Stan's Cafe Theatre Company

Station to Station

admin — Thu, 24 May 2012 17:35:30 +0000

It’s possible to do the school run get to London do two meetings and get back to London for the afternoon school run, but only if your meetings are close to Euston Station. Fortunately yesterday’s mission was to scope the back street route between Euston and St. Pancras Stations with an eye to possible future Steps action – ideal.

Plotting Steps

admin — Tue, 22 May 2012 20:58:14 +0000

As well as being the day that The Cardinals opened at The Drum in Plymouth this was also Day 2 planning Mystery Steps for Coventry Mysteries. We have decided to go all Medieval and I am now rather crossing my fingers Umberto Echo doesn’t show up as I suspect historical inaccuracies may have snuck in here or there.

Though we’re installing next week the piece doesn’t open until 9th June – logistics.

Capital Theatre Festival

admin — Mon, 21 May 2012 06:34:00 +0000

Capital Theatre Festival starts at mac: birmingham this Thursday. There are a host of workshops, discussions, networking events, rehearsed readings and full-on performances, all focused around new writing for theatre.

On Friday I’m leading a workshop about writing for devised theatre. You can download the full programme here. You can buy tickets here and do the Facebook thing here.

Anti-Melancholy

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 18:58:15 +0000

The artist / choreographer / performer Wendy Houstoun came to spend a few hours with us puzzling over The Anatomy of Melancholy. We tried out a few rudimentary dance moves, discussed some approaches and along the way (and by the by) she introduced us to this video clip. The rest of the world has probably already seen it but it made us cry with laughter – which is a very rare thing – so here it is.

Neighbours

admin — Thu, 17 May 2012 12:03:01 +0000

It’s great working in the Jewellery Quarter, there’s usually something going on. Today I was pleased to see this tanker arriving to deliver gas. The idea of gases for leisure appeals to me.

Made In Birmingham

admin — Tue, 15 May 2012 12:13:59 +0000

Those living in and around Birmingham will have noticed a massive push for the Birmingham Made Me exhibition. It turns out there is also an awards ceremony connected with this. Stan’s Cafe has been nominated. We’re there for our innovative education work. Public voting has just opened and we’re in the lead; because I’ve voted for us and no one else has voted for anyone else. I’m cherishing the moment as I expect all this is about to change.

If you are minded to vote we’d be grateful. This is the link we’re in the Best Collaborative Design category. If you need some persuading to vote for us here is where you can look over our education history.

Final Adjustments

admin — Tue, 08 May 2012 19:56:50 +0000

(photo credit Graeme Braidwood)

Today we ran a dress rehearsal of The Cardinals. It’s difficult to assess if the changes we have made qualify as a whole new O.S. upgrade (2.0.4) or if we have merely been de-bugging the original (1:3.4). The biggest outstanding question involves the interval – with or without? Following consultation with venues we are currently with, though my suspicion is that it should probably be without. It will be interesting to garner some audience feedback tomorrow at Warwick Arts Centre; which I believe is pretty much sold out.

O.B.1

admin — Sat, 05 May 2012 17:36:58 +0000

BBC Radio 3 are ready for The Voyage tomorrow, possibly slightly more ready than we are, but only slightly. Everything is under control.

Line Run

admin — Thu, 03 May 2012 10:38:39 +0000

The Cardinals cast are doing the equivalent of a line run for a show without words “then I do this”, “and I do this”, “this comes in”, “that goes off”, “I change the music”. It’s a lot quicker than doing the actual show.

People

admin — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 08:52:22 +0000

In 2005 Theater Der Welt arranged to have 104 tonnes of rice delivered to the Wagenhalle – a disused tram shed – because the world’s population was 6.2 billion and we were about to perform the first full version of Of All The People In All The World. In 2008 we came to an arrangement with a wholesale rice supplier to effectively rent us 112 tonnes of rice. As we aspire to do a third full version of the show somewhere and the world’s population is announced as 7 billion we are looking for 116 tonnes. 12 extra tonnes of rice in 7 years at a gain per person: the logistics are getting ever more challenging and I’m not necessarily just referring to our show.