Suggestions
Without wanting to come across too much as a marketing person stifling creativity (a conversation of which I'm sure Peth has many fond memories), I think the Bubble needs to do a 'banker' show this summer, ie. one that has a great chance of selling plenty of tickets.
We have to remember that this is a company that almost ceased to exist this time last year, and will be looking to re-engage with its traditional public audience for the first time in a long while, many of whom may even have thought that the company did actually close down.
So I don't think it's a time for too much experimentation - give 'em what they want! So A Midsummer Night's Dream is a front runner as far as I'm concerned. Or a classic fairy tale (or collection of tales) more normally seen as Christmas shows, but which would work well as a family summer show. So a Grimm, or an Andersen, or an Arabian Nights - that sort of thing.
And then, if it sells well, and the company continues to strengthen, then maybe something a bit riskier can be tried next year.
Wyrd Sisters revival?
One of the best shows that I went to was your production of Terry Pratchett's "Wyrd Sisters". His style of fantasy seemed to match the setting very well.
I was particularly impressed with how Granny Weatherwax's cottage was created by placing a few simple items - a hat stand, a window frame, a table, etc - in the park and the audience filled in the rest of the walls in their minds.
I think a revival would be very popular, does anyone agree?
summer show 2009
Not a proposal but I keep thinking of travelling players who enact stories that upset the audience as in Hamlet. I also keep thinking of the peasant's revolt (Blackheath) and the campaign to save Oxleas woods. The 1930s mass trespasses also come to mind. Who owns the land? What do we want to do with it?I like the idea of Canterbury Tales - modern stories of ordinary people. The journey theme is coming up a lot. Perhaps something on the lines of the Good Soldier Schweik - the ordinary person who copes or (doesn't) with life Just some ramblings.
Iris
summer 09
Big, bright bold
poetry in th evisuals
simple moments can be the most engaging, a silence or a stillness or being directed towards watching a character walk away over the hill
simplicity of narrative, especially outdoors, having said that I loved the complexity of the Bubble's last show at teh Elephant. Although I like newness sometimes a familiar story or base story can help us to engage as an audience outdoors where we can't always be as engaged with the spoken words. On the other hand it can be new but for me the familiarity can help eg the Pratchett show I found a bit difficult and at times disengaging because I had never read any of the Discworld stuff.
about us, our hopes, desires, loves, fears. Theatre was wandering 'vagabonds' telling stories and so it should be now. what do we want to tell each other and share?
Sharing the space, an outdoor show is a version of the traditional huddle around the fireside listening to a story.
commonality, what we share in our life experience; difference, what we don't know about each other; but no lecturing!
I think that teh proposers should try to bring themselves to the party ie start with what you would like rather than trying to second guess what others would like; the pleasing teh audience part is in the telling and the direction rather than at the beginning, thinking of an idea stage.
I know these are not proposals....I haven't got there yet...oh yes, one popped into my mind, I'll put it up.
I take elliot's coment about giving them what they want, but we should be careful. understand that the Bubble need to bank rather than risk, but on other hand look at what Wildworks do with innovation www.wildworks.biz/thebeautifuljourney.html
More Summer 09
Yes, I think we can strike the balance between giving them/us/Bubble Punters what they want (a banker) and riskier experimentation- a simple story well told is what we need (she says, stating the obvious). In terms of what I want I want it to be robust, surprising, funny, moving and yes plenty of the moments that Adrian talks of. The Crock of Gold was the Bubble show which did all of that for me in most recent years. I didn't see A Midsummer Nights Dream- would like to hear why it's a favourite for anyone... The park shows that involve Nymph and fairies and mythical creatures of nature work best for me, they seem to have come from the surroundings, they belong there and we imerse ourselves in that world. The big tents call to mind the Tents that Aslan uses in the Battles in Narnia...
The Siomon Armitage radio dramatisation of The Odyssey is a firm favourite retelling of mine. Am going to propose it now- it's already been proposed and discussed, is it worthwhile proposing it again then?
Movement
Audiences often comment on the moves. They don't like moving when there is no reason to move. They love moving when a character or event dictates that we must. People like going through something with the character. And they like encountering things on the way.
PS Over 100 stakeholders now.
Bicycle Synchronicity
Hi everyone! I've just become a stakeholder and am overwhelmed at the breadth and inventiveness of everyone's ideas. I really get the feeling that despite the wide variety of ideas for shows, there is a common sense of what would be a good Bubble Summer show.
I can tell already that it's going to be a tough choice in the end when we each have to cast our ballot.
I was delighted just now, when reading all the posts, to see Alex's and Julia's discussion about bicycles. "The Bicycle Thief" sounds like a really interesting show and very timely as it is set in a time of economic and social hardship. I look forward to hearing more about that.
The reason for my surprise at the talk of bicycle ballets and such was that I had been mulling over the notion of a bicycle show myself. A title popped into my head - Spinner. I was imagining bicycle choreography also and perhaps different bicycles as characters like "Starlight Express" or "Thomas the tank engine". I was imagining Post-bikes, courier-bikes,racing-bikes, kids-bikes,chopper-bikes,BMX-bikes. Perhaps all telling stories about the different London roads they ride on.
Anyway, what I find most interesting about this is that three of us were independently gravitating toward similar ideas.
I look forward to hearing more about "The Bicycle Thief"
Themed thread
I've posted a bike specific thread, if anyone want another themed discussion let us know and we'll create it.
Ticket Sales & Innovation
Just to clarify, I never said that the show shouldn't be brave and innovative. Just because a show has a well known title, it doesn't mean it can't be a brave, risky, dangerous, exhilarating and beautiful piece of theatre. I just think London Bubble need to help themselves to sell the show by choosing a title that people will have heard of, and needs a little less explaining by whoever has the challenge of publicising it. Many people I speak to still think the company closed down completely last year, so there's a challenge from the start. But it doesn't have to one or the other. That's all.
slightly new tack
when we say bubble professional summer show i have a fairly clear idea in my mind of the many shows i've seen and been around, but am i right to be thinking like that?
with the changes that have occurred at the bubble how do the community groups fit in to how we should be thinking eg theres a big difference between Ben Hur cast of thousands and a story predominently featuring 8-10 professional performers...
question for peth i guess? any thoughts?
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