The Bench

[Booth]

Joe emailed this to his mailing list today.

Hi everyone
I hope you are all well...

I want something. Something beginning with A.

I’ve spent the last few weeks working with 6 hungry actors who have worked their socks off for me' date=' pushing themselves to psychological extremes to get to places that the writing demands them to not just visit, but stay for a while. The levels of performance reached in rehearsal have been astounding, exhilerating and exhausting. This play although billed as a comedy - tackles some darkly serious issues and emotions are pushed to highs and extreme lows - enormously exhausting for the cast but I have seen such a tireless dedication from them, and they are all tackling serious issues of their own outside the play that are putting them under enormous pressure.

Now most of us (myself included) have the love and support of partners that understand our ’condition’ and are tirelessly supportive and full of encouragement, that said as a group we are juggling the enormous distresses of break ups with long term partners, illness, serious financial problems, bailiffs knocking on our doors, families that don’t understand why we put themselves through so much for so little - if any - financial reward, (some working 12 hour days on minimum wage before they get to rehearsal) going through casting process for great opportunities outside the play and then dealing with the crushing disappointment of hearing after the third call back that - sorry you’re not what we’re looking for. Why do they put themselves through all this - it ain’t for the money - it comes from a need to express, to feel and to share.

The problems mentioned above apply to all of us in all walks of life, we all have our own wars, worries and woes to deal with and I ain’t askin’ for sympathy - am I f*ck - this is the life we choose so you grow the thick skin required to take the knocks. Besides, I’d be lying if I said we haven’t enjoyed the process.

We’ve got 7 days to go and the cast and I have all the worries associated with bringing a new show to an audience, that’s natural and healthy, it means we care about the work and that will show in the performances.

My biggest worry? AUDIENCE - these guys need an audience. I can promise you quite an extraordinary show, not just a show but an experience and something that you will remember and maybe take with you, if nothing else if you ever sit on a park bench again I guarantee you will think about this play...so come down and share a couple of hours with us, you’ll be very glad you did and you will be the reward for the enormous efforts of this extremely talented cast.

THE BENCH

Wed 9th, Thurs 10th, Friday 11th and Sat 12th April at 8.00pm, Studio Salford, The Kings Arms, Bloom Street Salford. Book online at -

[url']www.studiosalford.com[/url]

Jxx

If you can get down there please do so, these guys always put on a very good show

 

[Joanna]

Just beat me to it, Mike!

A tramp sleeps on it...

Someone takes pictures of kids on it...

A girl has drawn on it...

Two scroats plan a burglary on it...

A couple shag on it...

A boxer skives on it...

War veterans reminisce on it...

But who haunts it...?

 

It’s just a bench in the park. The one by the war memorial. A boxer, his trainer, a thief, a fake medium, a tramp, a paedophile, an artist, a widow, and a ghost. They’ve all sat on this bench at least once this year.

 

Before the end of the year, someone will die on it...

 

The Bench. A comedy of love, life and loss...

Cast: Clyve Bonelle, Ian Curley, Stella Grundy, Greg Kelly, Ste Myott and Erin Shanagher.

 

[wiggy]

wow with a post like that how on earth could anyone not want to go and see it. sounds excellent, love the concept!

 

[Chris Finch]

Shall we have a class trip? I think it's important to show support to our peers when they have worked hard in bringing a piece of theatre to the stage.

 

[timpaley]

I agree. I was going to go with Billy, but if there's a few from this side of Bolton, Mike, Cop, Wiggy, Birty, Billy and anyone else who wants to tag along. I'll borrow a mini bus maybe take partners too. Just need to decide on a day.

EDIT- Sorry, I was thinking the play was in Bolton.

CF- you too are included, I was thinking the play was on in Bolton and you'd make your own way there, we could pick you up on the way through.

 

[Gorf]

I'd go to see that. The missus isn't too well so if it's in the near future, she'd be hacking and coughing throughout.

Actually, even if it's in the distant future, it would be a bad idea. She always talks through anything we watch: "Who's he then?" "Does she die in the end?" "They're obviously not doing real CPR" "Is he the one who shot that bloke?" and my favourite (from ET) "What planet is he from?", while the most common is "I don't understand".

It'll just be me coming. I can only make it to the opening night, though, so I might be alone...

 

[Booth]

I can make Friday night Tim

 

[timpaley]

All those interested, send me a PM stating if you are taking a guest or not, and which not you prefer. I'll draw up a list of who can go.

If you can make any night, please say and that gives me more flexabilty when working out which night is best.

Joanna, I'm working on your request

 

[Fran]

I love the idea behind the play. Pick any bench in any park and it must have been visited by hundreds of people, each with their own stories and very different drama's going on in their lives, and the bench gets to hear a little tiny bit of what's going on, before they move off and someone else takes their place with a different story. And yet the bench rarely gets to find out how the stories end...and ...Fran's gone off into imagination mode and made benches into a new life form.

I wont be able to go and see it, but it sounds good. Hope it all goes well.

 

[Strawbs]

Sounds interesting. Won't be able to come and see it, though. Had it been last week I could've popped along but that's timing for you. Good luck with it.

 

[wiggy]

i'm on for friday!

 

[Cop]

I think I will be coming, just need to sort out a date... that's if WAGS are coming along that is

 

[Booth]

i'm on for friday!

Ditto!

 

[wiggy]

i'll be comng with birty! alyson is hitting it hard in preston

 

[Birty]

Our date is off Chief Wiggum. I can't make it. Fleur's going on the piss with her pals and I've got my boy. I'm not too put out, you'd have only tried to give me a nosh at the intermission with your Camp David garb on. I can do without that. I'm still scarred from getting a bit too close to you at the club the other day.

 

[Chris Finch]

Yeh I'm gonna have to cry off too. I am really going to struggle to get back over the pennines on Friday. Soz chaps, hope it doesn't fook plans up!!

 

[wiggy]

so is anyone still going, i thought it would be a knee's up but it's looking like no one is going, let me know! i'm not that bothered myself now to be honest

 

[Booth]

I and (as far as I know) Tim and Cop are still up for going.

 

[Cop]

Yeah I'm still up for going, Ash is going out with her mum,

So I am happy with just us 3

 

[wiggy]

yeah me two, so thats four