Well, rehearsals continue to be rehearsals... which is probably a good thing because if they weren't rehearsals then they would be something else entirely and that, I have decided, is something I don't really want to do.
The Othello cast have spent the last two weeks working under Fight Director Andy Fraser. I am happy to say that in true Upstart tradition our production continues to crackle with energy, ensuring epic sword fights for those who like a bit of action and plenty of knife work for those who like to get up close and intimate.
Tomorrow is our first venue visit with the entire cast, I look forward to the sound of eyes popping as our Upstart virgins are exposed to the enormity of Woodlake amphitheatre for the first time. I hope to have a few photo's up in the next few days of rehearsals thus far, so that all of you at home can see how the production is coming along.
As a treat for you all from my journey's on the web I have found this footage recorded in May of this year. Enjoy!
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Sunday, October 25, 2009
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Meet the Cast: Garreth Bradshaw - Iago
1.Tell me about yourself
I'm 24... I was born and raised in Perth, Mum is a nurse and Dad is a cop. I have a degree in Education (B.Ed secondary) majoring in drama studies although I only teach for WA Youth Theatre Company on the weekends.
2. When did you first become involved in theatre?
In a serious way? When I was in highschool. I had always had some association with it but never took it seriously until I was 13 or 14.
3. What is the proudest moment of your theatre career thus far?
There are so many, it's hard to choose. For sheer bragging rights and to keep up the facade of being some kind of prodigy, which I am not, I would say it would have been my first feature length directorial debut. At the age of 18 I directed Beckett's "Waiting for Godot" inside Fremantle Gaol, it only ran for three nights but it was extremely well recieved. Now that I look back on it I wonder where I got the balls to do it and who was mad enough to let me. Apart from that, I am proudest in terms of achievement of our production of "Taming of the Shrew" which I directed last year and which put Upstart Theatre company figuratively on the map and artistically I'm proudest of the production of Brecht's "Life of Galileo" that I directed earlier this year.
4. What's it like playing Iago?
Next to me is a pile of pages... A somewhat hefty pile of pages, it is the script to Shakespeare's Othello. I look at it every day and every day I can feel it looking back at me. It's Iago, I can feel him watching, waiting and wanting to be heard, to be played with by you and in turn to play with you.
It is the source of much speculation as to why Iago does what he does, is it out of greed, lust, ambition or just sheer chaos? This is one of the biggest hurdles that an actor approaching the role must cross, thankfully I have crossed it, but in regards to my motivation, well you shall just have to come see the show and make up your own mind. Here's what Ewan McGregor has to say about the role, though I don't necessarily agree with him... or do I? *laughs*
5. You haven't really answered my question
It's a mind f@#k... He changes thoughts all the time, he's operating on at least seven levels and he very rarely says what he means. The most honest thing he says in the entire production is "I am not what I am". Then as an actor you have to rely on your skills to make the dialogue sound as though Iago is improvising, which he is, I think that's the one thing we can pin him down on. He's not meticulous in his planning, he makes it up as he goes along. Iago has a general idea of what he wants to happen but waits for the "time to more favourably minister" as to how he shall put it into action.
6.Harold Bloom said "It might be Othello's tragedy but it's Iago's play", what do you think?
Iago certainly has more stage time than Othello and more lines but I don't think any character owns this play wholly. Desdemona suffers more than Othello, Roderigo is as badly twisted by Iago as what Othello is, one might even say worse, Cassio will probably never walk properly again, that's if he dosen't die of infection or have his legs amputated... His political career has also taken a battering, although it is never discussed at the end but Cassio's relationship with whores will probably not go down well back home in venice. If all of these characters are so affected by the action of this play, why should we say it belongs more to one than another?
7. What's your favourite line from the play?
"O, beware, my lord of Jealousy;/ it is the green eyed monster which doth mock/ the meat it feeds on"
I'm 24... I was born and raised in Perth, Mum is a nurse and Dad is a cop. I have a degree in Education (B.Ed secondary) majoring in drama studies although I only teach for WA Youth Theatre Company on the weekends.
2. When did you first become involved in theatre?
In a serious way? When I was in highschool. I had always had some association with it but never took it seriously until I was 13 or 14.
3. What is the proudest moment of your theatre career thus far?
There are so many, it's hard to choose. For sheer bragging rights and to keep up the facade of being some kind of prodigy, which I am not, I would say it would have been my first feature length directorial debut. At the age of 18 I directed Beckett's "Waiting for Godot" inside Fremantle Gaol, it only ran for three nights but it was extremely well recieved. Now that I look back on it I wonder where I got the balls to do it and who was mad enough to let me. Apart from that, I am proudest in terms of achievement of our production of "Taming of the Shrew" which I directed last year and which put Upstart Theatre company figuratively on the map and artistically I'm proudest of the production of Brecht's "Life of Galileo" that I directed earlier this year.
4. What's it like playing Iago?
Next to me is a pile of pages... A somewhat hefty pile of pages, it is the script to Shakespeare's Othello. I look at it every day and every day I can feel it looking back at me. It's Iago, I can feel him watching, waiting and wanting to be heard, to be played with by you and in turn to play with you.
It is the source of much speculation as to why Iago does what he does, is it out of greed, lust, ambition or just sheer chaos? This is one of the biggest hurdles that an actor approaching the role must cross, thankfully I have crossed it, but in regards to my motivation, well you shall just have to come see the show and make up your own mind. Here's what Ewan McGregor has to say about the role, though I don't necessarily agree with him... or do I? *laughs*
5. You haven't really answered my question
It's a mind f@#k... He changes thoughts all the time, he's operating on at least seven levels and he very rarely says what he means. The most honest thing he says in the entire production is "I am not what I am". Then as an actor you have to rely on your skills to make the dialogue sound as though Iago is improvising, which he is, I think that's the one thing we can pin him down on. He's not meticulous in his planning, he makes it up as he goes along. Iago has a general idea of what he wants to happen but waits for the "time to more favourably minister" as to how he shall put it into action.
6.Harold Bloom said "It might be Othello's tragedy but it's Iago's play", what do you think?
Iago certainly has more stage time than Othello and more lines but I don't think any character owns this play wholly. Desdemona suffers more than Othello, Roderigo is as badly twisted by Iago as what Othello is, one might even say worse, Cassio will probably never walk properly again, that's if he dosen't die of infection or have his legs amputated... His political career has also taken a battering, although it is never discussed at the end but Cassio's relationship with whores will probably not go down well back home in venice. If all of these characters are so affected by the action of this play, why should we say it belongs more to one than another?
7. What's your favourite line from the play?
"O, beware, my lord of Jealousy;/ it is the green eyed monster which doth mock/ the meat it feeds on"
This is our fantastic poster designed by the marketing gurus at Elmars for our special one off gig on the 21st of November. It should be a great evening to bring along that "special" someone and stretch out underneath a starlit sky and enjoy some of the best food, beer and wine the Swan Valley has to offer. If you want a truly decadent experience then this is the night for you!
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
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