— read write play

Graham Linehan (of Father Ted, Black Books, Big Train et al.) is answering questions about The IT Crowd on his blog:

“Do you find that [the cast] try to get involved in the writing process by adlibbing or discussing the jokes with you during rehearsals? If so, do you find that annoying or is it welcome?”

I cast funny people because I want their input. The show is often substantially rewritten in the week leading up to the studio record. it’d be crazy for me to cast such funny people and then expect them to keep silent if they spot a funnier way of doing a scene. That said, in the end, I cast the deciding vote. It’d be chaotic if that wasn’t the case.

Fuel for everyone.

Back from Christmas and New Year – but only for a few hours between a training course and my sister’s wedding. In the meantime, visit (bearded) Dan’s blog for a trailer of his upcoming play.

I’m a little unsure about the role of the filmic trailer for theatre – given that one very distinct aesthetic mode is trying to persuade me to partake of an entirely different one. Hmm. Luckily, this trailer plays with the presence of his voice – it being a monologue, buh – or rather, plays with the multiple tones or voices his character inhabits in the course of the show. ENOUGH analysis. Watch.

Then spend a few seconds staring at where I spent the festive break:

This is what we’d technically call “purty.” Coming soon: The Money Show and other adventures in theatre masquerading as research.