On Tuesday night the cast got together for our first reading of Kiss Me Like You Mean It. To say that I was a little excited would be a massive understatement! All day I found it very hard to concentrate on anything, which is usually what I’m like on most days anyway, but this day was worse. So many questions ran through my head. What would it sound like? Would the cast gel straight off the bat? Will the director be excited or lose faith? Should we have wine or just tea during the break? Is our flat clean enough to host people? Will those bloody pigeons on the balcony distract us!? So much to think about, just breathe…

The reading went off without a hitch, no pigeons in sight, although the heavy bass music coming from our neighbours was a little strange considering it was 7pm on a Tuesday night! Every actor gave it their all and there was numerous occasions when the reading ground to a halt as we burst out in fits of laughter. This is definitely a strong group of actors, but not just that, they’re all lovely people too.  If this was anything to go by, then it will be a really enjoyable experience. I hope…

With the reading done, and rehearsals about to start we’re on track to producing this fantastic play! However, there is one thing missing – you. Don’t worry we’re not going to ask you to act in this play. I, like so many people HATE audience participation! But not as much as I hate actors entering from the audience – but that’s a whole ‘nutha story.

This project has been a labour of love for Carly and I from the beginning. So much so that we’ve invested a lot of our own blood, sweat, tears and money into making it a reality. However, we need just a bit more of that money to take us over the line. So here’s where you come in.  We’re launching a fundraising campaign to raise $1,500. It may sound like a lot, but in the grand scheme of things it’s only a small percentage of our budget, albeit an important one. And considering how many Facebook friends I have, I think it’s an achievable target. If we go over the target of $1,500, that’s even better! The money we raise will help us cover a variety of different production costs.

We’re running a fundraising campaign through the crowd funding website Pozible, and making a donation is quick and easy. Any amount would be greatly appreciated and you’ll get loads of love and kisses from us, even if you don’t want them!

http://www.pozible.com/kissme

Thanks for reading and I hope you’ve all had a fantastic week. Now to get back to working on that Mancunian accent!

Rob

x

This morning’s crash of thunder after a blinding flash of lightening was my wake up call to get writing.

We’re several weeks into our production Kiss Me Like You Mean It and we’ve just finished the most nerve racking (but fun) part of the process to date – finding cast and crew.

What’s important to me is working with people I respect, whose work I enjoy watching and I can get on with. After years working in the corporate world, I know a good team can a big difference to getting things done, with as little pain as possible. This may seem a bit dry and, dare I say it, a tad boring, but I’ll be straight with ya – I just want to work with great people on great scripts.

So I was pleasantly surprised by the generosity and enthusiasm when it came to finding cast and crew.

Finding the right people to audition for the role of Don and Edie was a real joy. It was also a reminder of the old adage “don’t take it personally”, but let’s face it, us actors (and now this producer) know that it is personal. We mainly auditioned people who were recommended to us. Many had at least 40 years experience. Talented, professional actors who clearly loved telling stories and working with other artists. But the decision came down to more than just a great monologue or cold read. Instead, it was about the intangible stuff that you sense about people – the energy, the look and fit. It was personal.

Good crew can be hard to find in the independent theatre scene. It kept me awake at night – tossing ideas around to get the right mix of skills, personality all within money and resource constraints. Sometimes it came down to a recommendation and a chat – “I just love theatre.” or “I just want to work on something that’s organised.” No pressure!

Anyway, welcome Kirk, Carrie, Chloe, Rob, Kate, Lore, Kris, Bonnie and Louisse to our MARC Up team. I can’t wait to get started working with you.

We will be adding cast and crew details here and details of our collaborators here very soon.

And thanks to everyone who signed up, liked us, gave us recommendations and said kind and encouraging things. Stay tuned for more news on how you can be a part of our production very soon.

Carly

Well do ya? I’ve got luscious lips.

Ok, enough! I’m really excited to tell you about our new show coming up in February 2013. Although I can’t reveal too much, the show is called Kiss Me Like You Mean It and it will be at The Owl & the Pussycat in Richmond.

Rob found the script last year and asked me to read it. I was laughing by the second page and crying by the second last page. It was so moving and I couldn’t stop the ideas and images flying through my head about how we could make this happen.

So I promptly volunteered to produce it. What? Are you mad? Yes, I think right now I’m going that way. Between venue searching, casting, crew and rights it’s already been a mammoth task. But I’m loving it and welcome you to hang out with Rob and I on our first foray into producing this show under the banner of MARC Up. Oh, and sign up to follow our blog via email, if you want to get updates on the shenanigans we’ll get up to.

Carly