Introduction:
Yesterday we got a full script but there are still a few holes in it, including the ending, but at least we can start blocking it. The set was also being painted last night, so I was very excited about seeing it today. Last night the rats also created a song about cleaning up Hamlin which is going to be put into the show!

Today’s Task:
Keep rehearsing everything, scenes, songs and dances, make sure I know my lines and make my character even bigger.

The Day:
The set was the most colourful thing ever! It was so exciting to see everything painted! First thing that people had to do was clear out their lockers as F block is being knocked down. We then began our physical warm up, which was taken by Paul, we played a game of Pass the Dance (description if games on games page) and we ended with a vocal led by Randa. Emma and Scott then wanted to work on a transition of the set from the town into the sewers for the rat rehearsals, during this transaction the rat catchers will be chasing Trivitt. This took a little while to get right without bashing into anyone but we then went into the first dancing rat scene, which now begins with the Rat Catchers trying to join in the dance. The musicians then came in so we listened to the music that they have so far, Sophie P. also sang her song but it needs more practice. We carried on with the blocking of the transitions and marking some of the characters positions for the scenes. The directors had to organise who was moving what platform, whether it was towns’ people or rats, which direction they had to go to and where.
    After lunch we carried on with doing the transitions for the set, but it was still very hard with everyone talking or not being available. In the midst of this the musicians came in and we saw Kirsty and Richard perform the Piper and Flossy love song. All the rats then went to the foyer and we performed the cleaning up Hamlen song. We had nearly got to the end of the first act when we broke for dinner.
    After dinner we had to wait a little while, whilst Emma sorted out some of the lights with Phil, in this time no-one would shut up and so it ended with Stuart talking to us about how we should be quiet. We then got ready to do a run but it would be messy, especially the transitions but the directors told us to just go for it. We got up to Hamlen at Night when we were told to stop because people were talking or not remembering where the platforms were meant to go and arguing about it. So we ended the day with a talk from the directors, who were pleading with us to stay quiet, which they shouldn’t have to do.

Views and Feelings:
With the new call time most people were here on time but I can’t believe that some were late! There is no excuse this time! Walking in and seeing the set was amazing, it was so bright! I love it! It is going to be dulled down slightly to make it easier to light, but it looks absolutely brilliant and I think the technicians have done a wonderful job.
    The transitions of the scenes may be tedious but they are very important, so it is annoying when people are moaning, or not around the Auditorium or just fucking around. If we can get this done then we can move on and block the scenes and work them but we need to practice these transitions because accidents can happen, so it’s best if we know what we are doing. I am getting rather annoyed with people because they just do their own thing rather then pay attention, which is causing more stress then necessary. But on the brighter side, by doing these transitions we can see what we can do with the set and what scenes we can create, which is also giving the directors ideas and makes looking at the set even more interesting, if that’s possible.
    I really like the love song between Flossy and Peter, it’s very sweet but not cheesy. It’s one of my favourites and I think the musicians are doing really well but songs will have to be created quickly as we are running out of time and they still need to be learnt.
    The afternoon was still annoyingly difficult to get anything done because not a lot of people seemed to be with it and willing to wait patiently, talk quietly and pay attention to what is going on, which means that time is lost. I’m glad that most of the transitions are done because we can start concentrating on the blocking instead.
    It was rather embarrassing and shameful to have to be spoken to by Stuart, but he is absolutely right, there is a time and place for chatting and it’s definitely not when the directors are trying to sort things out and we only have a week before the show opens. I hope tomorrow will be a better day and everyone will be on the ball, because we seriously haven’t got very long to go. And ending the day with the talk from the directors shouldn’t have been needed because we should all just be quiet. The run itself was not going to badly, apart from some of the transitions, so it was a shame that we ran out of time because the scenes itself weren’t too bad. The transitions need to be practiced but the arguments just have to stop, working as a team has suddenly got out of the window, which is making rehearsals difficult.

Self-Assessment:
I was on time, signed in and ready to work for the warm up. I respected the set and listened to the instructions, so that I wouldn’t break or damage the set or cause accidents. I made sure that I was always in the Auditorium so that I was there if they needed me. I stayed quiet when the directors were trying to sort things out so that I wasn’t a distraction. I got annoyed at others but I should just let them get on with it and focus on myself. I listened to what people were saying but I may have rushed some of the transitions which nearly caused some of them to collide. I was respectful towards the musicians and listened quietly whilst they were performing. I was on the bull and waited patiently by using my time constructively and without being a distraction. I sang the song but I could bring more character to it. I didn’t mess around or loud but used my time constructively by running lines and doing my diary. I went for it in the run so that I experimented with my lines and my character was bigger but my physicality was sometimes a bit awkward so I need to choose a physicality and stick to it so that I can build from it. I remembered all of the transitions and tried to direct people. I was pissed off by the end of the day as I kept telling people to shut up but I need to just ignore them.

Directors Notes:
• PLEASE SHUT UP!!!
• Pay attention whilst moving the set and be careful to avoid accidents
• Be patient- if we can get the transitions done then we can move on
• Don’t talk off stage, if someone else is don’t tell them to shut up just ignore them and not be a part of it
• Tomorrow there can’t be any chatting and messing around we need to get this done.

Tomorrows Task: Don’t talk and don’t get involved, up the character and stick with a physicality, be prepared to wait around.