Rehearsal diary – IBT17: The Record

Mother and daughter duo Isadora and Indira are currently rehearsing for The Record, as part of In Between Time 2017. It features 46 Bristolians who will meet each other for the first time when they perform together on stage, in front of a live audience. This is Isadora’s rehearsal diary.

Saturday, January 21 

So here we are in January, on a bitterly cold Saturday afternoon at Trinity, ready for our first rehearsal. Although we had printed off our scripts weeks ago and stuck them around the house on various walls and doors, we both agreed that the best way to learn was to actually DO! We were doing some stretches on the floor and laughing when creators and directors Michael Silverstone and Abigail Browde walked in and greeted us both. As mother and daughter we have a great dynamic together, but what will it be like in rehearsal, and more importantly, on stage?

We began looking at our scripts together but were soon separated for individual rehearsals. I worked with Michael and Indira with Abby. From my side, we went straight into the movements on the page, walking through each instruction one by one before rehearsing the whole piece from the top. I’d be giving away too much if I say anymore but from my perspective it was quite a tough, yet necessary, first session.

By the time Indira came back in to join us, I have to say my brain was pretty much saturated with information and I was looking forward to a rest. Indira, on the other hand, was full of energy and sparkle – like she’d been doing this all her life. She loved working with Abby and had obviously found the experience great fun.

Going home we both said how awesome it was going to look on stage, but also how much we had to learn before our next session. There is a lot to concentrate on and it’s hard to imagine what the stage will feel like with so many other people, but the magic is definitely starting to happen. I’m not sure I can keep up with Indira, who already seems to know most of her script! At least I have an extra rehearsal this week so I can try to catch up.

Saturday, January 28

A week has passed by since our first rehearsal and we need to know our scripts – by today! It’s not like learning lines of a song, but the process is kind of the same. There is no substitute for the muscle memory approach, and so it is that we have set up the kitchen and living room as miniature Bristol Old Vic stages. Not quite the same as the real thing but we have to make do.

Indira is doing brilliantly, although there is a lot on at school and I need to pick the right time to ask her to rehearse. She now has an extra part to learn, so we have to find time to squeeze it in. After the rehearsal this Saturday she was more determined than every to get it all in her head – but she also has homework, hockey matches and other performances, and she’s only 11.

But there’s no excuse for me, of course. I’ve been pacing around the kitchen, over and over, as I put the pots away or prepare a meal. I think it must be going in as I found myself at the cinema last week drifting out of watching Natalie Portman in ‘Jackie’ to hear the times and movements in my head. Something must be happening and I feel more confident I know what I’m doing.

Thursday, February 2

This is our late evening rehearsal and it takes some willpower to go out in the wind and rain back to Trinity. But we make it and rehearsals seem to be going well. Indira is a little apprehensive as she hasn’t had the time to get the new script properly into her head, but, as usual, she surprises herself. It’s become such a part of our lives now – I can hardly believe the show is happening next week, and that soon we’ll go to tech tech rehearsals and into the theatre.

Even though I know my part pretty well, I am curious as to how it will feel when we get on stage. Will I know where to move to, and how will it feel? I do so much running around in my daily life – the stillness I have in this piece has given me a real sense of peace and introspection that I don’t normally have the chance to experience.

It’s our last rehearsal this Sunday before the tech rehearsals next week. I know it’s going to be a big week for Indira, and I’m doing what I can to make sure she gets lots of rest and is ready for the opening night next week. The next thing to consider is our clothes – Indira is very particular about her style. This could get interesting!

Read more: Preview of IBT17