jueves, 29 de abril de 2010

Networks Blog Stories Nr. 20: Sara Ballesta

Networks Blog Story Nr. 20 is about Sara Ballesta! She has participated in an amazing 19 shows, not only as an actress but also as the "sound-and-lights-girl", and as such she has played an essential part in Networks Theatre. Right now Sara is rehearsing for one of the main parts in the next Networks show When I Was Me. So where will it end...? ;)

1. What’s your name? Sara

2. Do you have a Networks name? Sarah

3. How many shows have you appeared in? 19 (including the ones in which I've done the lights)

4. Name them! Peter Pan, Romeo and Juliet, Scrooge.com, Robin Hood and the Abba Silver Disc, Ocean Blue, Cinderella, Make a Wish, Robin Hood the Prince Strikes Back, My School Musical, Snow White, Odysseus, The Scarecrow Girl, Remembrance, Dick Whittington, Frankenstein, The Three Princesses in Waiting, Distant Thunder, A Christmas Carol, Psychedelic Cool.

5. What was your first show? Peter Pan

6. What are your earliest memories of the shows? I remember in the first rehearsal of Peter Pan you asked us our telephone numbers; I got very nervous and I started to think of the numbers in English, but when I had learnt them all by heart, you jumped me and asked my sister... shit!


7. What is your earliest/favourite/scariest memory of Nick? My scariest memory of Nick was last year in Dick Whittington, in the dress rehearsal of Tuesday (with audience). I was doing the lights and I had to use a new CD that Nick had recorded with new tracks. When we were about to finish the show I realized the new CD didn’t have the final tracks, luckily I could easily solve the mistake by changing the CD for another that had all the tracks; apparently, the audience didn’t realize, but (of course) Nick did, and after the audience had left he started shouting "I told you to check the CD!!!" I wanted to explain to him that I didn’t have time to check the whole disc, but he carried on "well, it’s not my fault, it’s not my problem" (I hate it when he says that) I was feeling too bad to say a word so I just went home as soon as I could. But anyway, I know he also felt bad, after all, because the following day he was too nice to me.

8. What has been your favourite show to date? Robin Hood (both)

9. Do you have a favourite moment in a show or memorable moment in rehearsal? There are loads; but, well, I remember when we were doing Odysseus at Teatro Circo; at the end of the last show, Nick came up to the stage saying, with tears in his eyes, "I’m very proud of you". That’s a nice memory.

10. What is your favourite photograph of any production? The best ones have already been sent and if I now have to start to look for a photo I will never choose one. N.B. Thanks! That means I had to choose them! ;) So there´s Sara doing the sound and lights and Sara in Snow White.

11. Are there any ideas you’d like to give Nick when he’s planning productions. Stories or subjects that you think might make good shows? Not to use the "show inside a show" plot for a few years!

12. Finally can you sum up Networks Theatre in just one word? Bittersweet

martes, 9 de junio de 2009

Welcome to the Networks Theatre Blog!

Hello!

Well it's finally here. The Networks Theatre blog. A space on the internet to keep up to date with all the latest news about your theatre in English!

We all know how Networks Theatre has changed our lives in many ways. And the latest news from the Networks team is that it will continue to do so over the coming months and years.



THE CURRENT SHOW


This is our TWENTIETH theatre course and two groups are working hard! The show is the Jules Verne classic AROUND THE WORLD IN EIGHTY DAYS. As ever it's a mix of songs and scenes. Each group has over thirty actors! It's a big operation! Shows are June 18 and 19, 2009.

The famous story of Phileas Fogg and his trusty side-kick Passepartout is really capturing the imagination of the students. In this image, Fix the detective is surrounded by little detectives!

What a great way to learn English!



FUTURE SHOWS




It's time to get excited again! Well isn't it always at Networks? It's the annual theatre awards season! On October the 2nd will be our glittering gala! Four shows will be up for awards, Remembrance, Dick Whittington, Frankenstein and The Three Princesses in Waiting! So much choice! The nomination forms will be out soon!

As soon as we return from the summer break we'll begin rehearsals on two shows. Distant Thunder is part two of Remembrance. A moving account of the second world war through the eyes of poets and writers. We'll also be rehearsing A Christmas Carol - this time as a pantomime! I don't want to give too much away but it's going to be an amazing show!

Always one to economise in the times of crisis! We'll then use the same sets and hopefully some of the costumes for our younger students to perform a slimmed-down version of Scrooge in December.



THE NEW VENUE


How exciting is this news? We're getting a bigger theatre! But hold on!!! Not that big! Over the years we've had more than a few comments from theatre-goers about the size of Networks Theatre!

The first thing to say is that the magic of Networks is partly due to the intimacy of the venue. As a performer you're so close to the audience! And vice-versa of course. I don't agree at all that we should perform our shows in the local civic theatre Teatro Circo. It's an enormous venue compared to us and so much was lost last year when we performed Odysseus there for the local school kids.

This new venue will just be slightly larger. Instead of 5 metres stage width it will be 8 metres...what a difference that will make! Instead of 55 seats there will nearer to a 100! Brilliant. Thanks to Lee and Cristina's commitment to theatre and Orihuela we're in for a real treat!


That's all for this first blog...if you want to make a comment you'll have to register, if you want to contribute here and submit your own blog about Networks Theatre send the text in English and any photos to theatreinorihuela@yahoo.com. We'll publish it straight away!



Nick Moore

Artistic Director

Networks Theatre