How to Play Like a Grown Up

Yer Tis

2012-04-05T11:22:00.011-07:00

If you live in, work in, come from, visit, know or have any thoughts about the county of Somersetshire, then read on. (Please read on if these descriptors are true either in the past, present or maybe even future).

Between 2002 - 2005, three close friends and I ran Peter Quince Theatre Company, romping around Somerset and Dorset making plays and films and teaching young people how to make plays and films.

Once the Quince stopped making work and I left Somerset as a theatre maker, I vowed I would return one day to get back on the wagon. Herein lies the beginning of that journey.

The first stage is this little project. In a nutshell, I am the actor, and my friend/colleague/fellow Somersetian Emma Earle is the director. Together we are making YER TIS, a new play designed to inspire young people into loving Somerset.

We are in pre-Research and Development stage at the moment. Thanks to the generosity of Take Art we are spending two days in May thinking about the play properly, and then in August we'll be making it. Come September and I will be performing it to small audiences of young people and anyone interested in Somerset for the beginnings of what I hope will be a long and fruitful return to creating and producing theatre in Somerset.

To start, you can help, dear reader. If you have any connection to Somerset, please answer these questions for me. Send your replies to my email address: chalkythenick@hotmail.co.uk or leave a comment below.

Thank you. Simply, thank you.

What is your connection with Somerset? Where do you live, where did you grow up, how did your work take you around the county?
Where is your favourite place in Somerset? This might be a town or village, specific building or feature of the natural environment. But just one place!
How do you feel about Somerset? Do you love it, like it, dislike it, despise it? Why?
What do you think of when you think about Somerset? What is the first thing that comes to mind?
What does Somerset mean to you?
If you could save one thing about, or from Somerset, what would it be and why?
If you could describe Somerset in one word, what would it be?
Do you have anything else you’d like to say about Somerset?

30 Years Old - Here is the Update

2012-03-28T03:12:00.000-07:00

So, for anyone wondering how far I have got in achieving my aims for 2012 here is a quick update

2.Go to see Beth Hart play in London (see more live music)

This was one of my favourite things so far, my sisters, brother and friends went to London for the weekend. We stopped in at Madame Tussauds and basked in some fine London weather before seeing Bath Hart play an awesome gig in the Sheppard Bush Empire. Check out her stuff at http://www.bethhart.com/

3.Play Frolly at least twice (June and August)

The dates are set and invites sent. I have even been practising and have made a net out of garden string following some on-line tutorials about making nets to catch animals in... mine is not for catching animals it just looks like a child has fashioned a tennis net with two left hands, but it will do the job. There are pictures on the Frolly Face page if people are interested https://www.facebook.com/Frollying

5.Improve my guitar playing (play 3 songs well)

I have started lessons and I am practising every day. Check out Bath Guitar School is you are interested in learning http://www.bathguitarschool.com/

6.Make an animation and submit it for a film festival

I have completed a puppet making for stop motion course and have a story board worked out for the animation. Although we are not going to use puppets the course was a great introduction to animation, and a huge amount of fun. I went to Puppet Place in Bristol who ran the evening class over six weeks. They run other courses and workshops and are a great company to check out for all things puppetry in the South West http://www.puppetplace.org/

7.Draw up my family tree

I have an Ancestry account (http://www.ancestry.co.uk/) and I have started pulling together all of the details to complete my family tree.

13.Laugh until I cry

The 'Fenton' You Tube video made me laugh until I cried. This is just the one I can recall, but I think this aim goes on throughout the year.

18.Go to a Whiskey Tasting and learn more about the drink

Tick, done! and I loved it, we now have a small collection of whiskies to suit the mood of the evening. We went to a tasting in Bath with the Tasting Rooms, they also do wine tasting and offer lovely food http://www.tastingroom.co.uk/

Sunrise from the Train between Bath and Swindon 2012

25.Watch a sunrise

There was a period over a month where I watched the sunrise everyday from the train window. It was spectacular. The photo does not to it justice by any means, but you get the idea.

26.Write letters to my friend's new born baby Elly throughout the year

This is ongoing, but I send something every couple of months.

29.Write letters to my Niece and family

This is also ongoing and it is my turn to write to Sophie. Humm, this is a good point, I should get cracking with that now... Dearest Sophie,

Come on Mr White-White, it's time you joined in!

2012-01-02T08:26:00.000-08:00

Hello there.

You may be surprised to read a blog entry from me. Up until now, I have been conspicuous in my absence. Mrs White-White has been by and large the main blog contributor to How To Play Like a Grown Up. After twice saying to her I needed to write more, she calmly pointed out my complete lack of presence here.

Well its time for me to put my money where my mouth is.

Inspired by Mrs White-White's recent post "2012 and I will be 30" I am sharing my commitments for the year. Some are similar to hers and some are unique to me. And because I am going to be 32 this year, I have a slightly longer list.

1.Share a picture of my life every month (see above - this is a picture of Ed taken at my wedding, by Will Bayliss)

2.See more live music

3.Play Frolly at least twice (June and August)

4.Visit family and friends more

5.Join a band that will accommodate my very rookie clarinet skills

6.Read more books more regularly

7.Go to the theatre more

8.Start my brand new Somerset-based theatre company

9.Commit to playing for Old Sulians RFC more regularly

10.Score five tries before the end of the calendar year

11.Tell my mum I am playing rugby

12.Ride my bike around Bristol, around Bath and to new, interesting places

13.Laugh until I cry

14.Make better bread

15.Write a blog every month either here, or for Arts Professional (my other blog home)

16.Keep a daily short film diary and post it here each week

17.Build a sand castle (a good one)

18.Go to a Whiskey Tasting and learn more about the drink

19.Paint with oils

20.Go to the Somerset Museum in Taunton

21.Visit other museums in Somerset

22.Do the Bath Skyline Walk (again, but with more family and friends)

23.Swim in the sea

24.Write letters to my nephews and neice

25.Write letters to my friends around the world

26.Go to watch Somerset play cricket with my dad and brother

27.Go on a steam train

28.Win something

29.Contribute more to the company I am a trustee of, and their sister company

30.Get to know the neighbours more

31. Eat more fruit

32. Save at least £2,500

2012 and I will be 30

2012-01-02T08:04:00.000-08:00

So we are on the second day of 2012 and this is the year of my (Mrs White-White) 30th Birthday so here is my year's to do list, which just so happens to be made up of 30 things.

Happy to take suggestions for other things to try as part of bonus activities:

1.Go camping and have a camp fire to tell stories around

2.Go to see Beth Hart play in London (see more live music)

3.Play Frolly at least twice (June and August)

4.Visit family and friends more (including going over to France and Italy)

5.Improve my guitar playing (play 3 songs well)

6.Make an animation and submit it for a film festival

7.Draw up my family tree

8.Buy some art

9.Learn to ride a motorbike

10.Stop paying for a gold bank account and donate the £12 a month to charities

11.Write a story about the Norton Dragon

12.Read more (including Great Expectations, Hons and Rebels)

13.Laugh until I cry

14.Learn a new word once a month

15.See more theatre (including Belle Ville Rendezous and The Cheery Orchard)

16.Go to the Preddy Folk Festival

17.Build a sand castle (a good one)

18.Go to a Whiskey Tasting and learn more about the drink

19.Plant a tree in my Dad's memory

20.Go to the Somerset Museum in Taunton

21.Visit other museums in Somerset

22.Do the Bath Skyline Walk (again, but with more family and Friends)

23.Swim in the sea

24.Improve my Italian so I can write letters to my Italian friends

25.Watch a sunrise

26.Write letters to my friend's new born baby Elly throughout the year

27.Go on a steam train

28.Win something

29.Write letters to my Niece and family

30.Do something meaningful to help people throughout the year

I will let you know how I get on.

Lots of love for 2012

Facebook page

2011-12-18T14:32:00.000-08:00

I only hope this is me in 50 years!

2011-10-08T12:00:00.000-07:00

This video is just pure fun and joy. I loved it when I saw it so thought I would share it with everyone.

A couple who have been together for over 60 years find a piano and play a little tune with more life and fun than most half their age could muster.

Enjoy!!

Things we Like

2011-09-25T05:11:00.000-07:00

I thought I would share a five things that we like:

Extreme Trike Racing, a sure way to wear out your shoes!!

Funny Savage Chicken Cartoons on a post-it note http://www.savagechickens.com/

Article from Fast Company on the 10 Best Amazon Reviews, this is very funny. the-10-best-amazon-reviews-ever?

I saw this on Dezeen's website, a Russian architects Arch Group have made tincy, tiny hotel rooms for napping at airports. I LOVE IT! See it here: Sleepbox

Finally, I love this home in a trash can projest. It has inspired me to take another look at gadgets for our Hijet Van.

New Frolly Facebook Page

2011-09-25T02:04:00.000-07:00

Come and join us on Facebook for organising matches and keeping up to date on all things Frolly.

Frolly Gosh! It is the Re-Match

2011-09-18T15:51:00.000-07:00

It has been a while since we had time to blog I just wanted to post this little video for all the frolly fans out there. We had a family re-match and it was great fun.

News of the next game coming soon.

Frolly Gosh!

2011-08-17T14:44:00.000-07:00

As you may recall from my previous blog, we have invented a new sport.

Frolly now has it place in the urban dictionary follow this link to check it out!

Urban Dictionary Defines Frolly

In recent Frolly sporting developments:

· We already have two new teams interested in playing a game at some point (to join the 2 existing teams);

· We have decided to film some of the match in September for a promotional video;

· Sir Coe has expressed an interest in having Frolly as a demonstration sport for London 2012;

· I have purchased two new Frisbees; and

· There will be a summer and winter league of Frolly. Summer is played on sand and winter on grass.

(One of these things is not true)

If you fancy forming a Frolly team and joining the inaugural league please let me know :)

Some More Suggestions Arrived

2011-08-13T03:13:00.000-07:00

Quick e-mail landed in my inbox with some more suggestions for games for all you lovely people out there:

Guess the movie character – who played Jack Dawson? Who played Ethan Hunt? Who played Mia Wallace? Ok so they are easy ones… but it can be difficult to remember the full names!

A game I played with a friend of mine at primary school was the improvisation game. Line up as if you are going to play what’s the time Mr wolf, but the wolf, rather than eating people, calls out a scene they’dlike to see, and the players have to improvise, the best improve, becomes the next wolf.

Or why not just play Mr Wolf in the office? You can only move around the room when the wolf is not looking – how far can you move around the room?

A phone swapping game… sit in a circle, everyone passes their phone to the person on the left, each person is allowed to send one text message from the other person’s phone. Let the mayhem begin!

Another phone game – why not send out this message to all your contacts ‘I know what you did’.

Or, if you fancy a cheap meal, and like to gamble, why not play credit card roulette??? When out in a restaurant with friends, everyone must put their cards in the middle of the table, and the waiter/waitresschooses one to pay the whole bill. You could end up with a free meal – you could end up footing the entire bill – can you risk it???

Thanks Kat - credit card roulette it is!

And just like that a Brand New Sport was Invented

2011-08-11T13:21:00.000-07:00

When I started writing this I was on my way to join family in Exmoor camping before a day a Dunster beach.

There were long delays on the M5; a dear family member was unexpectedly in hospital due to a long standing health problem so could not join us and the weather forecast was for showers - lots of them.

Despite frustrations, absent friends and worries we gather to celebrate, catch up on the latest happenings and play and what an awesome time we had... we had a few drinks, put up a few tents, ate a lot of BBQ, ate chips on the beach in the rain, sat under umbrellas refusing to acknowledge the bad weather and played cards (Uno particularly) and teased and laughed with and at each other. Good times!

The best bit for me was the invention of a new game, we have called: Frolly. A cross between Frisbee and Volleyball it works like this:

GAME RULES
To Win:
Match is first to 15.
Game is first to win three matches.

The Set Up:
There are two teams, who have equal sized courts separated by a low level barrier (approx 2-3’ high), you will need one Frisbee.

The Play:
Each team (and team member) takes turns to throw a Frisbee to the other team's court.

Points can be scored by:
Catching the Frisbee thrown by the other team;
Your team thrown Frisbee hitting the ground in the other team’s court; or
The other team throwing the Frisbee out of bounds (including in to their own court)

Disputes:
Disputed points, if not agreed, will be replayed.

The team spirited jibe talking is encouraged, as creative as it is off putting to the other team, however:-
Overall this is a sport and we expect sporting behaviour!

We loved this so much – a re-match is planned for September... right I am off to get myself into peek physical condition for what may be the biggest contest of my life!

Keep Britain Tidy - Our Little Film

2011-08-04T14:04:00.000-07:00

Here is an old film we made one weekend with a very important message - KEEP BRITAIN TIDY. We had loads of fun making it - hope you enjoy!

Playing in the Sand - A bit more than a bucket and spade job!

2011-08-04T01:10:00.000-07:00

Drawing in the sand, making model castles and writing your name is great fun... Aardman have taken this to a whole new level with a short film created on a beach in South Wales.
It was shot using a Nokia N8 and The film has broken a world record for the 'largest stop-motion animation set', with the largest scene stretching over 11,000 square feet.
Check this out... I want to make one now: http://vimeo.com/26877221

Iron People

2011-08-02T04:27:00.000-07:00

One of the most delightful ways of playing - whether as a grown up or a child - is through experiencing a play. We see plays and we might be in plays, either way, the association of 'play' is by no means a coincidence. We use our imaginations to go into a different place and world and often let other characters or people take us there.

Imagination is such a massive and important part of play because it frees us from the contraints of the world around us, and that is what gives us the ability to be grown ups!

Currently I am working with a team of adult professional theatre makers (or playsmiths) who are in turn working with a group of young people to create a play from scratch. Playing from nothing. And making everything, including a kick ass song and a story with a strong narrative message about contemporary society.

Recently we went to see Graeae's production of The Iron Man (http://www.graeae.org/productions/the-iron-man/) which was performed in a very playful way, incorporating sign language and spoken words. The Iron Man ended up playing with the actors and audience too. If giants can't play like grown ups, no-one can!

A Cousin Suggested some Games

2011-08-01T04:55:00.000-07:00

Having joined in our choice not preference, my Cousin (currently on annual leave and taking up various challenges we have set her - including running for mayor) has suggested a couple more games to play and I thought I would share them:

Here's a game for you:
Sometimes we play 'The Cube' in our living room. Like the Philip Scofield show but without the bullet time. We have lots of fun trying to jump over obstacles blindfolded and blow ping pong balls into eggcups while the other person does dramatic commentary and sound-effects. Take it in turns to make up a challenge and then both complete it.

Another game:
This one is a tangled feet game - an absolute staple - Fives. Basically keepy-uppy with the twist that every 5th hit and only every 5th hit has to be not the palm of your hand. Huge physical over-investment in keeping the ball in the air is of course obligatory from all players. Keep collective high score. I could literally play this for hours and hours.
KJ x

Thank you Katie-Jane, send photo evidence of the game play if you get a chance. :-)

01 Aug Monday = Funday

2011-08-01T00:31:00.000-07:00

Fun things I hope to do today, to warn off any Monday blues and kick August off to a powerful start:

1) Jump out and scare someone

2) Do a handstand (just to see if I still can - maybe just against a wall)

3) Learn how to swear in another language and try to sneak it into conversation

What are you going to do to warn off Monday blues?

P.s it is difficult to jump out on someone when you publish a
blog that you are going to do it... Today's top tip and my lesson.

Introducing the Idea - a celebration of everything playful and fun

2011-07-31T13:06:00.000-07:00

How to Play Like a Grown Up is an idea that we came up with on our honeymoon, when we had set ourselves the challenge to do things to spell our married name out over the week. With the surname White, Monday was W, Tuesday was H... and well you get the picture and the week panned out with us doing the following:

W for waking, washing, and walking to Watergate Bay for lunch passing Wipsederry bay. Later writing and getting wasted. We also waded, wallowed, got wet, and wowed at coastal path
Happily hopping at Headland Bay where we camped for the night. We awoke with hangovers and headed out for some Hardcore coasteering. 20ft cliff jumps later we headed off to historic Tintagal for home cooked grub and to find people to help
Intrigued in Damien Hurst's bar in Ilfracombe. We were interested in the spaghetti ice cream here. The imagery of the coastline even in pouring rain was inspiring. We really had to use our imagination

T was terrible torrential rain. We toured and trundled up the south west coast. Then to Taunton town where two tattoo places were busy. Then we tried two more places in the area which were chocka so we went to a terrifying place called The Devil's Den in Yeovil’s Take Away Alley, where we wore anoraks and looked totally out of place. Twenty pounds later we had tattoos ... here is the evidence (we both has the same surname before getting married, so we have double barreled our name, hence the tattoo)

Early to rise thanks to energetic enfants. After painting elephants, eating with the family and exploring Dorset we were ecstatic to be in the East Street Bistro for excellent edibles and a lovely way to end the honeymoon

We had great fun and friends helped us with ideas for things to do. Then when my cousin asked for ideas for her annual leave, we could not hold ourselves back from providing a list of over 30 idea, some challenges, some just plain fun. (See her blog http://kjbk86.blogspot.com/2011/07/15.html?spref=fb)

We then thought it would be great to share these ideas with the wide world and spread a bit of joy and hopefully inspire some ideas with other people, and other people can share their ideas with us to PLEASEEEE!

We do not play enough and this blog simply is a celebration of everything playful and fun.