Just a Small One: Etcetera Theatre Camden

Etcetera Theatre is the smallest theatre in London. Situated above the Oxford Arms pub in Camden it is the same age as me and has been producing and presenting good quality work for the past 23 years. It has been used for many different uses from venue for the Camden Fringe to Edinburgh Fringe Previews, this is an embodiment of the true underground pub theatre spirit.

To find out more about the Etcetera Theatre Camden please look here.

Theatre Studies Find: 1st real FIND in my textbook... THEATRON 3D Theatre Architecture Models

It is not everyday that I find a tool for theatre studies that generally blows me away. Now Theatron is one of those tools which is very exciting for its interface and depth of knowledge. This tool basically gives you a history of theatrical spaces, how they work, were developed and how they looked all in a 3D model. Now this software was developed in 2000/2001 and as such it is basic looking compared to 3D modelling that is done today on computers, however looking and studying it is still important due to the wealth of knowledge it provides. I would say that this is an excellent tool for anyone studying GCSE level Drama or History (if studying Roman and Greek architecture) or even Diploma level Theatre Students.

Check it out at http://www.theatron.org/

For more information on theatron go to http://www.theatron.co.uk/

Xtofer

My Study Text 'Theatre Studies' by Kenneth Pickering and Mark Woolgar

It takes a while to understand and really appreciate the subject you learn and to master it is near impossible, once you have your degree where do you go? Do you continue and work towards a Masters Degree? Then what? Move onto your PHD? Or do you go into the real world and leave the academic world behind? Well I chose to leave the University lifestyle and enter day to day life and consequently did what a lot of people my age did and still do, worked in a job sector completely unrelated to my degree. The result of this was that for the past 2 and a half years vital knowledge and information I pored over hungrily at College has begun to ebb away from my conciousness. This leaves me feeling a bit stupid because I did work very hard but I didn't keep it up outside of my Univeristy life and there are people who work in the Theatre Arts sector and not remembering certain things or having any knowledge of other aspects can sometimes be the difference between being taken seriously and seen as a joke. So to combat this LibraryGirl suggested I study at home a Drama Course which could easily be found in the... Library and the book we sourced together was 'Theatre Studies' by Keith Pickering and Mark Woolgar which is a book that covers all the subjects required by undergraduate and diploma courses in Theatre Arts. I have so far found it to be very helpful in its writing and exercises for reminding me how to do certain things and subjects that may have fallen to the wayside in my acting and directing technique. I am enjoying it a lot and its just nice to be learning something once again. I  feel better to be able to back up my own knowledge much like someone backing up their computer files. The biggest boon though has been some of the subjects I don't know about and resources it has thrown up for me to talk about on here. So yes there is a lot going on in 'Theatre From My Head' right now from our 'Just a Small One' series on small theatres in the UK to our 'Curtains!!! Project' so keep your eyes peeled for more updates.

Xtofer

New Marlowe Theatre Canterbury: Curtains!!! Is going well.

As the regular readers of my blog will know I am currently researching the City of Canterbury for my Curtains!!! Project and its defunct theatre venues. Of course looking back on the past is important as we can learn from what came before but just as important is the theatrical future of the City.

In a sign of great belief in the city's Theatrical future they are building a brand new £23.8 million theatre complex designed by Keith Williams. Whilst they are without a main theatre this has meant they have had to utilise alternative spaces within the city which involves the whole community.

Whilst I am looking at the stories of all the past theatres its good to know the future is in good hands.

For info on the New Marlowe Theatre please go here.

Just a Small One: The Swallow Theatre Scotland

The Swallow Theatre in Whithorn Scotland is a tiny 48 seat theatre located on the Moss Park estate. It was created by converting a barn with various materials, at times the staging and raised chair areas were pallets and it used to run a bring your own chair scheme. However nowadays they have retractable seating. One of the most interesting aspects of this theatre to me though has to be the lighting which according to their website is powered by solar panels and wind turbines! Truly an ecological theatre then.

I think it looks really quaint and it has a great 'can-do' attitude in its creators. Please check out the website here.

Curtains!!! Project: A sidestep into the Old Stagers from Canterbury

The Old Stagers is an amateur Theatre Company that I have recently come across during my research into the Theatres of Canterbury for my Curtains!!! Project. One of the venues which I have looked up and researched at great length is the Theatre Royal Canterbury and whilst looking at the Times Digital Archive found reference to this group going back over a hundred years.

Formed in 1842 The Old Stagers hold a very strong claim on being the longest surviving amateur Theatre Company, originally founded by the Honorable Frederick Ponsonby it was set up to provide extra events for Canterbury's Cricket Week. According to their own website the actors were the cricket players! This of course left them little time to rehearse and on their website they talk about how they would rehearse on the green and in the tents. However reviews of these performances from 1908 onwards give these performers great respect and commend them for providing a lot of fun during the evenings before the next days cricket.

I cannot imagine a better day out really than a fine Kentish Ale in Canterbury watching the Cricket in the August Sun and then a piece of theatre in the evening. Sounds like my sort of Summers Day.

The next Canterbury Cricket Week is in August and the Old Stagers Website is advertising dates of August the 2nd until August the 7th.

For more information on Kent Cricket please go here.

For tourist information on the beautiful city of Canterbury please look here.

Xtofer

Just a Short One: Wrasslin' by Anthony Schrag

Anthony Schrag: Wrasslin'

Imagine my surprise when going through one of my wrestling forums I find a thread on an artistic endevour. Wrestling for me is a guilty little pleasure and I have been a fan for years, enjoying the pageantry and blatantly overblown theatrics involved in the psuedo sport, however I was very surprised to read of a Performance Artist who was taking the subect of Wrestling on with his own bare hands. As talked about in the page at the link above Anthony Schrag was going to be available to be wailed upon, stretched, slammed and pinned for one round by anyone who so wished to have a go. He set up his little tent in Margate on the seafront with the aim of allowing people to 'Sweat and Smile' and to explore the level of teamwork and trust between two people who are opponents.

Whats so interesting to me about this? Well its probably the fact that this is a great example of both old school theatre/music hall and old school wrestling. During the summer seasons in many Seaside Towns there was the Wrestling Tent where people would challenge the wrestlers for a money prize. So to do it in Margate brings a real sense of irony for me. Lets hope he didn't get too hurt, after all Wrestling... its all fake isn't it?

To see more of Anthony Schrag's work please go to this website.

Xtofer