Vanessa's Garden

One rainy day in June, the Life After cast and crew took a trip to a magical garden.....

On Saturday 16th June we took a coach far and wide to the land of Vanessa's garden. We took with us some presents of work we have devised so far and some of the scenes, songs and stories to the guests. Whether they were expecting...

everlasting love....

...goats...

...or old ladies who hold the secrets of life...

...we provided it all! The day was fantastic (apart from the weather!) and we had lots of fun showing people what we've been making in the room. Thanks to Vanessa for hosting the event and letting us play in her garden, the Bristol Old Vic Theatre Club for their continued support (and lunch!) and Geoff Dunlop for the photographs. We hope everyone who came enjoyed themselves!

All photographs by Geoff Dunlop at Kailash Multimedia

Paint Day!

 The cast get messy on paint day creating the landscape in which the story will take place... We played with bodies in the space, puppets and toys, painted landscapes and the act of painting to create new stories and characters as well as developing old ones.

The Lady of the Lake?

The house where the boy lives with his mother...

We loved these multi-coloured mountains!

Character Development

We have been exploring how makeshift costume and face paint can affect character.

The cast devise a scene based on an encounter with the Old Man of the Forest. 

They could be grannies, they could be the three fates, they could be the village weird sisters: all we know is they like to knit!

Theatre Club Donation

The Bristol Old Vic Theatre club kindly donated £1000 to the budget of the Life After which has made it possible to pay the assistants on the project. We're really grateful for their support and Norma Watson and Pauline Peck, the Theatre Club's Young Company liaison came to watch rehearsals at the end of the half term intensive week.

Bristol Old Vic Young Company accept a generous cheque from the Theatre Club
From left: Ernie Peck, Peter Leoppard, Joseph Wallace, Alistair Debling, Miranda Cromwell, Lara Simpson, Norma Watson, Pauline Peck

Half Term Warm Up

The cast create a forest. In an exploration of the elements, we grew from tiny seedlings into old oak trees, that have seen sun and snow.

The Wall of Research and Inspiration

As rehearsals go on our wall is getting more and more full of images, text and notes made and brought in by cast and crew

Finding the story of the Lake

    Bodies under fabric create a moving lake, capable of hugs and storms...