Cast List

Just realised that you dont officially know the casting:

so please find below the cast details:

STUDENT 1: CHRIS HOGBEN
STUDENT 2: TOM HACKNEY
STUDENT 3: CRAIG GILBERT
STUDENT 4: SAM DONNELLY

I am delighted to have got you all on board.

In terms of script: please ensure you are looking to the METHUEN edition, it is the edition you should bring to rehearsals, I would advise you also bring a paper copy as sent to you all previously as well as a hard copy should you wish.

In terms of line learning: given a 6 week or even 4 week rehearsal period I would never request being off book before rehearsals begin. In this instance we have 2, and we have a huge mountain to climb, having script worries into the the second week is a recipe for seriously compounding any insecurities. I would seriously sugegst trying to get of book asap. Certainly by Friday of week one I will be asking that books are not brought onto the rehearsal floor. It is beastly, I know, but neccessary I feel if we are to do the play justice.

Finally on this note, we will in the first week be working towards a basic rudimentary run through, to which Ellie, Max and the team at SHP will be invited to. Ellie has requested to come in and her feedback and support will hopefully be constant in the project up till the Southwark opening. I want to warn you in advance of this, and to affirm a principle that the way I work is not to close off the rehearsal room entirely, whilst keen to make it a safe and comfortable place to try out ideas, I do invite constructive and structured feedback from a chosen few who will be popping in and out from time to time. Half the time they wont be concerned directly with what you are doing, but rather concnetrating on matters of design/costume/staging etc.

Just remember that this early rehearsal period is a pre cursor to another week before Southwark and another two before the tour opens in Autumn, it is as much a chance for the design and creative team to try out ideas as it is for you guys, so please dont feel an undue sense of pressure that is resting in your shoulders solely. There is a large support team in place, and we are all here working together on one piece to make it as good as it can possibly be.

Please try and learn it as neutrally as is feasibly possible- a difficult request- but it will be tough to have to re-learn something to say it/feel it in an altogether different manner.

Finally I would be keen to hear your initial thoughts on the characters you are all due to play. Nothing concrete, just initial responses, take the hints within the text and run a little with them-
eg: crucially why they play their respective characters in the play itself? How you think this reflects on their own personalities and how the experience of rebelling against the school and acting out this play is important to them not just as a group, but also as individuals.

Again I reiterate that nothing you write binds you to any interpretation, any back story or anything like that, it should just be a rambling if needs me, guttural response to your character and his role within the play.