Last Video Blog From Canada

Goodbye

It’s time to reflect on our time here in Canada and that task is now left to me and SBM...  The trip itself has been full of activity, fun, laughs, relaxing and some craziness along the way.  But without all those emotions (and more) we couldn’t have had the full rounded LITF / Canada experience!

The festival itself was certainly an opportunity to see how other theatre groups work and learn lessons from the variety of skills on offer.  I had the chance to see 5 brilliant plays from Nova Scotia, Egypt, Germany, USA and Canada.  Most notably (for me), the German offering of “Noah and the Flood”, an inspired and clever portrayal of a well known tale; full of humour and with a very catchy tune that we’ve all been humming for days now!! SBM also appreciated the German play, although she says she didn’t understand a word but “got the two-by-two Hurrah, Hurrah” bit and she does love cuddly toys! Personally, I wish I’d had more time to see the other talented groups that were on offer, but there was socialising and sleeping and eating and drinking to be squeezed into our week too!! 

It was excellent to see how committed and enthusiastic people are towards the festival but the best part of the whole deal was the camaraderie and opportunity to share ideas amongst the members of our own group.  We’ve come up with loads of thoughts about how to take things forward within BLT, how to promote ourselves within the community and how to raise our profile in general.  I think that we have a wealth of talent and skills to utilise and SBM and I look forward to being part of that process upon our return home.

Godfather Death was well received at LITF and the feedback was really positive!  It was encouraging to hear other people’s great comments and both SBM, myself and the rest of the team feel that our performance was tighter than it has ever been. Specifically the audience participation at the end of the play was a breathtaking moment for us all and one we hope to emulate in Cwmbran!!!

We’re leaving Halifax and Liverpool with a smile on our faces and we hope we’ve touched the hearts of others.  We’re also leaving with Jerry’s massive concrete construction (!) and if there is anything we’d like to feed back to the festival organisers... PLEASE consider the baggage allowance of your INTERNATIONAL participants and award winners lol!!!!

Sarah & Shelley

We won two awards !!!

Hey everyone - I'm not normally one for public speaking but... Tonight was awards night at the Liverpool International Theatre Festival and we are very proud to have won two awards. Jerry won Best Supporting Actor and we also won Exceptional Lighting and Sound award. Everyone here is so happy - and I'm sure the gang will be blogging tomorrow. Nye

Back at the Astor after 4 years......

Here we are back in Nova Scotia after four years, and it’s been a pleasure once again. It’s been great to see the friends we made last time again, and the welcome has been as warm as ever. But I’m sure all this has been said already, so I’ll cut to my peronal edited highlights...

I’ve rarely been as nervous as I was waiting to go on to do Fancying Sheep in 2008, but four years on that hadn’t changed, as we stood through the inevitable delay. Fine for us merely getting anxious, but poor Sarah in the box couldn’t have known when we’d be starting, and Blair’s design, incorporating generous holes for carrying - and breathing if you happen to be inside - came into its own. Thanks Blair. The show wouldn’t have been the same if we’d had to start it by reviving Sarah.

The show went well, which was a relief for me. I’d been nervous about taking the devil role immortalised by young Mills, and trying to find physical stuff that would work, as well as not forgetting my lines. No repeat of a recent rehearsal - “as ‘e gorn?.....................line?” was required, but I didn’t feel I’d nailed it physically either. Neil’s advice was timely: “Say your lines and don’t bump into anything.” I took it to heart...

Yesterday the human mortality theme - taken up by numerous other shows as well as ours - was carried on when Rob and Blair kindly took us over to Coffin Island. Aside from the name, Jerry took the controls on the way over and proceeded to win the shooting contest later in the afternoon. Driven to Coffin Island by Death, the deadliest shot in the New World.

Steve Wride





    

Video BLOG - LITF from Coffins Island

The inane ramblings of the Wales team - reflecting on LITF so far - from Coffin's Island, Liverpool, Nova Scotia.

NOVA SCOTIA PIMPLE POST

And here is my first blog! What a wonderful Festival this has been for all of us. Neil and I feel like we've come home again and it is incredible how we pick up with all our friends here just as though we'd only been away a moment and not two years. As you have no doubt already gathered, our trip didn't begin so smoothly but I promise you that contrary to popular belief, Mr M. and I didn't come to blows on our extended trek! The opening ceremony was magnificent and full of emotion - I think we did the Welsh anthem proud - we certainly sang with some hwyl. And then a real treat - excerpts from "The Full Monty" to begin the Festival which has opened my eyes to friends old and new! The opening play was "Jeux des Massacre" from Les Aragnees du Boui Boui which was superb and set the standard for all of us. Then the day of our performance dawned and with it the break in the weather that had been promised - out came the sun and on came the Welsh. I really enjoyed the performance itself, despite a slight hitch involving a breeze, an uncooperative candle and a few more verses of a song than anticipated but hey ho that's the magic of live theatre. The standing ovation we received was a heart-warming moment and brought a lump to our throats - happy day. And so to The Dr J.C. Wickwire school for our visit on Friday - a hall full of very well-behaved youngsters and our presentation of life in Wales with a live web-link back to Blackwood Primary school who have begun a partnership programme with the Wickwire. Lily Jones, Sarah's daughter was the presenter of two short films and her "Lilycam" was such fun as she introduced her school. With the "official" duties out of the way, we could relax and enjoy the other performances and this we have done, seeing some wonderful theatre, proving that language is no barrier to great art. Saturday we gratefully accepted the offer of a trip to Coffin Island to blow the cobwebs away - and that we did! Fresh lobster on the menu, fun and games and the birth of "Shelley World" which will comprise "Shellyisms" which I have dutifully been recording and will share with the world when I think the world is ready for them! We got soaked on the way back - the sea being a little "choppy" but that just added to the fun. Last evening the Gala was the chance to put on the glad rags and look glamorous and we had a fantastic time with  lovely food and a live band. Today, Sunday, is the last official day of the Festival and the closing ceremony tonight is sure to be emotional. So our thoughts begin to turn toward home but we've a couple of days to go yet and a few more memories to create!

Last day

Well here we are on the last day of LITF. Where has the time gone?
Had a very enjoyable day out with Rob and Blair Saturday who kindly gave of thirty day and took us out to an island where we ate fresh lobster caught that morning and even got to do some shooting!!
Just 2 more plays to see today then award night. Wondering if team BLT will be bringing any home having carried the flag.
I know that if we are not successful we will still have impressed many people with our production. Even today people are still coming up to us saying they thoroughly enjoyed it. One guy last night said that he loved the play and he particularly liked the character 'death' and would love to play him. A nice thought for me having portrayed the character and Vic for writing it and giving me the opportunity to be a part of it.
Last night was the Gala evening. After the last show people went to the Best Western to have a meal. There were prizes to be won in draws. Most comprised t shirts hats  etc with
The LITF Logo. The final prize was a certificate for free admission to the next festival in 2014. The announcement was made and a name was called. I heard the name Jerry, I looked around as there is a driver who has been wonderful out here with that name to see where she was sat. With that some called out what's the last name I heard mine!! So with great surprise I went to collect the certificate.
After sitting down I decided that I would give it to the host that Nye and I have been billited with, Peggy.
A lovely straight talking Canadian who has opened her home to us. She has made our stay pleasant and we come and go as we please. No airs or graces. I couldn't think of anyone more deserving of this as she puts a tremendous amount of work into the festival but has to pay full price for all the tickets for the plays she watches. At least I know that next time she will not have to pay!
I know she won't see this here unless someone prints it off for her but just wanted to make people who are good enough to read this be aware of her volunteer work along with others in this very friendly community.
Right enough of this. The sun is shining so I am going to stop and enjoy my coffee.

Cheers for reading if you got this far!!