGICAL NELSON!

Opening number Strangers
Opening Number Strangers
The boat to NZ
Gwen on the Black Mountain
Mr Sillar song

Julie and Settlers

Mr Sillar travels to Slough

Settlers
Mr Sillar
Percival runs away

These photos were taken by Anita Peters and Murray Hedwig.

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