Tag Archives: Londonee
Alas, I can’t read this but it’s pretty cool nonetheless!
Article from local Bengali press!
Bevan and Indranyl balance their strength
Props!
Rehearsal Studio @ Rich Mix, London
And we’re just getting started….
Read on for actress Avita Jay’s reflections on the first week of rehearsals…
Day Three of Rehearsals: Wednesday 9th May
Two rehearsal bonuses today – writer Gurpreet on hand and we were once again in our performance space. As usual, began with our tai chi warm up and focus. Thought we were doing quite well until director Mukul informed us the one move we have learnt takes a professional half an hour, that’s how much stamina and control they have! We still have a way to go…! Then we performed our 18 scenic images to Mukul, designer / stage manager Ni and Gurpreet, ending with the Bengali song we learnt yesterday. A quick pee break and we were straight into an on your feet run of the play – this time using our animal characters and mannerisms for an OTT version. Needless to say switching between a grizzly bear and a vulture and being in other people’s scenes too was exhausting and we were all rather sweaty at the end but it threw up some interesting things to think about in terms of character relationships and how another person in the play may influence our actions, even if they are not physically in the scene. Taking everything to a primal level helped a lot.
We then worked on groups of scenes – angels, girls and boys – until the end of the day. It was refreshing to be able to play around with the scenes and question the lines and the subtext without the pressure of blocking, but having the freedom to move in the space. It feels like we are already adding so many layers each day and asking more and more questions about the play.
Day Two of Rehearsals: Tuesday 8th May
Very exciting beginning today as we were moved from our green room space to the actual studio we will be performing in! It’s much wider and deeper than we’d imagined, can’t wait to perform in it. After our tai chi warm up, we worked out images for all 18 of our titled scenes, then sounds to accompany them. This was brilliant for ensemble building and group bonding and for us all to have an overall picture of the shape, themes and rhythms of the play. We then did some work with our character’s objects which helped us learn more about all the parts and the relationships between the characters.
After lunch we chose animals for our characters and worked on the physicality of each character in their environment and interacting with the other character-animals. We learnt the last song of the play in Bengali and experimented with instruments and harmonies. This was both calming and uplifting and I think it will work brilliantly when we have our live musicians onstage. We ended with some quick fire hot seating (where I found out one of my characters is 220 years old!) and some leading exercises which will link in later to working out who is driving which scene. All in all a good day and nice to be on our feet!
Everyone loves the inside scoop. So, that’s what we’re going to do. We’ve asked a few of the cast and crew to keep a journal of sorts, discussing their experiences throughout the rehearsal process, reflections, and the like. Here’s the first of many, by actress Nadia Nadif.
Monday 7th May
First day of rehearsals can often feel like the very first day of school – that mixture of nervousness and excitement. So much so that I woke up a full hour earlier than I needed to at 6.30am.
I got into our rehearsal room at Rich Mix at 9.30am and immediately felt comforted by two things – Mukul the director putting up a poster of the play on the wall and two actors already drinking the coffee that had been provided. By 10.30am I had met the rest of the cast, Tara our music / movement consultant and Gurpreet the writer, seen the beautiful costume designs done by designer Ni and we’d all done a tai chi warm up led by Mukul (it is harder than it looks tai chi!). Production Manager Ashleigh gave us a bundle of flyers and by lunchtime I had already invited two people to see the show! The cast and Ni all ate lunch together in the Rich Mix cafe and found out various important things about each other, such as our ages and how we got involved in the production.
The day went very quickly considering we got so much done: Two full read throughs of the play (the pressure was taken off by Mukul instructing us to ‘not act at all. No emotion. Like you’re reading the news. It’s just facts’), the invaluable chance to ask Gurpreet some character questions, some script edits and our last exercise – naming each scene of the play with a title and deciding on the colour, energy and emotion of that title. I have read the play several times and instantly liked the script, laughing to myself alone in my flat on certain lines, but it really came alive in the read through and I felt genuinely moved in parts of it. The whole day felt very organic and it was great that everyone was encouraged to bring ideas to the table – whether on the production team, creative team or one of the actors.
The day ended with homework – to write down for each scene we are in what we think of each of the other characters and what they think of us. Tomorrow we will share our findings, I can’t wait!
A few months ago, I had a chance meeting at LSE. I had gone to see a Bengali musician and academic with a friend and during the interval, she introduced me to a few fellow students. One of the guys I met was a French guy named Paul, who is currently doing his Masters in something to do with Social Networking in the Business World. I told him about our production and immediately he asked how we were funding it. He then continued to tell me about the company he works with in France, KissKissBankBank. And before I knew it, we were on our way to setting up a crowdfunding campaign!
This is now where we need your help. No matter where you are in the world, you can help us with your generous donations. It`s the only way we`ll be able to get this show on its feet, create the set, clothe the actors, promote the show, and pay our talent. Our target is £3000, which may seem like a lot but if we can raise £100 every day, we can reach our goal. And the only way we get the funds is if we meet our target… It`s all, or nothing.
Visit our campaign page and help us make this happen!!
his project is not just about staging a play for the benefit of those involved. It is rooted in the everyday stories of those that have inspired it, the people who seldom hear their stories told, and even less, see themselves reflected on stage. And as cliched as this may be, with the support of people like you, we can strive to change that reality and truly make our united dream come true.
http://www.kisskissbankbank.com/projects/the-world-premiere-of-londonee
With immense and immeasurable gratitude,
LGP xx
It’s about time that we share the good news…
We’ve been so busy working away, writing grants, holding auditions, sorting out venues, and the like, that we have hardly had time to catch our breath and share this good news with the world. Better still, we’re not doing it alone… We’ve teamed up with Mukul and Ghetto Tigers for the world premiere of Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti’s newest play, LONDONEE. Read on for more details!
In May 2012, Mukul and Ghetto Tigers and Lifeguard Productions join to proudly present a fundraising event in support of the world-premiere of Londonee, Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti’s literary puissant, following her critically acclaimed 2010 play, Behud.
Gurpreet’s inspiration to write Londonee evolved after a visit to Bangladesh in 1996, where she was struck by their incredible sense of pride and passion. Bangladesh was only recently founded in 1971 and has a history fraught with many problems, including natural disasters and poverty. Yet there is such an overwhelming awareness and determination present amongst young Bengalis, particularly in the diaspora communities. It is this nationalism and political liberation that is reflected through the mystic Baul music, poetry, and performance and ultimately, what inspired Gurpreet to write this inspiring story.
‘You know Rezwan, a man who has no history is nothing, he is nobody.’
A motley trio of angels fill faceless time and peer into the lives of two young Bangladeshis living in East London, Rez and Bina, siblings orphaned as children. Hot-headed Rez, aspires to be a DJ alongside his breakdancing friend, Carl, while attempting to stave off social services for the sake of his family. Bina, his feisty sister, is secretly the unofficial captain of her school Kabaddi team. The reluctantly fallen Angel, Lalo, is sent on a special assignment to prevent Rez’s anger from destroying both himself and those close to him. Lalo soon discovers his mission is greater than what he had originally bargained for.
Londonee, a visceral and physically-driven production, delves deep into the past, present, and future of these second generation Bangladeshis. By examining the characters’ worlds, the play questions the very thread that binds our own fragile stories together.
Londonee will be showing at the Rich Mix Theatre in May on the following dates and times:
Friday 25th 7:30pm,
Saturday 26th 2:30pm and 7:30pm
Sunday 27th 7:30pm.
It’s been just over three weeks since LONDONEE hit the Rich Mix stage in East London and a huge thank you to all who supported the project in so many ways. To the cast and crew, you guys were brilliant.
A lot has happened since then. Sadly, we didn’t reach our target on KKBB in time (though, we were so close it hurts!). So, we’re re-strategizing and getting back in the saddle for the future of not only this project, but a few other germs of ideas that are in development. And it’s very exciting!
One of the best things about the post-show blues are the comments and discussions the show inspires. Here are a few snippits from various audience members who saw the show and kindly shared their thoughts with us:
“It was a very impressive production, and I was fascinated by the many cultural nuances in the play which I’d never been exposed to before. Tiny shifts of vision, which are hard to put onto words but are obviously very important. I thought the musicians were wonderful, and the actors did a great job. I was delighted I could understand a bit of the Bengali! [...] Very many congratulations on your excellent production of an enlightening play.” – Alice Sielle, Independent Artist
“What a fantastic play! We thoroughly enjoyed Londonee – very well directed, acted and delivered.” –Lata Desai, Musician and Chairwoman of London Sitar Ensemble
“First off, I came along to Londonee on Friday and really enjoyed it. Such a fantastic and inspiring production with brilliant performances. Congratulations to you both! Fingers crossed that we can find another home for it and continue its run. It really deserves it.” –Emily Bray, Agent at Independent Talent Group
If these words are any indication, we can surely rest contented and be proud of a job well done!