Its first feature is a feeling of restlessness which tends to involve copious amounts of house cleaning and an inability to sit still for 5 seconds. The other charming feature of post-show-state is emotional deadness. Was I sad it’s over? Nope. Was I happy it’s over? Nope. Glad it went well? Nope. What were my feelings about the future of the show? Meh. Was it worth all the hard work? Bah. Shrug.

I embraced the first symptom of my unfortunate frame of mind in an attempt to wear myself out. I cleaned the house, cut my hair, washed every item of clothing I own, answered ALL my emails, made a puppet, filed my receipts, wrote a show proposal, planned a workshop, stewed a weeks worth of carrot soup and even baked a flipping cake (WHO AM I?).

The second symptom, the emotional vacuum was harder to combat, nothing was raising a smile, a tear, anything but a grunt. Sweet emails from the Roost team? Nope. A good review? Whatever. This insanely beautiful song about building a house? Nice try ipod, but in post-show state I’m made of stone. Very dull, cold, grey stone.

While robotically sorting my receipts I had this talk from the RSA on in the background, for no other reason than I like the RSA talks and it was near the top of the list. It’s about all kinds of things, but mainly the importance of empathy to humans. The speaker, Dr Brene Brown describes the purpose of her work as a social work researcher, and her place in the world as to provide useful, comforting empathy. Not sympathy, empathy, to make proper connections with other human beings which say ‘me too, I know what you feel’. She finishes her talk by showing a picture of someone touching someone else’s hand, a perfect, physical expression of ‘me too’.

It reminded me of something my stupid mechanical brain had glossed over when it happened during a performance of Roost. There is a point in the play, where everything has gone wrong for the characters. One of our performers, Annie, has had a particularly hard time in our story and is sitting alone, close to the audience. The performers have been playing with the audience throughout and established that there is no barrier between the stage and seating area. They’d established it so well, and staged (amongst a pretty absurd setting) such genuine, recognisable human emotions that one evening at that moment a woman in the audience, a complete stranger, subtly reached out and squeezed Annie’s hand. To comfort, to empathise, to say ‘me too, I know what you feel’.

I’m quite a visual person, words aren’t my favourite way to communicate (which is why our long suffering Company Manager has such trouble getting me to write these blogs!) so like the speaker I can’t really sum up my thoughts and feelings about Roost any better than with that moment. Ten thousand words about the best and worst parts, about how right or wrong we got it and what the point of the show was can’t say anything clearer than that image.

One person’s hand on another’s to say ‘me too’.

Emotions reinstated. Love of theatre reignited. Get ye gone post-show blues.

August 2013 Update

Here follows edited highlights of emails sent from Director Amelia Bird to the rest of the production team during the first two weeks of rehearsals for our new show Roost. We were on a farm, some things probably seemed funnier at the time than they do now…

Logbook Entry: Three Days of Devising
31/7/13

Many apologies for the lateness of the first log from devising town. The internet has not been our friend. We are now on speaking terms, but still regard each other with some suspicion.

Our first day was a whirlwind of excitement, no one got lost (apart from Annie very temporarily). Lunch eaten, and delicious Worboys’ homemade elderflower cordial presented the first business of the day was to establish what questions we need to answer in rehearsal and also what we already know about the show. The latter was aided by Ben who gave us a tour of the house. The house is amazing, even beyond what photos had suggested. Wherever the performers stand it in they are framed like a picture. I want to make every show in it. I want to live in it. It is a palace of possibilities.

Perversely with such a construction nearby we spent the afternoon building our own homes in the field. Features included grass walls, aphid art, tunnels to other dimensions, and rabbit poo flooring. Dinner was prawn rice cooked by Katie. The fresh air sent us straight to a deep sleep. Apart from Ben who I didn’t know until today got his bedding stuck in the barn and nearly froze to death, can someone in London check him for frostbite please.

Day two was choc-full I can barely remember what happened. We made characters, we talked about what we’d like an audience to experience, we planned journeys to the house, we discovered that someone running into the distance is hilarious from the house. Sam Worboys popped in with dip dabs and party rings. YESSSSSS.

Day three was a tempestuously rainy little bugger. I cursed the sky several times, it cursed us back. We are keen to rehearse as much as possible in the space, it is utterly different to indoors. Olly had the flash of inspiration that if we could tarp the roof of central section we can use it in all times. Will the structure withstand it? Could someone bring some light tarp/plastic covering of any kind out on Friday perhaps? Also the floor is a bit slippy whether wet or dry, so we are wondering about how it could be treated/painted to not be in the future?

We ended the day with a run of our first scene, props we currently have in use via the power of mime:

-          A rug
-          A duvet
-          2 pillows
-          A toilet roll
-          2 pans

These are not things we need at all yet and may change, but I’m just writing them down so I don’t forget later and to plant some seeds in your noggins back in London town.

ALL IS WELL.

LOG ONE OUT.

Log entry: Thursday
1/8/13

Olly: Chest

Katie:  None

Amelia: Right thigh (just the right one) and back

Annie: Nose

Phil: Back

Matt: Head

These are the body parts we have sunburned today.

It has been a day of good discoveries, we have one and a half sequences blocked and we know more and more about the logic of our slightly oddball world with every action choreographed.

We have designated two doors in the house and one small gangway where audience shouldn’t sit.

You can fit 4 logs into a pair of jogging bottoms with you…if you are Olly.

Eating grass makes you gag. Clover stalks however are sweet and tasty to chew.

Phil taught us some things I don’t know about rhythms. She has left us but will return with Bryan and Dawn tomorrow which is exciting.

xx

Addendum: it has been remarked that in my last logbook entry I mentioned that Annie got lost but neglected to mention that I did so much more dramatically. I went for a run, I was lost for an hour. One wheatfield looks much like another wheatfield apparently.

Logbook entry: Friday
2/8/13

Ah black sky a thousand hatreds for you (except from, from Olly who rejoiced wildly as depicted in the attached photo). Dawn and Phil and Bryan and Ben arrived, bringing with them an almighty 6 hour thunderstorm. They also brought tarp, theatre-watching eyes and an awesome lunch, so all was forgiven.

We enjoyed a very wet game of samurai, but retreated into the barn to finish choreographing our two introductory scenes. They sky cleared for the farm-dwellers to present a run of what we have so far which was a very useful exercise.

Discoveries of the day:

-          Static blocking is bad in our space.

-          The logic we have established for the part the audience plays in our world is fun.

-          The humanity of the characters is coming through. We have avoided black and white stereotypes.

-          Musical and costume inspiration has been gleaned.

-          We are confident we can fit 150 people in the house.

-          Broccoli should always be pan cooked with lemon and oil.

-          Out of our crew  I am assumed to have the most fun uterus to live in. We think there may be a slide and ball pool in there. I DO NOT KNOW HOW THIS CAME UP IN CONVERSATION.

We have much to learn but have had an excellent first week, solid theatrical base established.

Log at end of week one OUT.

Logbook Entry: Rehearsal Part 1 Wrapped

Hi pals,

I’m writing from London, yes London we’ve left the farm for now.

Wednesday was our last day of devising before the break and I woke thinking ‘oh well, if we don’t find an ending today I can think about it over the next week and a half and then…..’ BUT HOLD THE PHONE we only went and smashed out an awesome ending didn’t we?! We’re all very happy with it. It’s an exciting and emotion-tickling audience experience even before we include set, light and music elements (Phil has just played me a draft of the music for it which is sounding super sweet).

Simon, Phil and Dawn arrived and we had a good chat about lights and sound. Dawn is creating an uber-schedule for the final two weeks which should make the remaining tasks and roles really clear, so please get back to her asap if she asks you about availability etc.

Our day ended with a really useful full run and some handy feedback from Siphawn (new combo name). To get my brain straight I did some storyboarding yesterday reacting to the feedback, it’s totally illegible and will probably change, but I’ve attached it in case people want to see roughly where I think we’re heading in the next couple of weeks.

I shall wrap up now with another MASSIVE thank you to everyone for everything so far. I know there’s a lot more to do, but we’re in a really good place to achieve it and achieve it REALLY FRICKING WELL. I like this show. Yeah that’s right. I like it already. This never happens.

Love in all your faces xxx

Here follows the edited highlights of emails Gomito HQ received during the creation of the set for Gomito’s show Roost. It was built on the beautiful Francis Farm in Suffolk where we’ve stayed and rehearsed in the past. It’s always noted that the farm has a special effect on creative visitors; it relaxes them, it focuses them and then it slowly turns them funny in the head. No one asked the design/construction team to write a logbook, no one asked them to assign human names to pieces of wood, no one has asked why Bryan Woltjen puts Zs at the end of random words, we are just glad that these things happen. Read on and enjoy, the performers hope to take up the baton soon after.

Logbook Entry: Prologue
8/7/13
Bryan Woltjen (Designer)

Our journey begins in sunny London, from where was navigated in a North by North-Easterly direction with the aide of Patsy Clyne, Jeff Buckley and The XX.

Some poorly structured navigational decisions led to a decisive demotion of myself from Navigator to Disc Jockey.

After the insertion of an instrumental version of pan-flute outback compositions, it was decided by the voting majority to demote me further to First-class passenger.

Purchases were made at Screw-fix and Sainsbury’s in Bury St Edmunds.

Satsumas not particularly good this time of season, but organically farmed oranges are tres amazing.

Arriving at Francis farm we were greeted by Sarah, who welcomed us with a tour and a bottle of home-made elderflower cordial. She showed us two possible sites for the build/rhsl. The second, next to the barn, was chosen for it’s slightly more forgiving incline, and proximity to barn. As a side not, the performance sites will need to have little or no incline… Is this something that is being checked?

The cabin’s are great. The couch-sofa even has it’s own fireplace in front of it. The ONE THING WE FORGOT TO BRING was tea, but Sarah and Roger came to the rescue. Yaysies.

The workshop is spacious. Table space is a bit of an issue though… we will suffice for now by making tabletops out of the 19mm ply sheet and putting them on palettes that Roger is happy for us to use. When we need to use the 19mm sheets for the set, another alternative will need to have been sourced.

Wood from Acrelane arrived safely. Roger luckily had a palette truck, which was fortunate because it would have been a huge job to unload without it.

Ben/Dawn can you investigate the following for Ben’s trip up?

Hinges as discussed, but let me have a go at assembling what we’ve got tomorrow.
Bolts, we need wing-nutted bolts with washers to connect the elements that break apart for touring (the ones we bought today were for pivots). The distance they need to sandwich is 100mm (two 50mm thick beams). At least 36 of them.
An L-square, or adjustable angle square, as we’ll be doing some angle cuts.
Spirit level.
trestle table/s(?)… worth a shot
BBQ treats, your welcoming meal will be in front of your tent in the Cart Lodge Victory Garden. Both Rachel and myself are vegetarians… Quorn sangers?
A number of cheeky beers.

Except for the tables being set up, all going to schedule.

Amazing to be out here, the farm is amazing, but Suffolkering in the relentless heat (sorry, couldn’t resist).

Looking forward to tomorrow’s adventures in the Roostness of it all.

Logbook Entry: Knot a Day to be Roosted With‏
12/7/13
Bryan Woltjen (Designer)

Above the entrance to the workshop is a pigeon coop. The characters who inhabit therein are something of an informal mascot for the design. Today they sang along with us to Billy Bragg, Nina Simone and Abbe May.
So far we have escaped being blessed by their occasional little wet gifts that descend from time to time, but I think it mustn’t be long now before providence looks favourably upon us.

Some VERY exciting things happened today.
Our Technical Manager Ben Porter arrived bearing hinges, bolts and oodles of new toys to play with.
We have completed the base structure, charmingly known as ‘The Web (…but not the kind you stream cat videos on).
Ben taught us a new knot, which we think will be instrumental in the inaugral test drop which looms very near in our collective futures.

Although we are a day behind schedule, we’re catching up with Ben’s help. Much to do still. Looking forward immensely to the arrival of the rest of the roost.

Logbook Entry: Family Funtimes and Lots of Cheese‏
13/7/13
Dawn Taylor (Producer/Production Manager)

So I’ve taken on the illustrious task of writing the logbook for Friday…and have already fallen at the first hurdle as it appears to now be Saturday.

Yesterday saw the rest of the Roost family come for a visit. Finally myself, Amelia and Alice arrived at Francis Farm after a lengthy and hilarious odyssey from London.

Upon arrival at the farm we were greeted by the beginnings of a structure. Hurrah! The web base has been finalised and assembled, and is in the field ready for the other frames to be fitted on.

We were given a demonstration of the rather impressive protopye articulated wall frames, ably handled by Ben and Bryan. By and large it’s coming along nicely, but there have been a few problems with hinges and parallelograms, or at least so I’m told. Ben and Bryan have a plan for resolving these, with talk of plywood guides and also reinforcing the point in the base which is under the most pressure with steel.

This is going to mean some welding; I’ve had no luck getting any contact with the technical team at Bury St Edmunds, so Amelia if you have any in-roads there might be good to talk about this today. In the meantime, I’m going to chat with Rodger about any local folk he might know that would be set up for Ben to come in and do some welding.

After small amendments at prototype stage, the outer and inner wall frames are in the process of being cut & assembled.

We’re about a day and a half behind according to the original schedule, but are rapidly catching up since the arrival of Ben on site.

I’m going to stay here until Sunday morning, and come back again on Tuesday night to stay all day Wednesday. The idea is that another pair of hands will hopefully speed up production, but at least if nothing else I’ve been keeping the troops fed. So far it’s been cheese for every meal.

In other news we’ve discovered Ben’s knowledge of the world of birds (animals, not the ladies, although I’m sure his knowledge there is paramount too) and proclivity for jousting. Who knows, we might even arrange a Roost family joust before the end of the build….

That’s all for now. It’s a beautiful sunny day here – I hope that you’re enjoying it in London too.

Logbook Entry: Fellow Travellers
14/7/13
Ben Porter (Technical Manager)

We have picked up some new friends. I have to say that they are an odd bunch, a bit angular, a bit wooden, but for some reason they all seem to fit in.

There’s Frank, he’s quite easy going – we immediately felt comfortable about drawing attention to his generous proportions which he took with good grace. He’s often quite laid back. In fact at this moment he’s lying on his back in the field. He’ll be happy there all night. The wonderful thing about him though is that appears to be a really straight up kind of guy and then all of a sudden he delivers a completely new perspective. Interesting. I think he might lead the way at some point.

Eric (you have seen Eric already, he’s got a triangle on top) has been around for a couple of days now but we’re only just starting to get a grasp on his identity – I still want to call him Stan for some reason which probably doesn’t help. To be honest he’s quite a demanding character which is understandable – he’s not had a good time recently: he suffered a bit of a collapse and since that he’s been lurking at the back of the barn. We’ll try and bolster him up, offer a bit of support – as things currently stand I think there is a danger of him becoming unhinged but I’m sure that in the fullness of time he will become our lynchpin. Eric needs our love. And he really needs to start looking after his feet if this relationship is going to go any further.

Sally. What can I say about Sally? Bryan has said some things about Sally but to be honest I don’t think he really meant them. I feel she’s struggling to find her true identity – from what I can see she’s caught between Eric and Frank and doesn’t know which way to fall. Her predecessor was broken by the whole situation and we would hate to see the same happen to her.

Frank, Eric and Sally have fallen in with a good bunch of people. We understand their needs, support their desires and ambitions. We will help help them be what they can be. (Dawn now talks to the wood and is in touch with a higher power – three bars!)

Logbook Entry: To be FRANK‏
15/7/13
Rachel Schofield-Owen (Assistant Designer)

So, another day in the Gomito Garden.

Yesterday I drove back from London as fast as I possibly could wanting to get back to our little cottage and check out the weekend’s progress!! Only Bryan was here and the progress seemed to have occurred mostly in the liquor and food stores. Ben had driven back to London again.

Bryan and I quickly got back into our routine starting today with the 8.30am Breakfast Briefing.

A lot happened today, most of it I don’t remember. At the end of it, it seems we made good progress. We are all itchy with sawdust and knackered with exhaustion. Today was HOT.

The big game changers were……….. (drumroll)
- Deciding to take a more Mediterranean approach to include big lunches and siestas.
The sun got to all of us today and we have realised that starting earlier, taking a break in the middle and working later is more productive (the late print of this log is proof of the revised schedule)

AND

- Today, we all became master carpenters. Having realised our fixings were just not strong enough to cope with the strain put on the structure, we cut much more solid joints. We have been lapping planes to our hearts content making beautiful bespoke corners. You’ll be pleased to know that the inspiration for this came from a beam in the bathroom of the Cartlodge.

AND

- Frank, we made 3 and they are standing. We have cut up all of Frank and Sally and intend to patch them up and put them in the sky by sunset tomorrow. We have one Sally standing proud already.

AND IN OTHER NEWS

- Ben drove from Bury and back and back to Bury and back to base many times today, Bryan ordered him to go to bed just so he would stop driving.

- Ben and Bryan became a machine. It was like the London Olympics all over again- COGS/BRO-MANCE.

- My favourite job of the day was being asked to cut 3m lengths of wood to 3m. Simple.

- We have opened my box of wine, it is as you might suspect, a bit dodgy.

All very excited about the arrival of Dawn again tomorrow!!!!!!!!!

Today was good, tomorrow will be better.

OVER AND OUT

Logbook entry: Namaqua, South African for Pass the Alka Seltzer…‏
17/7/13
Bryan Woltjen (Designer)

Still, here we are:
All the Franks (outer frames) and Alice’s (inner frames) and a singular lonely Eric (articulated frame), plus a section of floor.

Chock

I have a new belt. The world is mine.

Logbook entry: The Rise Before the Fall
19/7/13
Bryan Woltjen (Designer)

The list of things to do is really rather large, so I attach some more photos in place of my usual delirious rambling.
In brief however, Rachel leaves us today to deliver her own design for some Secret Garden down the road. Her work these past two weeks has been invaluable.
Sarah is okay to have us in the lodge for the extra night, provided she has no last minute bookings.
Finishing off the decking, reworking the crowning triangleZ, and reassembling Eric, Sally, Alice and Frank is our final day’s toil.
We’ll aim to finish up all construction, and document, discuss , write some god dam lists… and clean, come the morrow.

Rach and Roo demonstrate Pale Cockatoo Dreaming

A Spiderweb, 6 Fat Franks, 12 Lanky Franks, 6 Sallys, 6 Alices and 6 Erics discuss an awkward confluence of triangles.

Ben about to dive into a dimensional gateway

Some homeless guy fondling Eric

Logbook entry: epilogue‏
20/7/13
Bryan Woltjen (Designer)

Ben is poaching eggs.

He is a master of this, among other things, particularly as in our last dark hours here on the ranch we our stocks have expired and we are out of vinegar.
We do however have vast quantities of Namaqua left.
Namaqua, and two very small pieces of blueberry chocolate, and we are hoping against all hope that this will keep us alive until we return to civilization.

The deed is done.
We built a house in two weeks.
Although much remains by way of dressing, rigging and the paintZ, I pass this journal to the safekeeping of others and sign out with some images from the last couple of days.
It’s been a great fortnight. The structure has come together so much better than I thought it might. Looking forward immensely to the tales that it will house.

Easy mistake to make

Trigger-happy

Ben feeding the BudgieZ

Ben, master of yokes

Budgie assembled!

Budgie. Perched next to the old chook shed. As big as house.

Ben’s face after I told a particularly funny yoke.

The challenge, which was set by Greenwich Theatre, was too good not to take. Not only did we want to make a great show for an audience who are often excluded from theatres, we wanted to learn more about what makes an excellent experience for everyone. It was our instinct that though a toddler and a 40 year old seem very different, we could discover some common ground, some golden moments of fundamentally human behaviour which could make our other shows better for all.

After making the show (massive thanks to Director/guru Matt Addicott) and 18 months of touring Woodland we’ve learnt a lot, here are some observations the tour performers have made along the way, they are very much about all people, not just children:

• Being told that theatre is a special treat makes it feel like one.
• Walking in to a completely silent room can be a bit intimidating.
• Choosing how to make yourself comfortable when sitting down takes away a potential distraction.
• A laugh from an audience member early on lets everyone else know it’s OK to enjoy yourself.
• Being part of a group makes you brave, holding hands makes you pretty close to invincible.
• Being offered food in the theatre can be calming or distracting depending on its timing.
• Feeling as if your reactions are being watched and assessed when you’re in an audience is intimidating.
• Being able to see the sky and natural light helps you feel relaxed.
• A sudden change of volume or pace can grab your attention.
• People are very good at sensing atmosphere from music.
• It’s very tempting to join in with a pronounced rhythm.
• Seeing things is more exciting than just being told about them, touching things is better still.
• Everyone wants to be careful and gentle with someone smaller than themselves.
• Sudden disappearances of people you care about is upsetting, saying goodbye and giving reason to an ending is important.
• When families sit, react and check in with each other everyone has more fun.

Our next show Roost has no suggested age on it. It happens at 8:30pm so that may influence some attendees, but all are welcome, please tell anyone too young to be reading this. You can expect music to create atmosphere, to see the sky, touch the set and be encouraged to make yourself comfortable. It will hopefully be clear quite early on that it’s OK to laugh!

For ‘Roost’ by Gomito Productions
PAID (Equity/ITC rates. Accommodation provided)

DATES

R and D in rural Suffolk:
29th July-9th August 2013
19th-30th August 2013
Performances in Cambridge:
5th-7th Sept
Performances in Greenwich:
10th-15th September 2013

PERSON SPECIFICATION

• Brilliant devising/theatremaking brain.
• Playful, imaginative, creative, surprising, fun, collaborative, genuine.
• Excited by this.
• Male.
• Physical performer (this is probably a wordless piece).
• Clowning and outdoor experience an advantage

TO APPLY

Please send a CV/weblink and a covering email to amelia@gomito.co.uk by 5th May. In your covering email it would be useful to hear why you particularly want to work on this project and what it is about the story/subject matter/company which interests you most.