Today saw the 2nd design workshop session. We continued to use felt and managed to make button holes! As the characters in the Tempest, who are ship wrecked, have just come from a wedding we thought this would give us a good starting stimulus for...

Had a site visit today to walk through the play and try to work out what musical elements will work and where. Gave me a good sense of the pace of the play and how it will work out before we start rehearsals in earnest....

Lots going on today. Had a meeting with Duncan, Steve and Paul, who have expressed an interest in composing for the production. Gave them my ideas and thoughts and hopefully they will still be interested!! Also helped Julie to understand where I was coming from...

Finally magaed to complete most of the editing process with the help and support of Jeremy. Still a few tweeks to make but the essence is there. Also worked out where various actions take place around the site and sorted musical moments. So excited by...

It's all getting very real now as I visited the site, Harehope Quaryy, to have a meeting with Jill Essam. Dates for the production are now finalised (13th/14th Sept and 20/21st). Now I just have to try to edit the play!! Oh and pray for...

Jeremy, Alan and I spent the morning trying to get votes from the Weardale folk in order to be part of WAAP funding - unfortunately The Tempest was 2 votes short!...

Final day and started with a brilliant movement workshop - learnt some much which I know I can pass on. Great confident feeling now. After another wonderful lunch went to the final workshop - Voice and Text in "The Swan Theatre"!! So I have performed Shakespeare...

So first proper day today. Arrived at the theatre and met up with all the other participants, some of whom I had spoken to last night. Had an introduction to the weekend and then straight into first workshop of "Working with Actors". This was led...

I arrived in Stratford tonight and went to meet up with fellow directors at "The Dirty Duck". Was slightly overwhelmed by the fact that most of them appeared to have directed a Shakespeare before. Returned to my sister's, where I am staying, glass of wine...

Today I was chosen to be the director of The Tempest in our Open Stages project; which means that I will be going to Stratford Upon Avon to work with the RSC....