Hi everyone!
This is really it! Our countdown is into single digits and we’re all practically living in the rehearsal room. Being so close to production week is often a pretty mad experience. So many things, that have little to do with the performance itself, also come into play. Exhaustion starts rearing its annoying head, everyone is on military schedules to try balance work, rehearsals and personal life (or what’s left of it) … and hunger. Lots of it. Everyone is constantly hungry and we’d shock you if we had to list the amount of stuff we wolf through in just one rehearsal before, between and after scenes.
But being so close to curtain up also, always, brings along something very special: a beautiful sense of camaraderie. We are no longer a bunch of people who know each other at different levels, if at all. We’ve now spent almost 3 months meeting everyday, getting to know one another and building relationships that certainly boost the dynamic between actors on stage but, often, also translate into friendships for years to come. Away from the theatre.
So in this week’s blog our wonderful cast have shared with us what this experience has been like for them. We, at Dù, feel very strongly about always casting the right people for a project. Not just the best people who fit the characters but, more importantly, people who we love being around and can contribute to the strong synergy on stage that audiences have come to expect from all our Dù pieces. And believe us, Repubblika Immakulata is no different. We love our cast (and crew!).
Have a good day!
The Dù Team
My Repubblika Immakulata experience …
Mark:
… was all about one question “Who are we, the Maltese people?”. It was a fun deep-dive that deconstructed my preconception of the “Maltese citizen” persona, and made me look at the humanity behind our people, rather than the caricatures we often play in our heads.
Andrè:
… has been an explosive experience. Never have I experienced the beating of the heart of an impulsive being. Never have I thought I could rage so much in anger. Never have I thought I could swear so much in a few lines. Never have I thought – I’d be enjoying all this so much.
Pierre:
… when working on a new script, it is always exciting to know that this will be the first time that a character is being brought to life and these will be the first relationships he will have with other characters. With Repubblika Immakulata, I have really enjoyed building two different personalities on stage, whilst working with a team of very talented young actors, most of whom I had never worked with before. Throughout the rehearsal process, I relished seeing Simone the Director discover new things in the play which Simone the Playwright penned; new, hidden levels brought to light by the interaction of the actors with her words and with each other. All of this in a great script which is very relevant to today’s Malta.
Ryan:
… has been a great experience both professionally and personally. Professionally it was challenging and exciting as I had never played two characters in one play with such intense and contrasting emotions and behaviour. Personally I feel grateful and lucky to have worked with such a talented, fun, and outgoing cast, crew and director, who I look forward to working with again in the future.
Andrè:
… has been, on so many levels, an examination of conscience. The rehearsal room has been a safe space to review and reflect on my own thoughts, words and actions, as an individual, as a member of this cast and also as a citizen of this country. It is the scenarios and situations that this play pits us against as characters, that transcends our ability as actors and goes further in challenging us on who we are, specifically within the context of this immaculate nation. To be thrust out of your comfort zone, is something which always brings with it a certain degree of hesitation but it is the moment where elements start falling into place, that scenes turn into a volatile firework – fueled on adrenaline and filled with potential and unadulterated gratification.
Magda:
… has and still is a constant discovery of dabbling with counter opposites. The journey is challenging, frustrating, draining, energising and satisfying at the same time. I still remember our coffee/ice cream date back in July when we discussed bringing Dù back on stage. The project had to reflect what we have become and the realities that surround us. Rolling into March, sewing one of the costumes, repeating the lines ad nauseam, adding tasks to the never ending to do production list, sipping coffee not to dose off, I occasionally stop and ask myself why am I doing all of this. The answer never changes. It’s the great vibe amongst the team, the pride in building something from scratch, the endless laughs, the coffee dates, the discussions, the crazy car rides, pastizzi breakfasts, the OMG we-are-getting-old moments, the passion. Indeed, it is that passion that defines my Repubblika Immakulata experience.
Kristjana:
... has been a lovely roller coaster of emotions and especially mental challenges. Having been absent from the theatre for quite some time I felt very excited to be working with such a great cast, crew, director and last but not least an amazing script. We’ve had dozens of discussions whilst rehearsing and the reason is that the story we are going to be telling you is what makes us who we are, whether we like it or not and there are so many different perspectives and preconceptions that surround each and every character and his or her actions. We have had very challenging moments during rehearsals and some frustrations along the way as well. Some days were very long and we all felt tired, cold and sometimes hungry as well but that did not affect the group dynamics so much and we always managed to carry on without much grumpiness. We also had lots of laughter, especially in the last few days. I believe that we have really connected as a team and everyone just fit in perfectly in my opinion. Of course we have our scapegoat, (the one who gets to be picked upon mostly) who we love dearly 🙂 and we also discovered some hidden talents along the way (which might remain hidden). All in all it has been an amazing experience and I am more than glad that my debut after a number of years is going to be with this cast and crew, Simone as our director and working on such an intense and thought-provoking script.
neglect the idea that as actors there is a degree of dualism that one needs to undertake, whereby our professional and personal lives overlap, heavily. In my last performance, I had started feeling a certain degree of resistance in submitting myself fully to the interpretation of a role – I had felt a sense of enthusiasm which wasn’t present as heavily as other instances. With this in mind, I didn’t want to force it and so I ventured into other facets of theatre, fully knowing that I would want to rekindle that enthusiasm, should the right opportunity present itself.
This is where Dù come in. I have always admired Dù for their Difference and Indifference. Difference in how they confront a medium, a style or a topic – Indifference in following the crowd and the movement, and dù-ing what they do best, telling stories creatively. Stories that strike a balance between being entertaining, stimulating, and also challenging. Simone Spiteri’s newly penned script Repubblika Immakulata does just that, and Dù’s new project struck a chord of excitement in me that made the notion of returning to the stage, so very attractive again.
Dù Theatre Blog 