Shelley and the Castell

Well it’s been a very busy week (hence why this post is so late, sorry about that). The week has been spent up at Castell Coch, moving kit in and rehearsing in the space for the first time. We are currently living out of two large blue containers (it’s as glamorous as it sounds), however we do have a generator and I brought my kettle with me, so I’m very happy (I also have biscuits). It’s been great to finally get into the space as it’s the final element that really brings the show together and it’s looking rather good.

 

Monday to Thursday was spent rehearsing, but come Friday and we opened (it took us by surprise a little bit). Our opening matinee turned out to be a bus full of kids (we could have had any easier audience for the first show, surly?), they seemed to enjoy it, so as far as I’m concerned, it was a success (despite a few technical hiccups). The evening audience were slightly less enthusiastic, but then most were 30+.

As we finished early on Wednesday we (Cait and I) went to see ‘Shadowlands’ at the New. Having initially gone for two actors who are in it (yes, I met them at the stage door) I greatly enjoyed the show. It’s about an ageing C.S. Lewis in his days as a professor at Oxford, when he meets an American fan, falls in love with her and marries her, only for her to become ill. Whilst it was a very simple set, it was beautifully used, with some incredible acting; a really unexpected surprised and delight (and yes dear reader, this is the play that I thought I was seeing last week).

Filming!

Again Thursday evening was something a little different, as I finally managed to see Doctor Who being filmed (at last!). All week they have been filming not far from me, but as it’s been day shoots I’ve missed everything, but on Thursday they finished at midnight, so I finally managed to see something. Having watched the show for 11 years and done some of the Class filming, it was brilliant to finally see the real thing being made. Again I don’t want to give anything away, but it was mainly Pearl, who I think will be great (I’ve said that before).

Due to there being a wedding at the castell (I’ve gone native with the spelling) we had Saturday off, which I spent with Mum and Dad, going around St. Fagan’s. For those of you who have been reading my posts for a while (well done, but seriously, find something more interesting to do), you’ll know that we had a very quick trip there in September, however I realise that we missed out an awful lot, so a second visit was very much necessary. Even after a second visit I haven’t seen everything, so I think we’ll be going back again to finish it off. After that we went to Penarth Pier, to the little cinema in the room of the pier to watch ‘Sing Street’, another unexpected delight for the week.

Sunday was back to the castell (yes, I’m still native) for another two shows, which again both seemed to go well. With four performances done, I like to think that I’ve got a hang of the show now.