Park Theatre

FAST AND SLOW

Friday, 18 May, 2012 by Sarah Rutherford

This week has been one of promising new connections, heady discussions, exciting plans for future projects.  At Wednesday's party for friends and supporters old and new, there was an almost tangible fizz of creativity as groups formed and reformed, the conversational volume rose, and gestures grew ever more expansive.

In the midst of all this buzziness, I was twice able to slow down a little for much-needed reflection.  The first pause was at the Soho Theatre where I spent an afternoon exploring 'The Writer's Journey' with Sarah Dickenson, the BBC's Paul Ashton and playwright Ed Harris.  Much wisdom was shared, and just as importantly, all present were able to step back for a few hours to contemplate both the broader landscape of our work and the nitty gritty of how to get where we want to go.

The second pause was last night at another favourite theatre, the Finborough, where I saw His Greatness by Daniel MacIvor, based on the demise of Tennessee Williams.  In a week of happy chance connections it was right that I found myself in the company of revered acting guru Nina Finburgh, whom I had not seen for years.  Together we were able to laugh and be moved by the exquisitely subtle and detailed performances of the three actors - especially last-minute replacement Matthew Marsh, glorious in the role of The Playwright.  It is a rare production that can make theatre professionals to stop analysing for a second and simply enjoy; Ché Walker's production achieved just that.

STRESS

Thursday, 17 May, 2012 by Jez Bond

How does one manage stress? Breath deeply? Go to your 'happy place'? Remember to step back and put things into perspective?

I have no trouble breathing, my happy place is the theatre and when I step back to put things into perspective I see a huge building, a £2.2 million budget and the possibility of mistakes that could be costly. Oh - and I'm a control freak. Does that make it better or worse, I wonder? Well of course it makes the stress worse - I care about everything so deeply it's all consuming; but the outcome better - that very care means attention to detail which leads to, we hope, the best possible finished product within the given constraints.

Thankfully I'm not alone. There's one other person that's quite like me in these respects - very like actually - and that's our architect, Dave Hughes. Like me he finds the project all consuming. On more than one oacassion a morning phone call from him has begun with the line "I couldn't sleep last night 'cause I lay in bed thinking about..." With an extremely hands-on approach the two of us are probably driving the contractors mad - but then for them it's just a job, for us it's a hell of a lot more. Breath deeply? Doesn't really work - but we're loving it nonetheless.

GAME CHANGER

Wednesday, 16 May, 2012 by Charlie Ward

Every now and again, a piece of theatre comes along that changes the scope of the work that follows it.  It's been an interesting week, as London is currently hosting the first revival of a major game changer: Einstein on the Beach.  The production has divided the critics and brought shame on the Jagger family, but it seems unlikely to have the same impact on practitioners as it did when it was first performed. 

But it's not the only show in town that has sparked vigorous debate.  At the other end of London, the Lyric has excited the wrath of the Daily Mail, and the snide dismissal of most of the national press, with a very European production of Three Kingdoms.  Unsurprisingly, the theatre was half empty when I saw it, and it might be forgotten as just another misguided experiment.  But some art only needs to find a very small audience in order to have a big impact, and my suspicion is that Three Kingdoms will significantly influence the next wave of British theatre.  So much so that I've bullied Jez into coming with me when I see it again on Saturday.  It's worth checking out the blogs and tweets from Blanche McIntyre, Michael Longhurst, Andrew Haydon, Dan Rebellato and many others on the subject, in addition to buying a ticket!

SMALL WONDER

Tuesday, 15 May, 2012 by Melli Bond

Delaware is known as a place that is a tax free state. The Vice President of the United States, Joe Biden, is from Delaware. Many companies have their official home in Delaware, yeah for tax reasons. It's a small state with beautiful beaches, a big shopping mall, lots of highways, some serious suburbs that really aren't so suburban anymore, and a yearly flower market at Mother's Day in Rockford Park - to name but a few little Delaware tidbits. The most special thing about Delaware however is that it is the current home to my darling nephew Henry James. He is the now newest addition to the Park Theatre Family. I have been planning out his trips to visit London when he is older and able to come to our summer school. My plan is that he will play the title role in Oliver! Coming from a father who is a talented musician he will certainly have an advantage. He is the object of our attention and affection. Each moment we talk about worldly things HJ is the main reason for that discussion. What will the future hold? What is the political state of the nation? How much does it cost at baby Gap for a pair of jeans? ( $30 roughly but hey they are TOTALLY worth it when he is that cute!) The newest love in my life is a beautiful boy and I couldn't be more proud, protective or pleased with the little boy that has brought even more excitement to my life. Who knew that was even possible? I think he does. As HJ likes to say " Sally hold my calls, I've got a meeting."  He truly is a small wonder.

QUALITY

Monday, 14 May, 2012 by Amy Lumsden

Editing my CV -  which I appear to be having a stab  at every week, so it seems (Note: ‘stab’ being the key word here as it is generally painful, as many of you will know) -  got me thinking about some work I did on ‘quality’ for a previous employer.  It was a big, thorough (fairly arduous) piece of work but a really useful way to check that every part of the organisation and its services are working holistically and to high standards.

Many spreadsheets and cross-referenced notes later it did create a picture about the identity of the company.  But it seemed like so much work because it was (for me)  looking back and describing how things work and have worked for many years. Being involved with a project from its earlier stages is so different. The quality and links can be established clearly now and shown in the way every little thing is done -  from the light fittings in the dressing rooms to policies that will help run a successful , happy business.   We are demonstrating this in the tours we do to share our plans.  I know Jez and Andy are working hard on getting all the policies and procedures right, which goes hand in hand with a successful running of artistically engaging theatre.  And, Park’s programme is about quality; not discriminating on any kind of  performance except that it must be good. One of the simplest yet most challenging statements a theatre can make.

‘Quality’ in my Oxford dictionary is defined as: “1. the standard of something as measured against other things of a similar kind -  general excellence. 2.  a distinctive attribute or characteristic… From Latin meaning ‘ of what kind, of such a kind’”

Sounds like a question.

I want Park to be a benchmark for others, but to keep exceeding itself. To continue its adventurousness as a whole. It has to be about quality and about everything working together -  the interconnectedness of strands to make an functioning organism.

What do you think is quality in theatre?

GOING BACK TO THE SOURCE

Friday, 11 May, 2012 by Sarah Rutherford

Yesterday I made an unscheduled trip back to the very source of Closer Than The Jugular, the play I have written for The Park.  The script emerged out of 'N4 Stories', a project that involved interviewing over a hundred local people in order to find stories and characters for a play set in the area. 

One of my early visits was to the Turkish, Kurdish and Cypriot Women's Welfare Group, which meets every Thursday on Durham Road.  I was received with such warmth and openness (despite the baffling nature of what I was after) that I went back many times - especially once I had decided that I was going to write about a family of Turkish women. 

Yesterday I had a meeting on site with Jez and with Wendy Aldiss, a photographer who is taking striking and eloquent portraits of some of the N4 people we talked to.  Wendy's next stop after the meeting was that very group, in order to take pictures of some of the fabulous women who had educated me in the ways of their culture, fed me fresh simit and even taught me how to prepare a pot of Turkish chai.

As Wendy hadn't been there before, it made sense for me to nip in and introduce her.  So I did - and although it's been about a year since I was there, I was instantly hailed by name and ushered into the office of Gulnar, the organiser of this formidable group.

And although this visit was unplanned, I was so glad to have the opportunity to revisit the place where Closer Than The Jugular was, in a sense, born; to be able to thank all the women there (with some translation help from Gul); and to let them know that I did take their advice to visit their home country - news that seemed to go down well.

It was a brief visit but I came away feeling that all writers should revisit a place or person that was an early inspiration for their work - especially if the text, like mine, is soon to be rewritten.  Seeing those women again has reinvigorated me in so many ways that I am sure that the next (perhaps final) draft will feel the benefit.

THE MAVERICKS

Thursday, 10 May, 2012 by Jez Bond

"You're such a Maverick, Jez" said Sean Mathias on the phone this morning. I could sense the glint in his eye, the slight grin and hear the pride in his voice. Like all our Ambassadors, Sean, one of the most respected directors in the industry worldwide, is a close part of the Park Theatre family. It's important that the whole team support everything we do and his line was a response to my telling him of our decision to hire Andrew Fishwick. Like all of us, he believes that everybody deserves a second chance - and that great opportunities now lie ahead...

A year or so ago I learned of Andrew Fishwick's court case and his subsequent sentence. There's very little press on what actually happened in 2005/6 but Andrew and I have had plenty of time to discuss the matter. Essentially the Gift Aid fraud for which he was convicted was undertaken as a rash decision in a moment of panic and inexperience in order to salvage a production from going under. He claimed tax rebates from the government beyond the amounts actually been received. It was proven that he never did it before, he never did it again and he didn't do it for personal gain. He didn't swindle anyone out of money or screw anyone over. It wasn't right, it wasn't clever and most certainly it wasn't legal but we're all mature enough to know that a great many people in our industry have done a lot worse. Unfortunately for Andrew it came back to bite him hard - and the timing couldn't have been worse. In 2010 the government tightened the legislation relating to Gift Aid and, clamping down on the rules, decided to use Andrew's case to 'set an example'. Therefore, despite heavy support from the industry, he was given an incredibly harsh sentence.
 
With a bitter taste in his mouth, his tail between his legs and having paid dearly for what he'd done he set to work in the city, vowing that if he ever worked in theatre again he'd have to find the right project and he'd have to make his entrance publicly, apologising for his past mistake - and not appearing to crawl back in. 
 
When I asked him to come to site and check out our new theatre nine months ago he pretty much told me to stuff it: "I'm not doing theatre anymore" were his polite words. Yet I persisted, valuing his opinion: after all this was the same man who produced top shows in the West End and on Broadway, who won Oliviers, who, let's face it, knew a thing or two about theatre. Suffice to say that, once persuaded along, his passion for theatre was immediately rekindled.
 
Much to my delight, Andrew offered to help us with the business plan and financial projections as well as other key strategic documents. It was an immense support and he did it off his own back for the pure love of it. Two months ago, however, he took me out to lunch and said "I have a question to ask you... and", he stressed, "there are a lot of reasons to say no". What followed was a succinct, heartfelt pitch for him to be our Executive Director...
 
Now immediately one needed to weigh up the positives and the negatives. This was a very hard exercise as the positives were easy to weigh but on the other hand the negatives were impossible. There was no doubt in the team's mind that there was any question of him doing anything fraudulent again. Indeed he'd be the least likely person to do that. As a charity, the board was entirely happy on this front. No, the negatives were simply any bad press that might come out of the appointment. There are those in the industry that might not look as favourably as we do, who might not feel that anyone deserves a second chance. Then, like Sean says, there are the Mavericks.
 
I'm so thrilled that Andrew's joined me at the helm. The weight on my shoulders over the past few years has been immense and just the knowledge that I will have someone as experienced as Andrew working alongside me, full time, has already lifted the load. People may question the decision, and ask whether he's really the only person for the job...
 
The relationship between Artistic Director and Executive Director of any theatre is critical. We've had the incredible luxury of a try-out period, time to share our dreams and passions - and, after Melli and I have spent the last two years full time on the project having given up everything for it, the one thing we want is to be absolutely sure that our Executive Director is someone we can trust and respect, someone who can accompany us on our journey and teach us a thing or two. His experience of the commercial theatre sector is a particularly strong asset - and ups our ability to mount financially viable productions quickly within the first few years. Together we want to make Park Theatre a producing powerhouse, to turn things on their heads, to set new benchmarks for how we treat our audience, our staff and incoming theatre companies. To be bold and pioneer new approaches. After all, we're Mavericks.

BALANCE

Wednesday, 9 May, 2012 by Charlie Ward

I have had several discussions with directors over the last few days about the role of obsession and dedication in any creative career.  Are the people who succeed invariably those who give every waking moment to their art, or is it the people who can stand back from their work and find balance in their lives who eventually triumph?  It’s a thorny issue, as there are always more people to meet, more shows to see and more forms to fill in.  Or perhaps the very idea of balance is laughable?

HEAD GAME

Tuesday, 8 May, 2012 by Melli Bond

Luckily I took a typing class when I was in high school. I also spent time working at a high profile bank when I was 17. I hated that - but let's not get into that now. Anyway,  I'm pretty fast at my typing which is very useful as I'm the secretary for our Board meetings. Furiously typing conversation so that I don't lose the thread when decisions are made, my only way of keeping up is to record the lot! I also used to read insanely fast. At university I spent one day reading 2 novels and wrote papers on them both Lady Audley's Secret and Sense and Sensibility. They are still two of my favourite pieces of literature today - well those and Crime and Punishment- oh and I can't forget Kurt Vonnegut - all works...hmm actually have too many favourites to name.  Anyway, I want to get my reading head back on - which I reckon at a guess I'm only using about 10% of my ability. So here is my new resolution folks - reading game head begins now. If the pressure of building a theatre isn't enough I'm trying to up my game. Tweet me if you have tips and advice I am @mellibond.

Oh and just going back to the bank story for a second the main reason I hated it was the serious lack of fashion in the work place. Ah yes it's great to be a grown up and wear exactly what I like - every day of the week.

HISTORY

Monday, 7 May, 2012 by Charlie Ward

Although we will be the only theatre in Finsbury Park, we are certainly not the first.  There was a beautiful Frank Matcham building on the other side of the station which was very sadly demolished in 1960.  Here's a little bit of information about the building and its claim to fame!

"The Finsbury Park Empire was built by Frank Matcham for Moss Empires Ltd at a cost of 45,000 and opened on the 5th of September 1910 with a capacity of around 2000. The Theatre closed on the 7th of May 1960 and was demolished in 1965.

 

It saw many top showbiz acts of the time like Max Miller and Arthur Askey, but is renowned for being the first theatre where the saw-the-woman-in-half magic act was performed.

It was performed by PT Selbit on January 17th 1921 causing an immediate sensation, reviews called it a 'bloodthirsty ... hair raising' spectacle. Selbit responded with several publicity stunts such as ambulances parked outside the theatre. Between performances stage hands would take buckets of red liquid through the audience and pour into the gutter outside.

 

The act shut an attractive woman in a wooden box, with ropes holding her down, and cut the box in two. The audience loved it. Magicians everywhere rushed to make their own, bloodier versions."

ALCHEMY

Friday, 4 May, 2012 by Sarah Rutherford

Another fundraiser last night, this time lubricated by the delights of the new Park Theatre Highball, kindly provided by the Compass Box Whisky Company.  It was a cold drink on a cold, damp night - the site is still very draughty, drippy and puddly - and I could tell that a few of our guests were wondering just how, exactly, they had come to be drinking cocktails in their coats on a building site on a dismal Thursday night.

But The Park did its magic once again and, warmed by the tour of the building (and maybe a little by their whiskies), by the end of the evening our brave invitees were sharing in the vision and relishing that 'I was there' moment that only a peek inside the shell can provide.

With the help of a particularly fine amber nectar - itself lovingly created from plain old barley, water, heat, yeast and more than a little magic - all present could clearly envisage how this damp jumble of scaffolding, girders and cement would soon be transformed into a place of enchantment.  It's all about alchemy (oh yes, and bloody hard work).

MY TASTE IN THEATRE

Thursday, 3 May, 2012 by Jez Bond

Further to Charlie's comments yesterday, I must protest. I do not, as my cheeky assistant pointed out, favour shows that run without an interval. It depends entirley on the circumstance. So here are some thoughts on intervals:

- If a production has a running time of more than 95 minutes, it should have an interval

- If a production has a running time of less than 80 minutes, it should not have an interval

- If a production is of a traditional three act play, it should generally be split into two halves and retain one, not two, intervals

- The first half of a production should not exceed 85 minutes prior to the interval

- The interval should be long enough for a toilet break and a drink at the bar, but not so long as to drag out the evening

- There should be clear front of house calls to alert people to the arrival of the end of an interval

- All rules above are to be broken

INTERVALS

Wednesday, 2 May, 2012 by Charlie Ward

Jez and I were at the theatre last night, seeing a very good revival of Someone Who'll Watch Over Me.  It's an unusual play because it has a very long first half (about an hour and twenty minutes).  Jez likes short productions that run through without an interval, whereas I am blessed with the bladder of a five year old girl and the thirst of a sailor.  Imagine my horror when I heard that Einstein on the Beach, playing at the Barbican this week, lasts six hours with no interval.  It's the theatrical equivalent of a hosepipe ban, and I was worried that this flower might wither.  Luckily I'm told they're operating an 'open door' policy where the audience can come and go, but I wonder whether this relief will come at the expense of my engagement with the work.  How will I know when to nip out?

LITTLE AMERICANA

Tuesday, 1 May, 2012 by Melli Bond

So this time next week I'll be packing for NYC. I've been focusing so much on my day to day work that I realised time is running out to plan for the big apple. Things work a bit differently in New York and I'm pleased (as an American British woman) to have brought over a little slice of North America that is currently available for all you Londoners. That slice of Americana is Transmission - which I have co-founded with actress Ursula Campbell - also North American (Canadian to be  more specific). Transmission is a workshop for professional London actors to drop in and just play! We've been running for over a year now and we've had some really wonderful people out as workshop leaders and participants. The range of styles and technique is vast - the idea being we need to be flexible as actors in order to work with all kinds of people. I like the fact that although the theatre isn't up and running yet I am actively involved in meeting all kinds of local talent and practitioners ready to try something new - take a risk - and just remember this is fun! Yes hard work can be fun too.

GETTING PHYSICAL

Monday, 30 April, 2012 by Amy Lumsden

In part of my time, when I’m not working for Park Theatre, I am training to be a holistic massage therapist. While this may not seem directly relevant, the connection of art and science is often explored in theatre and there are many threads between the two elements that I find increasingly interesting.

On one level just think of the everyday uses we have for describing how we feel or think:  a ‘need for room to breathe’ or  ‘my heart is in my mouth’ . Our physical feelings relate to our thoughts and vice versa. Most of the time in a split, unconscious second.

Our lives affect our bodies and our emotional wellbeing. They intertwine and represent each other. For me, theatre explores and sometimes explains life, how we are and how we see ourselves fitting into the world.  Often an artists’ attempt to make sense of these things are what draws in an audience. And, if done well , can be the difference between a great experience in the theatre and a disappointing one.

I’m finding myself particularly drawn to pieces that tackle subjects of illness. It is a way of learning and understanding  the huge and complex array of conditions that take up a lot of our lives - when our bodies or minds ‘go wrong’ or ‘let us down’  -  a story is a brilliant way of giving us time to consider,  and a perceptive, creative look at these experiences.

I am itching for Park to start programming so that I know I can see an array of work, close to home, that will make me think and feel to the tips of every nerve. I want my nervous system to secrete adrenaline making my heart beat faster, my stomach flip and my pupils dilate;  my eyes to water and my facial muscles to ache in a smile.

THE JOY OF SHORT JOURNEYS

Friday, 27 April, 2012 by Sarah Rutherford

To Fulham yesterday, for a Park Theatre family meeting yesterday at the home of the Artistic and Creative Directors.  What a buzz to be around a table with the team.  But what a nightmare to get there. 

Though a former North London girl, I now live in Clapham and I investigated various routes to Fulham: bus, train, tube, combinations of all the above.  As each of these looked like taking forever (plus I was carrying a freshly-baked birthday cake for Melli, which I didn't fancy toting around in hail and lightning), I drove - my least favourite way to travel.

As I sat in traffic for an entire hour each way, I was reminded what an issue travel is for us Londoners.  Clapham is not a million miles from Fulham and yet there's just no easy route.  It's one of those London things.  Clapham to Finsbury Park, all the way across London, on the other hand, is a breeze: I allow half an hour door-to-door by tube, and almost always end up arriving earlier than expected. 

This is yet another special thing about our theatre.  It's literally 10 minutes from the West End (trust me, I've tried it), and once you're at Finsbury Park station, there's no walk.  You're here.  Ah, luxury.

GOOD MORALE

Thursday, 26 April, 2012 by Jez Bond

This weather's not helping with the wellbeing of all on site. Yesterday the contractors working on the external cladding had to stop work early - despite soldiering on through the rain, the bonding material they were applying to the walls became useless. Even deep inside the building workers are suffering from wet and damp conditions - as, not having a roof to the rear building, water seems to penetrate every level. Once it stops raining upstairs, it starts to drip downstairs. It will be a very different story once the roof goes on. One can sense the frustration of the project manager at not being able to accelerate the work due to weather conditions. The programme is still running at a decent pace and morale continues to be high. We have an exceptional chirpy team of contractors and subcontractors on site - at the right time of day (usually soon after feeding) one can even spot a performing plumber.

PERFORMING UNDER PRESSURE

Wednesday, 25 April, 2012 by Charlie Ward

It seemed like an easy week when I opened the diary on Monday morning.  A few spare mornings to pursue forgotten links for Park Theatre, send a couple of emails and plough on with some research.  Two telephone conversations changed this quite suddenly.  The first informed me that a principal actor in the play I've directed has had a medical emergency and will be unable to perform.  The second was an urgent call for help from a big project that needed a director who could start immediately.  Suddenly my free time has been punched out of the diary, and there's an adrenaline rush around every corner.  The need to think quickly and act decisively is one of the most exciting elements of being a director, but it doesn't always lead to a healthy work-life balance.

DOGS IN THE PARK DO ALL SORTS OF STUFF

Tuesday, 24 April, 2012 by Melli Bond

One burst of sunshine makes you forget the rain. Running faster makes the rain insignificant. Each day provides its own little challenge. A baby not allowed in a pub was today's challenge. Did you know that this isn't a legal thing - it is actually at the owner's discretion to allow or not allow a baby into the pub. This is the same thing for dogs. It is only illegal to have a dog in an area where food is being prepared - i.e. the kitchen. So when an owner of a pub says to you it is a legal thing, or a licensing thing, you will know that isn't the case with European law. For me pushing the boundaries and asking questions is vital to theatre, daily life and our survival. So please do keep asking me questions and pushing the boundaries with your work. I'm interested to see all kinds of work - yes something dangerous. Yes please something powerful. And please please if you can, knock me down with a new revelation. I know this is hard, but isn't that what this is all about? I want to come out of theatre either crying, laughing, arguing, chatting, feeling giddy or feeling in love.

I want you to change my reality - if only for an hour and a bit.

TIME WILL TELL

Monday, 23 April, 2012 by Amy Lumsden

A week of very successful tours has just passed, notching up the number people in the industry who’ve seen the space  to over 500. Obviously, there are hundreds more people to have a look around and all it takes is an email to me to get you on the list. (info@parktheatre.co.uk)

It’s interesting to hear people’s reactions to the concept of a new theatre. A place with no history. It can be quite difficult to comprehend the prospect of something new, where there is no legacy or tradition. Park Theatre is unique for exactly this reason.  It can do what it likes: bring in new ways of thinking about how to run a theatre, not have to jump through hoops and, there is a lot of  thinking ‘outside the box’ taking place.

I guess also for many people, and particularly in creative industries, it is all too familiar to hear things and not actually see them occur. For many reasons people have fantastic ideas that can’t come to fruition or not to the original, ideal plan. But two years ago it could have been argued that we wouldn’t now be standing in a leaky building site and  it might be hard to imagine that two years from now there will be an established, vibrant,  busy building with an emotive, engaging programme. But the former happened, and so will the latter.

POSTCARD FROM THE HEBRIDES

Friday, 20 April, 2012 by Sarah Rutherford

A round of Park Theatre applause, please, for succeeding in getting this blog entry to you today.

I write this not from the familiar environs of Finsbury Park, but overlooking the sea to Goat Island from my current antler-bedecked lodgings in the former manager's abode at the Isle of Jura Distillery, in the Inner Hebrides.  This is a place described approvingly by George Orwell as 'extremely unget-at-able' - and communications haven't improved a great deal since his day.  It's a shock, for a dogged Steve Jobs disciple like me, to be in a place with only a Bakelite telephone to rely on: no TV, no mobile reception, no internet. 

A couple of times this week I've walked a mile along the beach to the Jura Service Point, where there is free wi-fi for precisely three hours a day, five days a week.  The lady who looks after the three PCs at the Service Point is chirpy and welcoming - as is the norm on Jura - but the internet connection is so creaky and uncooperative that I soon give up.

Being here, what I realise is how the habit of being 'always on' affects the rhythm of your life.  It punctuates your time, breaking everything up into discontinuous fragments.  Here, time flows astonishingly smoothly - and for a writer, this is a wondrous thing.

That said, I couldn't live here.  There are lessons to be imported home with the whisky in my suitcase, but I am way too dependent on the buzz of the theatre world to exile myself long-term.  Tomorrow I begin the long journey home - by car, ferry and plane - to Twitter, Facebook, texting and the unashamedly urban yet cosy bosom of the Park Theatre family.

QUESTIONS

Thursday, 19 April, 2012 by Jez Bond

Questions can tell us so much about a person. They can tell you whether someone is happy or whether they are sad, they can inform you as to whether the asker has been listening to what you have been saying or simply been waiting to voice their question, they can give you a great insight into people's dreams and desires. Questions are one of my favourite parts of a site tour - perhaps because I do 99% of the talking and by the end am thristy for someone else to speak. Some groups ask many questions, some ask few, some ask none at all. This job is always about people and communication - and never more so when crammed into a site office at 9am on a Thursday morning.

But questions aren't always constructive. As an accomplished actor friend of mine who attended the tour yesterday pointed out, questions posed in post-show discussions can often be extremely odd or pointless or - the worst case - crafted in order to carry someone's agenda that actually has nothing to do with the play they have just seen. Actors tend to hate these forums, but it's a tricky issue as some people (albeit, let's face it very few as attendance are low) enjoy this interaction. There must be a better format for this then, something new that we at Park Theatre can implement. Answers on a postcard (please, no questions).

APPRAISALS

Wednesday, 18 April, 2012 by Charlie Ward

My last blog here was about feedback after a specific project, but a lot of this week has been dedicated to feedback on performance in general.  It's been a week of wild hilarity, researching various appraisal formats through which I can communicate to Jez what he already knows: that I am bad at drawing up appraisal documents.  Who said bureaucracy wasn't useful?

I am about to be the guinea pig for our new system, which will be the first formal appraisal that Jez has conducted.  The document has asked me to assess my personal appearance, which can only be described as lamentable (see my staff profile picture), but it will be up to the boss whether my outsize nose and weak cheek bones are hindering Park Theatre's fund raising potential.  He was saying nice things about my eyes yesterday, so I'll have that card up my sleeve just in case.  There's also a question about 'growing others', which makes me wonder what kind of sick genetic experiments Jez might be conducting in the theatre cellar.

Of course the appraisal process is good practice, and will hopefully be constructive.  Arts organisations are sometimes so concerned with the happiness of their employees that they avoid frank discussions, but I'm pleased to be working in an environment where praise and enthusiasm for my eyes can be balanced with honest criticism about my nose.  The only question is: can Jez grow me...?

THE ALL SEEING ALL DANCING LIVE MALE SHOW

Tuesday, 17 April, 2012 by Melli Bond

Ok not really, but after reading lots of plays about women and finding some great stuff and not being uber keen on more male stuff, I am however a fan of a new play with an all male cast. It's an American play and it's hilarious! When I was reading it I was able to cast it very easily in my mind's eye using American guys that live right here in London - ones who I know are very good. I don't want to get their hopes up or anyone's hopes up so I won't say what it's called or who the writer is or the actors I like but I wanted to share the great feeling you get when you read something that jumps off the page and it is easy. I like easy, I'm a simple girl in many ways. Now don't worry all my female buds out there - I'm still putting you first on the dance floor. And don't worry we aren't announcing our season just yet! Still a way to go before that becomes a cat. You know... as in a cat that's in a bag.. that someone let's out... that they shouldn't have let out. Although I'm not terribly keen at this cat being in a bag. I mean why on earth is a cat put into a bag in the first instance? That really isn't right. Can you tweet me some better expressions that aren't so animal-cruelty based? Anyone? And also please tweet me if you do have a great All Seeing All Dancing Live Male Show. Why not, eh?

TOURS TAKING PLACE

Monday, 16 April, 2012 by Amy Lumsden

Industry tours began last week, which means that people that work in any capacity related to theatre can have the opportunity to look around the (building) site and hear about all the innovative technical features, and our artistic policies that will be in place when we open.

I haven’t been on-site for nearly a month so it was vitalising to see the progression that has taken place, and  also to hear again in full detail about all the intentions for the theatre and how the building will be. It can be quite hard to imagine as you walk around a roofless, windowless space that this is where you’ll see someone on stage, or that is where you’ll meet your friend for a cup of tea or a cocktail.

As an aside,  I think Melli and I have already claimed our choice spot in the café/ bar: the corner of the ‘shop’ window, looking out at the view  - without window panes in the way as it will all be clear glass. (Apologies to anyone that thought that might be their spot!).

We’re planning tours for local residents and businesses soon too, so sign up to the mailing list via our website to hear when this is and be first on the list.

BREATHING SPACE

Friday, 13 April, 2012 by Sarah Rutherford

This week I finished my third play.

It's an odd moment when a play is finished: a moment of unnerving calm (is it really finished? or is a major rewrite lurking around the corner?) followed by the anxious wait for those significant people to read it and comment.  And at the same time, the itch to start something new starts all over again ...

Into this strange little space has dropped a welcome diversion.  Later today I take off to my home country of Scotland.  First a flight to Glasgow, then tomorrow another flight to the Isle of Islay, followed by a little ferry to the Isle of Jura (where the whisky comes from).  It's a place I used to frequent as a child and I haven't been back for about three decades.  There's one road, one shop, one pub, about 150 people and an awful lot of deer.  And quite coincidentally the place I always used to stay in has now been converted to a writers' retreat, visited by the likes of Alexander McCall Smith and Will Self.

It's the island where George Orwell wrote 1984; it's also where the KLF burned a million pounds, so there's a destructive legacy as well as a creative one.  Whether I will create anything while there remains to be seen.  What I find myself craving is the sound of the waves, which I am suddenly vividly remembering listening to from my bed as a child.

There's no TV, no internet and no mobile reception in the lodge, which is quite a frightening prospect for the social media addict I have become.  Somehow, however, I hope to bring you next week's blog post from a distant isle, with the sea crashing in my ears.

FACE TO FACE WITH THE FAMILY

Thursday, 12 April, 2012 by Jez Bond

Since being away in Sweden we had not yet had an entire family meeting - as in all members of the team. Well, suffice to say that (with one exception) we were a full house at 10am this morning. A three hour meeting followed by lunch ensued. It was extremely useful to have everyone in the same room - that's probably a really obvious thing to say but as we don't yet have an office, and we're all working from home, cafes and the building site, it's a rare luxury that feels good! How important though - despite the amazing opportunities of the internet and telephone, for some things you just can't beat face to face communication.

FEEDBACK

Wednesday, 11 April, 2012 by Charlie Ward

I did a workshop about a year ago with Jon from Unlimited, a company that was started from scratch by a group of graduate friends, and has since emerged as one of ACE's Portfolio jewels.  One of the many excellent pieces of advice that he offered us was to have a reflective session with the company a couple of weeks after the final performance of a production.  The aim of the meeting: to identify what went well, and what could have been done better.

A production of mine had its final performance on Saturday; by fringe standards we had had a successful run, and each of the actors was able to take home a few pennies in the back pocket.  The feedback was positive, but it was was clear to both our reviewers and our audiences that there were flaws in the production - me.  I'm being facetious, of course, but I was taught a long time ago that the director bears responsibility for everything that happens on stage and in the rehearsal room, whatever the imperfections of the other collaborators.  With this in mind, we gathered as many people as we could before everyone fled the country (it was that kind of company).

I think, understandably, there was a fear that the meeting could descend into a mud slinging match.  I'm no David, but show me a Goliath and I'll be the first to have my arm swinging!  In fact it was a happy and very productive evening, full of constructive advice.  It may be a weary cliché that every project is a learning opportunity, but it can be incredibly helpful to identify strengths and weaknesses. 

Now to the small task of growing stronger for the next project.

FORMALITIES

Tuesday, 10 April, 2012 by Charlie Ward

We are just putting the finishing touches to our Social Media Policy, which will determine how we use Twitter and Facebook, and indeed this blog, to share what we're up to and what we're excited about.  We're trying to strike a balance between the personal and the professional, giving a sense not just of what Park Theatre is, but who we are and what makes us tick.  You'll see a few changes over the next few weeks as the Twitter account comes to terms with multiple users, all of whom will be sharing bits and bobs under their own names.  As usual, we'd love to know whether we're getting the mix right: do you think our broadcasts to the cyber universe are too formal, or do our electronic outbursts remind you of Bernard from Black Books?

TIME AND RHYTHM MAKES A LIVING...

Monday, 9 April, 2012 by Amy Lumsden

“One cannot manage too many affairs: like pumpkins in the water, one pops up while you try to hold down the other.”     Chinese Proverb

Recently, time and rhythm have been two things constantly on my mind. The juggling of time and tasks and the rhythm involved in achieving those tasks.

Over the last 3 weeks I’ve been mostly sending out invitations to industry folk to attend tours of the Park Theatre in its growing glory. This may sound like a straight forward job, and it is to some extent. But 700 individual emails, followed by the replies to RSVPs does create its own space in a schedule. Nudging in over lots of things, not to mention emails about a wealth of other enquiries. It’s a bit like a baby needing constant thought and feeding. And, once one feeding is over, you’re thinking about the next:  when to reply to the new 20 emails from interested and enthusiastic people, and how to fix it into the hours of the day whilst looking at the jobs that you haven’t quite crossed off the list…
 

Although wearing, it is energising. The keenness of people to see and learn about what Park is and will be is motivating even after 60 emails in a sitting. (I got down to an email a minute which was a good way of time managing!)

That’s where the rhythm comes in. Once I’m in the midst of it, the flicking between spreadsheets and addresses. Updating and replying. It becomes like a well oiled organism. Click, tap, search. Click, tap, check, cut, past, edit. Tap. Tap, click, send. Click, check. Save. Breathe.

...And so it goes on, until everyone has their response. Because we don’t want anyone left out. That is important; part of the focus by everyone here in getting this theatre open, and have it open to all.

“Do your work not just your work and no more, but a little more for the lavishings sake-that little more which is worth all the rest." -   Dean Briggs

WHAT I'VE LEARNED ABOUT READTHROUGHS

Friday, 6 April, 2012 by Sarah Rutherford

Yesterday I heard my new play read for the first time by four excellent actors: Rakie Ayola, Ruth Gibson, Judith Faultless and Laura Doddington.  Always an exciting moment: very exposing, but a huge thrill to see characters that you created out of nothing come to life.

Given that yesterday went so very well, I thought I'd share my top 5 tips for getting the most out of readthroughs as part of a writer's process (as distinct from rehearsed readings in front of an audience).

1. Arrange a closed reading when you feel the penultimate draft (definitely NOT the very first draft) is just about in sight. 

2. Choose actors who are as close as possible to the character you've written if there are specific insights you want from people of a certain age, race, background, etc.  This may seem obvious but in fact the next tip may be more crucial ...

3. Most good actors are highly intelligent, thoughtful and articulate people who read and see a lot of plays.  Make sure the ones you choose for your reading are all of these things - in spades.  Actors experienced with new writing and working with playwrights are especially valuable.

4. When someone asks you a question, it is often worth turning the question over to the whole group before you answer it yourself. Did everyone see that scene the same way?  What did others think you were trying to do/say?  You are there to pick their brains, not the other way round.

5. Provide sustenance.  If you have followed step number 3 then you are dealing with some very special people.  Genius needs fuel.

NEW VOICES

Thursday, 5 April, 2012 by Jez Bond

I remember writing a blog more than a year or so ago about being so busy that I needed an assistant and too busy to have the time to interview one. That same catch 22 (is that the right phrase in this context... kind of) applied today. I had been too busy to organise a full Park Family meeting (and the whole team extremely busy that the coordination proved to be no easy feat) yet one was desperately needed in order to deal with the many items which had recently arisen.

You'll start to see some big changes both on site and off now. On the website, for example, our blog will continue to be written by a mixture of the team - who had so brilliantly held the fort while Melli and I were recently away. I hope that this new rota of people will be a refreshing change from hearing me every day! So, tomorrow it'll be....

COFFEE

Wednesday, 4 April, 2012 by Charlie Ward

Yesterday we began the first, and in my humble opinion the most important, discussion about the café / wine bar.  We wanted to know what brand of coffee you want to drink in Park Theatre.   If you're interested, there were multiple votes for Illy and Square Mile, a solitary vote for Starbucks and a small army of Monmouth fans fighting their corner.  This was music to my ears, as I first started petitioning to Jez and Melli on behalf of Monmouth on the day I joined the Park Theatre family.  Whichever brand emerges as the winner, you can be sure that a lot of thought and tasting will have gone into the decision.  When it comes to your morning cuppa and your evening glass of wine, we want Park Theatre to be the first place that comes to mind, not least because every penny of profit goes straight back into the theatre!

NOISES OFF

Tuesday, 3 April, 2012 by Jez Bond

What a great evening. I have just returned from the West End press night of 'Noises Off'. Having transferred from the Old Vic, where it got great reviews, it is now playing (with nearly all of the same cast) at the Novello Theatre. I enjoyed it tremendously and, accompanied by the wonderfully ever upbeat and funny Mark Cameron (good qualities considering he's co-writing the annual Christmas panto with me) we headed to the Savoy for the after-party. Great drinks and nibbles, great company and great music. Lovely to chat to our first Ambassador Celia Imrie, fresh from her fabulous performance as Dotty who can never remember whether she takes the sardines on or takes the sardines off!

NEW LOOK FOR THE PARTIES...

Monday, 2 April, 2012 by Jez Bond

So today we cleared out some of the items from the 'party room' (or 'the old site office' depending on your perspective) to make way for its imminent demolition. In fact it means that soon we'll have the whole floor for entertainment, meetings, discussions for group tours etc. With the weather getting warmer and, fingers crossed, dryer we'll soon have a far superior environment than we are used to. Long gone will be the days of huddling together around a radiator, glass of wine in hand, within the confines of a tiny space. That right folks our Park Theatre fundraising parties are about to take our 'building site chic' to a whole new level!

BACK FROM ABROAD

Friday, 30 March, 2012 by Jez Bond

Well I'm back folks! (I say 'I' as Melli is still away - we both came home together but the very next morning she returned to Heathrow to catch a flight to a friend's wedding.) We had the most wonderful time. First we spent a week dog sledding in the north of Sweden with one of the few dog sled mushing kennels who actually give you a fully hands-on experience. They are called Axehandle Mountain and you can check out their website here. We did the "Winter Experience", each driving our personal team of six huskies through the snowy landscape for five days. We fed them, harnessed them, pitched our tent at the foot of mountains, fished through the ice catching arctic trout and chard (which tasted delicious), we melted the snow for water, we climbed a mountain where the 360degree view was breathtaking and the wind was so ferocious and constant that you could lean your whole body into it and not fall over, and - to cap it all - we saw the northern lights!

A few people had been shocked at our adventure - assuming we were going to be lying on a beach somewhere warm. As it turned out it was an inspired decision as due to the active nature of the week and the fact that one had to focus (making fire, feeding the dogs, prepping the sleds...etc) there was absolutely no time to think about anything else - steel columns, lead times for windows and fundraising applications simply didn't feature. I highly recommend it!

The fact is that as soon as we physically relaxed - which we did for four nights in Stockholm afterwards - we found ourselves talking shop. We switched on the iPad and read, with glee and with pride in our wonderful team, all the blogs that had been posted in our absence, we read the various emails about the board meeting that had probably occurred about the time we were night-sledding with headlamps through a pine forest, and we discussed the all-important next few months.

So now it's time to get back in the driving seat and put my foot on the accelerator (rather than the steel brake or the matt - dog sledding reference, lol); making some changes that our absence has taught us, developing new policies and quickly getting to the stage where I can focus on Artistic Director duties like programming!

ENGAGEMENT

Thursday, 29 March, 2012 by Charlie Ward

As we hop nimbly from the architect's plan to the opening season, we are increasingly thinking about how we can engage with our audience.  As a theatre without a history, we have the pleasure of seeking out an entirely new audience, including, we hope, some people who will never have been to the theatre before.  Dave Hughes has designed a beautiful facade with  large panes of glass to attract people in from Clifton Terrace, but we are aware that it may take more than that to draw a diverse and curious crowd.  How can we overcome the stigma of theatre as a boring activity for posh people?  Are there specific ways to use Twitter and Facebook to encourage people to engage in unimagined ways?

CONSTRUCTION

Wednesday, 28 March, 2012 by Charlie Ward

I had an unsettling experience earlier in the week, when a sizeable chunk of one of London's leading theatres was dislodged by the foot of an audience member in the gallery.  I say chunk because the piece was hard to describe: it was about two feet long and a foot wide, and was basically a metal sheet which had been coated in carpet.  It fell about ten feet and, to the horror of everyone in the auditorium, landed on the head of an audience member in the circle below.  There was enough blood for the whole thing to be quite frightening, but I believe the audience member in question was fine by the end of the night.  Thankfully buildings don't fall apart very often, but it was a sharp reminder to me that we have risk assessments and health and safety for a reason...

PLAYS ARE LIKE BABIES

Tuesday, 27 March, 2012 by Sarah Rutherford

My first play, What You Do To People, turned my life upside down. 

The first draft was written half an hour at a time, every night as soon as my two toddlers were asleep. 

No time to look over what I’d written the night before; some nights it all just spilled out, other nights I just had to force myself to write something, anything, continuously for those thirty minutes until, some months later, I eventually had a document.  Something with a beginning, a middle of sorts, and an end.  Lots of holes and not much sense, but it was something I could then begin tortuously to rewrite and reshape.

Much of that play was written from pure instinct.  As with babies, there is little the manuals can teach you.  You muddle through, you make mistakes, you fuss and you lose a lot of sleep.

Second time around, you approach the whole thing with experience on your side.  Instinct still informs you, but so does a certain amount of technique and, you like to think, a little touch of wisdom.  In my experience, second babies and second plays emerge a hell of a lot faster – and at last you give yourself the chance to enjoy the early days a whole lot more.

Right now I’m writing my third play – and before you ask, I have no intention of testing the baby side of this comparison.  If I were to have a third baby, however, I hope it would pop out as easily, quickly and gladly as this one has done.  At the same time, I hope it would be less troublesome in its infancy. 

Tonight Is Your Answer almost wrote itself – but I’m not done with it yet.  It’s a mule of a play, refusing to conform to practical necessities.  Gentle coaxing hasn’t worked; perhaps it’s time to turn disciplinarian.

And this is where the analogy ends.  Because with plays – only the plays, mind – the next step is to hand them over entirely to the care of another.  Wave them a tender goodbye – and get on with making more.

POWER!

Monday, 26 March, 2012 by Charlie Ward

As Spiderman wisely noted, great power comes with great responsibility, not to mention great lycra.  In the absence of Jez and Melli, I have appointed myself de facto Artistic Director of Park Theatre, and have spent most of the last week rubbing my hands with unrestrained glee.  The great power has been altogether pleasant, but time is running out on my reign of terror / benevolence / polite ambivalence, and it would be irresponsible not to leave a striking legacy.  Should I raid the Education Floor coffers and blow it all on a giant glitter ball?  I’ve always felt that Park 90 would make a good Assistant Director’s office, particularly if we could find space for a hot tub.  Perhaps I should programme an entire season of Bollywood musicals?

A PLACE OF SAFETY

Friday, 23 March, 2012 by Sarah Rutherford

“I felt so free to experiment in the improvisations, and also to throw in ideas – I think we all did.  It was a lovely group.”

This is from an email I received the other day from one of our N4 Stories actors, talking about the year we spent researching and experimenting with what is now Closer Than The Jugular, a play set in Finsbury Park that will be part of The Park’s opening season.

A few days after this email, in an interview about The Park for the new StageWon website, I found myself talking about how I began writing.  It all started in an acting workshop with Oded Kotler of Israel’s national theatre, in which I was surprised that the first thing we were asked to do was sit down and write something. 

It’s not something we’re often asked to do as actors, and we were all caught a bit off-guard.  But because of the atmosphere of trust and safety that Oded created from the moment we walked into the theatre, we all felt free to take risks and be vulnerable with each other. 

That’s how I wrote my first speech, which became my first scene, which became my first play … which finally led to me being here, as Writer in Residence of The Park.

And so that email about N4 Stories took me both back in time – to the moment when, for me, a spark was lit – and forward to the future of The Park. 

This is why I hope that the Education Floor will reach its entire fundraising target and be able to operate at full throttle.  Because one of its primary functions will be to provide a space where people within the profession and beyond – youngsters, the elderly, those who would not normally set foot in a theatre – will feel safe and encouraged enough to create, to break down barriers and to be bold.

Because The Park Theatre is nothing if not bold.

SO MANY GOOD THINGS

Thursday, 22 March, 2012 by Amy Lumsden

The last few weeks since I began as Melli’s assistant have been a huge and enjoyable learning curve and an abundance of new experiences. From meeting a lot of passionate and interesting people to working those fundraising parties for that all important money for the education floor.  And,  the trials and tribulations of occasionally being on a building site. Amongst many aspects, we all look very special in those hard hats and heavy boots - building-site chic is where it’s at!

Another great thing is the opportunity to see so much new work as we research for our programming.  Last week, I went to see Islington Community Theatre’s ‘in all the minutes ever’. This was a lovely, thought-provoking piece created and acted by a group of talented young people broaching the complex subject of time, our subjective experiences of time and how our memories and selves are formed.  I can’t wait until we work with this energetic, engaging youth theatre on our education floor - notice the positive thinking! It will be there, because it really must be.

Last night I saw a piece by Kazuko Hohki on faecal incontinence (yes, you read that right) called ‘Incontinence’ at Camden Peoples Theatre. A brilliant, little show about a very unspoken but common condition. It deserves a bigger platform. Great theatre, which again, made me think.  I left the theatre having been emotionally moved and having learnt something; with a message to spread. This for me is what theatre is great for. It is so thrilling working with a new theatre that can create its own remit without constraints.  Emotive and original work is what Park Theatre is all about.

And another show tonight. ‘Shorty’, a brilliant piece of forum theatre by the National Youth Theatre tackling female-led gang violence. Talented cast and an inspiring form of discussion.

In the midst of everything, more industry tour invitations are being sent out. There are a lot.  If you’re still waiting for yours - don’t worry it’s coming!

This is a frenetic but constantly enjoyable, energetic atmosphere to work and be involved in. The people are incredible. It is infectious. It is charming. It is on its way.

TOWARDS A FEMALE FRIENDLY THEATRE

Wednesday, 21 March, 2012 by Charlie Ward

One of the exciting developments on site this week is the appearance of wall structures for the dressing rooms and toilets.  As anyone who has been on a tour will know, we have more ladies’ toilets than gents’, for which we expect a loud round of applause.  Unfortunately I lack the basic credentials for accessing ladies’ toilets, but I’ve walked apologetically past enough queues of women to know how important this is.

When I shared this information with Twitter on Monday, I described Park Theatre as ‘female friendly’.  Not, I admit, my finest hour in word selection: if it’s not quite a euphemism, it’s certainly suggestive.  Perhaps we should have muscular wine waiters in shirtless bow ties and diamond-studded cuffs?  Or offer a 10% discount to Colin Firth lookalikes?  The possibilities are endless.

In fact, our attention to women does go a little beyond the scope of the toilets.  Melli and Jez are keen to programme work that puts women front and centre, both thematically and practically, in terms of the casting opportunities involved.  Our outreach work will specifically cater for mothers and babies, in addition to many other groups and demographics.  As you will probably know, our Writer in Residence is a woman, as is our Director of Development, our Press and PR Manager, and our Assistant to the Creative Director.  The only downside to all this is the stark isolation of my ugly mutt on the website.

So can you help me to find a better term for this?  And how would you like your local theatre to cater for women?

THE RIBBON DANCE

Tuesday, 20 March, 2012 by Nouska Hanly

Now...Im not qualifying any of my praise for Pitchfork Disney but after my blog last night, I did begin to think about Matilda in greater detail...or rather...I thought about Miss Trunchbull’s ribbon dance. This was for me, the highlight of the show... and the subject of  much post- show-pub discussion, with the man himself.

Bertie Carvel is a friend of Park Theatre, (he worked with Melli and our Ambassador, David Horovitch on a radio play a few years back) and his unbelievable performance in Matilda has been the stand-out, break through, tour de force (however you like to describe it) performance, of recent theatre legend. The critics have literally been falling over themselves to find enough hyperbolic descriptions for his incarnation of Dahl’s villain; brilliant, genius, versatile, devastatingly original, the star turn, stupendously good, perfectly calibrated, grotesque and subtle, show stopping and the cherry on the cake are just some of them.

Personally...I thought he was superb but I am now, (after meeting him after the show) desperate to watch it all over again... Because, amusingly, what is an ugly, squeaky voiced monster of a woman on stage, is in real life, a deep voiced, tall, dark and handsome man. So the not - so- small matter of his transmogrification becomes all the more intriguing once you realise the dichotomy between character and man is so polarised.

Back to the ribbon dance...the magic here is achieved in the detail. BC does not attempt to parody a ribbon dance, he has ‘got it down’ and thats what’s so funny. He has all the compulsory elements; the flicks, circles, snakes and spirals (genuine; I’ve done my research), he avoids knots and manages to maintain large smooth, flowing movements even pulling off a very graceful jete at the end (not so easy in a fat suit).

For those of you reading this who have seen it already, he did admit to me afterwards that yes, he has spent time studying the Olympic champions and practising in his living room. Lol, I’d love to see that!

I hope Miss Truncnhbull has seen this bronze-winning dance (Anna Bessonova) Beijing 2008... but she’ll need to work on a little more flexibility to bust some of these moves out as the run continues. This ones’ for her:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8NGzrTQa1M&feature=related

GHOST TRAIN

Monday, 19 March, 2012 by Nouska Hanly

From one end of the theatrical spectrum to the other...

Matilda on Wednesday, Pichfork Disney on Saturday... Both shows were produced with greatness in mind, the latter by our wonderful board member Danielle Tarento. But While Matilda was unquestionably well done and hugely enjoyable, I seem to have developed a growing taste for what London’s smaller fringe venues have to offer. After years spent in West End shows, it seems an antidote is required and I certainly got my fix from the darker side on Saturday.

‘You know why the ghost train is so popular? Because there are no ghosts. Once you know that you can make a fortune.'

The bare warehouse interior of the Arcola was a perfect canvas for the cast to etch out Ridley’s twisted characters with disarming clarity. Chris New was brilliant as Presley, firing off dialogue with machine-gun precision and impact, leaving bullet-wounds on a startled audience.

The mesmeric performances and haunting soliloquies gave way to a sense of the ecclesiastical, reminding me just how much power live performance has to shape a building’s atmosphere.

Whilst Park Theatre’s physical construction is well under way, it'll be when its filled with the energy and magic of live performance every night that we'll know, we’ve truly opened.

PASSING THE BATON

Friday, 16 March, 2012 by Jez Bond

Whilst you will see, on the right hand side, that you can only go back as far as November 2011, the Park Theatre blog has actually been running daily since June 2010!

The reason you can't see back to the very beginning is that all the blogs posted on old website are yet to be added to this server. It's on the long list of things to do and we'll get round to it soon, as it should prove to be a valuable resource.

Nearly two years on from that inaugral blog and 99% of the posts have been by me. However, Melli and I are going away for a few days break this weekend and - importantly - will be leaving the laptops behind and turning the mobile phones off! As such for the next ten days we are passing the blogging baton to the extremely capable Amy, Charlie and Nouska - who should really blog more from now on. So here's to ten days of different voices, different humour (they're not very funny - be warned) and different writing styles....

Enjoy the next few days.

I know I will! :)

THE PARK LADIES

Thursday, 15 March, 2012 by Melli Bond

This blog is dedicated to the wonderful women of Park Theatre:

We've had a brilliant fundraising season and we could not have done this without the blood sweat and dedication of the sisters of Park.

Annabel Topham Director of Development, who has worked on our all our fundraising, has proudly brought us to the halfway mark of raising £200,000! 

Amy Lumsden, my amazing assistant, has taken on the mammoth task of coordinating our industry tours and been a massive support to me.

Nouska Hanly, Press and PR manager, has taken our press from local to national and now international level - amazing!

Sarah Rutherford, writer in residence, has been passionately writing the first Park play, as well as tweeting, living breathing all things Park.

Danielle Tarento, trustee, has been producing top notch work whilst constantly promoting, guiding and upholding the goals of Park.

Gail Jermyn, trustee, not only is she at every fundraiser providing amazing canapés but is creating an amazing gala for us this coming spring!

Frances Carlisle, trustee, has not only been a massive support for our work with women but has just given birth to the first baby of Park.

Celia Imrie, 1st Ambassador, has been performing night after night at the Old Vic whilst promoting and supporting Park with eternal love and dedication.

Tamzin Outhwaite, Ambassador, has relentlessly promoted Park on every possible level from going to local shops to hosting a party to doing all kinds of interviews - wow!

And to my very special friends who have been a massive support on tons of levels: Nadia Ramsahoye, Sasha Pick, Dede Nazareth, Ursula Campbell, Gaelle Charluet-Roy, and Donella Fox.

Thanks so much to all the wonderful ladies who have been so amazing and in hosting parties and believing in Park: Leah Schmidt, Gillian Auld, Jane O'Flynn and Brenda Gotsche. And the lovely Persia Lawson for helping at our events with a big bright smile.

Women that are devoting their spare time and energy Katherine Elizabeth McLean, Marilyn Rice, Robin Miller, Gill East, Sarah Perry to name but a few....

So many top notch women! How lucky are we!?

APPLICATIONS GALORE

Wednesday, 14 March, 2012 by Jez Bond

Just finished writing another funding application. It's amazing the difference in what different trusts and foundations ask for. Some ask for a two page document, no longer or it will not be read. Others for reams of material. Others ask for a small amount at the first stage and then more and more as time goes on. I liked this one though - it was fairly detailed for a first stage, but in a way I preffered that. Sometimes you wonder how on earth you can fit everything into just two pages. Fingers crossed, off in the post tomorrow, and a few more to send in the next few days before our much needed ten day break beginning this weekend.

Who's going to blog while we're away? Perhaps we'll leave a holding page syaing 'Gone Fishing' or maybe one of the others will take over....

Until tomorrow folks :) 

AGENTS

Tuesday, 13 March, 2012 by Jez Bond

A great day today that started with a presentation to the literary and creatives agents at United. Melli and I chatted away in the plush board room at their offices on Lexington Street, showing them images of the building and discussing artistic and literary policies. It's great to share our plans with some of the biggest names in the agency world - and Rachel, StJohn's assistant, is now going to set up another presentation with the acting agents their (two very separate departments as we learnt).

This evening Leah Schmidt, co-founder of The Agency, and soon to be board member hosted her party on site. Lots more great people who were enthused about the project.

GREAT DRAMA STARTED IN N4

Monday, 12 March, 2012 by Jez Bond

Some twelve or so years ago I worked for a company called Y Touring, who were then based on Lennox Road in Finsbury Park (directly opposite Pooles Park Primary School). It was my first introduction to the area and having spent time in N4 then and now later having returned I had insight into the changes that had taken place - and was able to create a fair forecast of how Finsbury Park might look and 'feel' in a further few years, given significant regeneration that is taking place.

It was then with great excitement that I went to the Royal Albert Hall tonight, to watch Y Touring's latest production. Not in the main hall itself, but in a beatiful side room - one that seated 120 people I should add! - called the Elgar Room. The production which has parked in London for a short time in the middle of a UK schools tour, concerned genetics and screening with particular reference to cancer.

Y Touring were the company who really turned Theatre in Education (or T.I.E. as it is known) on its head - confidently creating theatre where the starting point was artistic excellence and then came the issues, rather than the other way round. As such they continue to produce engaging drama for all ages. Furthermore Nigel Townsend, the Creative Director, is always at the forefront of digital technology, finding new and exciting ways to engage with their younger audiences. Y Touring is really everything that's great about theatre - strong drama, engaging style and dealing with important issues. It is amazing to remember that for many kids this will be their first experience of theatre - what a wonderful thing!

ANOTHER PARTY

Friday, 9 March, 2012 by Jez Bond

Not yet 'partied out' but lesser teams than my Park family might easily be at this stage. We've had a long run of on-site events and it's been fantastic but tiring working every night; setting up before, presenting and hosting during and clearing up afterwards. Today a wonderfully supportive local resident hosted a party for a few of her friends and colleagues and we met some highly enthused members of the community keen to help the theatre in any way they can. Tomorrow is a full day again - starting with teaching in the morning and ending with the submission of more grant applications. Have a good week 'end' folks, mine's continuing....

EVERYTHING MUST GO!

Thursday, 8 March, 2012 by Jez Bond

It was Chris McGill's party on site tonight with a lovely bunch of people - mainly local. We've enlisted plenty more people to sign the wall - the new campaign we launched a few days ago. We had more enquiries about toilets, and the possibility of a corporate sponsor for the bar. Meanwhile someone from the previous party has bought the staircase up the Education Floor. Just have to think how to design all this so there aren't plaques on every light switch and tap! 

LORD ARCHER

Wednesday, 7 March, 2012 by Jez Bond

The highlight of the day was undoubtedly our afternoon meeting with Lord Jeffrey Archer at his riverside penthouse - often remarked on as the best view in London (I would agree).

Lord Archer has kindly agreed to be the auctioneer for a gala dinner and auction that we are organising. The date is soon to be confirmed - as is a high profile compere for the evening. Having Lord Archer is already a great start and as the grey skies cleared over the houses of parliament we left feeling excited and inspired about what we could achieve.

Much more on this anon....

OVERLOAD

Tuesday, 6 March, 2012 by Jez Bond

Following a meeting with the structural engineer in the early afternoon, we were told that the loading requirements for an education space use were far more stringent than for residential apartments. As such, unless we want a restriction on numbers we may have to install more steel. Slightly odd of course as one can only physically fit less than a hundred on that floor - and two flats could easily host a party for fifty people on the same Saturday night. So what does this actually mean? At what stage does the integrity of the building get compromised - and it... well...fall down?

The good news is that following a party hosted by our fantastic Ambassador, Tamzin Outhwaite, we now know it can take at least seventy five people! 

There were such a lot of great people who attended the drinks and tour - and they all enthused about what we were doing. For the first time we had to conduct three separate tours, such were the numbers. I led the first, Dave the second and Melli the third. Guests from Alison Steadman to Louie Spence and Nicole Appleton were all excited by the project and taken aback by the scale of what we were doing. By 8.45pm the final guests had left and, with the building still standing, Melli and I left to join Tamzin and ten of her guests at Season Kitchen while the rest of the team stayed behind to clean up. Amazing as ever - thanks team! 

ADMIN IS A FULL TIME JOB

Monday, 5 March, 2012 by Jez Bond

I consider myself a pretty tidy person - and when it comes to my desk I can't live like one of those "it looks like a mess but I know exactly where everything is" kinds of people! So today alarm bells rang when piles started to appear on my desk. It's taken most of the day to clear them - as they always tend to be the boring time-consuming things that one doesn't want to do: setting up a direct debit, writing to Thames Water, filing financial information... oh the joys!

Now as the BBC Radio interview Tamzin and I did last week uploads to YouTube, I write my blog and deal with final emails. It's a huge day tomorrow - the party on site may see 60+ guests on site and we need to be on top of our game! I'm trying to get everything clear - but am conscious that a few more applications to trusts and foundations is going to take more than a few hours...

ALL THAT JAZZ

Friday, 2 March, 2012 by Jez Bond

Just about to leave the house to go to Camden's Forge - where a friend of ours is singing and playing the piano tonight. I'd been to the venue with Dave Hughes some months ago for a spot of lunch and a look around, as it was deemed by a number of people in the industry (both architectural and artistic) to be a wonderful conversion of a building. Indeed it looked it when we toured around during the day - and now I'm very much looking forward to seeing it in action!

Earlier this morning I met a colleague of one of our trustees who runs a music promotions company - and he came to site to discuss the potential of using Park Theatre's spaces for music gigs and even small festivals. Whilst we'll be predominantly presenting theatre we're keen to maximise the space and the range of activities we can offer. We spoke about how wonderful the intimate spaces would be for acoustic sets and solo artists. More discussion to be had, but a very positive starting point.

BENEFACTORS, BUGHES AND BUDDIES

Thursday, 1 March, 2012 by Jez Bond

There are many people without whom this entire project would not be possible, but the most important is our major donor. It’s incredibly rare for a benefactor to be so gracious in their giving and devoid of any ulterior motives. The result, for us, is a dream come true – the opportunity to “get on with it”: to build a theatre that is led by the artist and not by committee. This continued confidence in us gives me strength every day – but, as the saying goes, ‘with great power comes great responsibility’.

The £2.2m project costs are tight – I need no reminders of this. In fact many have said it can’t be done for such a sum. I’ve always believed that rules are there to be broken, that the normal way of doing things is often to be challenged and that positive energy begats great things. So, with total confidence – and an architect in the family that watches the cost-plan like a hawk – we advance.

When I say ‘family’ I am of course referring to the inner sanctum of the Park. Whilst many have labeled us the Jedward of the theatre building community, to my knowledge Dave Hughes and I are not related by blood.

But seriously for a minute (please), as I sit on the tube this evening I pay tribute to the few good men and women who have made this happen. To the generous supporters one and all, to the steadfast ourchitect, to the ambassadors, the trustees, the core team – some who have been with us since the beginning and some recently joined. I know we’re still some months from opening, but what really strikes me is just how much we’ve all achieved.

PARK FAMILY PARTY

Wednesday, 29 February, 2012 by Jez Bond

A lovely evening on site yesterday, the Park Family party was a chance for Melli, Annabel and I to invite people to the site as many of our trustees and ambassadors had done. We had the largest turn out to date - about thirty people - and it was good to see that we could deal with the numbers. Melli and I each led a tour staggered just a couple of minutes apart and this worked very well. We were pledged some great donations on the night and emails with pledges and promises of cheques are still coming in. Thanks to all our fabulous and supportive friends! I can't wait to throw more parties... but for now it's back to the grind stone, writing more applications to trusts and foundations and chasing up some to whom we already submitted. This is a great milestone and now I know we're absolutely going to do it all!

FRIED!

Tuesday, 28 February, 2012 by Jez Bond

Amazing. What a wonderful feeling! On Friday I wrote, in the blog, about how I had just hosted a tour and meeting with The Garfield Weston Foundation - and how they asked for more information. I didn't write a long blog that night as I had to work on all that over the weekend - I had, as I put it, "bigger fish to fry". Well at one minute to midnight on Sunday night I emailed through the amended business plan, additional figures and supporting statements to the grants officer and at a little after four thirty today I received a phone call to say that we have been awardd £50,000 towards the education floor. Hard work paid off and my metaphorical fish got well and truly fried! We're getting closer and closer to our goal now - and with a fundraising party on site this evening I think we're going to hit the halfway mark of £200,000. Breath for a moment, take a second and then...... continue forward moving up another gear!

THEY GROW SO FAST, DON'T THEY?

Monday, 27 February, 2012 by Jez Bond

This weekend - amongst seeing shows, leading workshops, reworking budgets and general emails - we miracously managed to get to Finsbury Park with the video camera and capture some of the progress on site. We'd been meaning to do this for so long and it's just in the nick of time as in a couple more weeks the top floors will again have changed dramatically. The only down side about the whole thing was that we were so tired it ended up being a rather quick, and possibly less energetic than usual, zip round. Not sure when we'll release Episode 4, we may wait for the next round of filming to add to it. The most important thing is that we've got it - I suppose it's a bit like a baby in its early stages; you want to capture every moment as "they grow so fast, don't they!?"

TRUSTS AND FOUNDATION

Friday, 24 February, 2012 by Jez Bond

I had five meetings back to back today - it was rather 'one-in-one-out'. A hectic schedule but a very good meeting with a large grant-giving foundation to end the day. They've requested some additional information and I'll be working on this over the weekend. So it's a brief one for now - I love you dear diary but right now I've got bigger fish to fry...!

ABIGAIL'S PARTY

Thursday, 23 February, 2012 by Jez Bond

It was a remarkably warm afternoon as the Park team set up for another fundraising drinks party on site – a happy contrast to the previous party hosted in minus one degree weather. Today the host was our ambassador, David Horovitch – fresh from his recent trip to India; a much needed break after a nine month stint at the National Theatre. David’s guests included writer/director Mike Leigh along with actors David Warner, Phil Davis, Sharon Small and others. The party was a great success, Mike was enthused about the space and had many questions. He had lived extremely close by for some years and was keen to see a theatre finally coming to town – as were they all (most of whom were local). Best of all David still had wine left at the end and now wants to do another!

THE CLOCK IS TICKING

Wednesday, 22 February, 2012 by Jez Bond

As each hour passes by we grow closer to D-day, the day of the biggest decision this year – to build or not to build (the education floor I mean). We’re getting more money on almost a daily basis. I go to sleep at night and just can’t picture us not doing it. That’s positive energy and that helps; but what helps most is actual hard cash… so on we soldier doing all we can to spread the word and reach more people who can help us.

THE KINDNESS OF FRIENDS

Tuesday, 21 February, 2012 by Jez Bond

I remember many months ago writing a blog entitled The Kindness of Strangers. For those not familiar with A Streetcar Named Desire, I should tell you that therein lies the reference. Today's blog, however, takes a different stance - as it seems that many of the strangers of yester-month are the friends of today...

Since occupying the building some two years ago our presence in the community has been increasing - both quickly and confidently. It has been a pleasure to begin relationships with so many people, relationships that have started out from a tiny seed and are starting to grow into fully blossoming plants. That's surely what Park Theatre's about - nurturing both audiences and practitioners, providing a welcoming environment in which to grow. I remember the first contact from a local resident who works at the Royal Opera House and passes by on the bus on a daily basis, and from another who runs a promotions company and came round on an industry tour, and from the couple who popped their heads round as we were once locking up to ask for more information. All these people are now supporters - in fact one is on our board. I'm proud to have developed those relationships and, as we approach opening and enter the first few years of operation, we must be sure to only accelerate all efforts in this field.

So, whilst we continue to find new supporters from all areas, and strive towards our funding goals, today was a day to remember those who have quickly become friends and who have given us their time and energy. As Melli and her new assistant Amy organised for a group of helpers to stuff envelopes and take to the streets with brochures, I was embroiled in a number of meetings on site led by the intrepid architect Dave Hughes: he who was an utter stranger two years ago and now probably knows me as well as my family - well he should do, he certainly spends more time with me than they do. Then there are all our fantastic ambassadors - one of them went round hand delivering brochures to the shops in Crouch End last week and one called me today to say they'd met some local people on holiday and were telling them all about the theatre!

So here's to wonderful new friends from the last couple of years - and to growing relationships over the next.

With all my love and huge appreciation, Jez x

PROBABLE

Monday, 20 February, 2012 by Jez Bond

A few meetings on site today including a good chat with the General Manager of Improbable and a couple of their associate artists. A company whose work we certainly admire. Let’s hope that, when we’re ready to programme, something fits!

I was advised to check to Peter Hall’s diaries on building the National Theatre - note to self, must buy.

The day ended with a screening of a new Tim Roth film produced by my friend Rupert Jermyn, great to see the rough cut of what should prove to be a great british thriller.

A bigger blog soon I hope - I do have some things I’d like to address (he says, royally) but the midnight hour approaches and I must eat some food then hit the sack. Long day tomorrow - beginning with a meeting at the Capital Club at 9am.

FULL ON FRIDAY

Friday, 17 February, 2012 by Jez Bond

Great day, fab meeting with Tamzin regarding a top secret project that we soon hope to announce! Just gone midnight and have returned from Guildford seeing Terence Rattigan's 'Less Than Kind' which is currently on tour after selling out at the Jermyn Street Theatre last year. This feels more like a tweet - short and sweet. That's 'cause I'm knackered and for Park peeps, there ain't no such thing as a week end! Grrrr.... (but we love it!)

A 'POLITE NOTE'

Thursday, 16 February, 2012 by Jez Bond

For some reason, no matter how clear we think we are, we seem to be with inundated with people trying to “drop in” for either a tour a coffee or both.

Now, to be clear:– 

- We do not work from the site office most days; we usually work from home.

- We do not currently live near the theatre.

- No-one is permitted on the building site without an official appointment for reasons of health and safety.

- We have arranged and are continuing to arrange various group tours for both the industry and local residents.

- These are free and everybody is welcome, all you need to do is book.

It’s great that there is so much buzz and excitement driving people through our doors, but  please understand that we are often working 16 hour days and aren’t able to down tools for an off-the-cuff meeting, even if we do happen to be there that day. For any enquiries whatsoever please email us. Absolutley everybody who emails us gets a personal response, every time, without fail. 

For those interested, the next round of tours will be in April - they will be announced on the website, and via mailout - so local residents please sign up online and industry professionals please email melli dot bond at parktheatre dot co dot uk to be added to the industry database if you aren't already on it. Many thanks :)

THE ARTISTRY OF GIVING

Wednesday, 15 February, 2012 by Jez Bond

Very touched today by an incredibly generous donation. Not just a large amount but a wondefully clever amount too. Just over two thousand pounds - in fact twelve pounds more. £2,012. Get it! I challenge the next donor to come up with something equally as profound! Many thanks to you, dear Friend, and to all our wonderful supporters to date. 

And hey, it's an early night. 11.15pm and I'm about to finish the blog and watch a few minutes of TV. Trumpet fanfare please.... ba ba ba baaaaaaaa! (actually when it's written that looks more like a sheep). 

PS: Nice little article about Tamzin and us in the Evening Standard today, would scan and tweet etc, but then I'll loose the trumpet fanfare - so... until tomorrow!

SHMALENTINE

Tuesday, 14 February, 2012 by Jez Bond

"Ah Valentine Shmalentine!" he says, the Scrooge of the Romance world. No time for flowers when you're building a theatre.

Actually I did manage the flowers, but it's nearly midnight and once more the Bond workstation is busy through the night.

I'm really excited to have the fantastic video we made with Sir Ian McKellen, Tamzin Outhwaite and Celia Imrie up on the website. Lots of positive feedback and some more donations starting to come in. For those enjoying their valentine's evening and wanting to reward their loved one with something more permanent than roses, how about naming a seat in Park 90 or Park 200? 

TAMZIN CAN'T WAITE

Monday, 13 February, 2012 by Jez Bond

Tamzin Outhwaite has been officially inaugurated as an Ambassador for Park Theatre - and a prouder, energetic, more active ambassador we could not wish for!

What most people didn't know is that Tamzin has already been working behind the scenes with me over the past ten days and - as a result - we are about to release a very exciting video within the next few hours! Let's just say she's not the only star of it. So watch this space!.....

We may also have some further exciting news early next week as we are hatching all sorts of marvellous plans. She's already got a date for her party on site and has sent her invites out. Like her, we simply can't wait to get cracking with all these events!

I HEAR A RUMOUR...

Friday, 10 February, 2012 by Jez Bond

"I hear a rumour you're opening with a musical" someone tells me. Of course word spreads like wild fire in our industry so evidently what started as a possibility, a suggestion, a desire is now - in most people's minds - a fact. We may well open withe a musical. It has an inherent sense of celebration about it - which just feels right juxtaposed with opening a new building. The funniest thing is that there appears to now be a sweepstake on which musical it will be! In fact some interesting ideas have come up... so keep 'em coming!   

AND AGAIN...

Thursday, 9 February, 2012 by Jez Bond

Sorry to delay but again no time for the clever blog. It's gone midnight and I've just finsihed a one hour phone meeting (great to know that someone else also works late hours). Up at 8am again to start another hectic day...

THE LURE OF THE BED...

Wednesday, 8 February, 2012 by Jez Bond

So much to say today, an amazing day in fact. But too important to ruin it all by exhaustedly blogging now as the lure of bed is too strong. I've been feeling increasingly unwell and run down, my eyes are sore and my head is throbbing. These final few words then to bed and tomorrow another rather epic day... hopefully some more energy, at that point, to share the excitement of the last 24 hours with you all.... 

STARTING WITH A BLANK SLATE

Tuesday, 7 February, 2012 by Charlie Ward

One of the delights of building a theatre is working from a blank slate.  Unlike most capital theatre projects, Park Theatre will not house a company with a previous history: there is no audience to keep and no style to accommodate.  Clearly the choice of site influences the size and shape of the auditoria, but at every turn there are small decisions that will affect the Park Theatre experience for actors and audience alike.  Many of the decisions are practical, but I've found the last few months creatively stimulating in various exciting ways. 

When you start to break down the theatre experience, you become very aware of its ritual components, many of which we take for granted; they're often so ingrained into the status quo that nobody has ever considered changing them.  There's a small example of this in today's Guardian Stage Blog, where Lyn Gardner has used Park Theatre as a beacon for open accounting in emerging companies:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/stage/theatreblog/2012/feb/07/fringe-theatre-open-accountable

We're not inventing transparency, but we're allying the policy on accounting for visiting companies to the ethos of the building as a whole.  It's a small step, but perhaps other venues will respond, and before long that too will become part of the status quo.  There are a number of other discussions up in the air about how Park Theatre might do things differently: if you were creating your dream theatre, how would it stand out from the crowd?

THE ROUTE THROUGH...

Monday, 6 February, 2012 by Jez Bond

The route through the lower ground floor is cold and damp, water drips down through cracks in the floor above and steel columns prop tonnes of concrete. This is not the set for the latest low budget horror movie - although it does a very good impression of being exactly that. No, this is the stalls-to-be; and beyond this dark atmosphere a modest but comfortable room awaits, filled with plans and folders, tables and chairs, hard hats and boots. This is the new site office - and the warmth hits you as soon as you enter. So as the February snow melts above our heads we sit inside our very own base camp, mastermind our new state of the art theatre and continue to turn drawings into reality...

I NEED 48 HOURS IN A DAY

Friday, 3 February, 2012 by Jez Bond

It's 1am and I am still working like nuts. I wish there were 48 hours in a day, I simply don't have enough time to get things done. Today was insane. Great breakfast with Tamzin this morning but I've hardly had a second to think about anything we've talked about, let alone deal with all the invites to our upcoming parties. Right... must continue... Dear Friends I shall be back on Monday when hopefully I will be on top of things again, having spent the weekend tackling the mountainous workload infront of me....

LOTS TO COME

Thursday, 2 February, 2012 by Jez Bond

I’ve had a long day today. I’ve travelled from West to North to South to North to West but it’s all been worth it. Dave and I saw the new Bush building earlier – and Steve Tompkins has done a terrific job with the design. It’s not quite finished yet though - they have plans to refurbish and convert other currently back of house spaces into public areas. As for my own wonderful architect, my dream-maker, my Horatio – he’s come up with a potential change to the back of house that reminds me why I love him so. We simply never stop refining, tweaking and challenging each other.

More of this and on the rest of the day anon – as various seeds planted today may soon develop into full flowers and merit a proper announcement. Fast forwarding a few hours and as I leave the Gatehouse – after a very entertaining production of ‘Guys and Dolls’ – I feel the cold air burning my skin. They say it’s due to snow tonight and part of me feels like curling up in bed with a hot water bottle and hibernating. Of course I can’t do that – and I don’t want to really; I’m having breakfast with Tamzin in the morning. All I can say, again, is watch this space!

WHO YOU KNOW

Wednesday, 1 February, 2012 by Jez Bond

There's a great deal of truth in the famous expression 'it's not what you know, it's who you know' . In the theatre industry we often thrive on this; people take cautious steps to appease the people positioned to give them a step up and would make little apology for getting the job through a friend or family member. Of course it's all very well when you're one of those who know people, but for those on the other side of the fence - those, for example, starting out or not in the 'it crowd' it's incredibly frustrating and, let's face it, downright unfair. Now in my own miniscule way I realise that I've played my part in this - any director will tell you they enjoy working with familiar faces and sometimes it's tough to get through the door if you're not known to a particular director or producer. I have always tried to maintain a healthy balance of new faces and to audition a range of performers - and I will indeed strive to continue this at Park Theatre.

What is, however, becoming increasingly frustrating to me now is that it appears the world of fundraising is no different. Obviously individual donors require a personal connection - it doesn't take a genius to work out that Tom Cruise isn't going to give you £10,000 even though "he can easily afford it" and "he supports the arts". But when it comes to applications to trusts and foundations one would have hoped that a strong application could sail through to success based purely on its own merits. In the majority of cases it seems to be not so - we're constantly asked "who on your board knows people in trusts and foundations?" Unfortunately, whilst among our trustees and ambassadors we have a level of expertise and theatre experience of which I am extremely proud, we simply don't have these key contacts. So part of the day is spent writing applications and trying to get across the passion and vision, which is so hard to translate onto paper, to a grant officer - and the other half is spent trying to find a 'way in' to any of these organisations that would give us the all important leg-up. "C'est  la vie" say the old folks, it goes to show you never can tell!

VISION

Tuesday, 31 January, 2012 by Charlie Ward

What's your vision? It's the big directing question, perhaps the big question for leaders of every stripe.  We want reassurance that the person we're following knows where the gold is, and has the map to find it.  'Look at this lovely map', the leader says.  'Here we see the pot of gold, and look - here is the rainbow that will lead us to it.' 

In the context of theatre, I find the notion of 'vision' very problematic, but it's at the core of everything Jez and Melli are doing at the moment.  Because Jordan is a born troublemaker, the tour involves quite a lot of dust, and even more suspension of disbelief.  You'd think he was trying to build something.  Ultimately Jez relies on his passion and his beloved future present tense to convert a building site into a theatre.  His skill at this is not in question, but perhaps it's significant that my determination to worm my way into the Park Theatre family (stalking is the only way), was partly motivated by Jez's humility when it comes to clairvoyance.  In his own words, 'we're hoping that the audience will help us to shape what we do and how we do it'.

REGENERATION

Monday, 30 January, 2012 by Jez Bond

“Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen” I began “I'm Jez Bond, Artistic Director for Park Theatre”. It’s a title that used to sound alien but now comes as second nature. I’ve given countless speeches at tours, presentations and meetings that I’ve become incredibly comfortable in talking on all aspects of the theatre. Today I was at the Finsbury Park Regeneration Conference addressing forty or so residents, business owners and councillors across the three boroughs of Islington, Hackney and Haringey.

The key topic I was asked to discuss was why, of all the gin joints in all the world, we had chosen Finsbury Park...

There are many answers; the excellent transport links, the current influx of new developments and conversions, the income of classy restaurants, the previous lack of arts provision, the huge number of theatre practitioners. But there’s on other thing that I often remark but rarely expand upon. The hoards of suits exiting the tube station at rush hour.

Ten to twelve years ago I worked as Associate Director at Y Touring Theatre Company - who were at that time based on nearby Lennox Road. What you see now that you didn't see then are the hundreds of young professional couples dressed in suits walking out of the station at rush hour. This change is indicative of an area on the up and this very fact is vital to our success. You see, the trouble with new audiences is that they take years to cultivate. The truth is that without a core audience of more affluent theatre-savvy people, we wouldn't survive.

So how do we reconcile this truth with one of our key aims to pull in new and diverse audiences?

Well unless we have the finances in place to operate with empty houses and to spend vast amounts on marketing to people who won’t even think about coming until long after we’ve chained shut the doors forever, we need to generate some income quickly in order to survive. We need to survive in order to thrive – and we need to thrive in order to invest time, money and a great deal of energy into developing new ways of attracting those who haven’t been to the theatre before.

It’s through our success in generating ticket sales from a ‘safer’ audience plus through finding the right balance in programming that we will begin to address the issue.

People often talk of the negative effects of ‘gentrification’ of an area – and indeed where the wealthier come in, the house prices go up and the poorer are forced out of their indigenous neighbourhood that’s not a good thing. However there’s a balance to be had – one where the wealthier communities and the less advantaged live together, where the more affluent take care of the poorer.

Park Theatre can be a facilitator between the two. It will take years to build but it’s worth every effort. New audiences are key, young audiences are our future and a worthwhile theatre simply must be rooted in the community in which it sits.

CROSSING THE RIVER

Friday, 27 January, 2012 by Jez Bond

A great day today. This morning I started at the Young Vic, where a young and energetic company were presenting a workshop snippet of a new play they had devised. It was very well recieved and had a lot going for it. I found the narrative, the characters and the clever interaction with video to be very well realised and look forward to seeing their developments. 

Following The Stage's New Year's party at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane - where I made some new friends and met lots of old - I proceeded back across the river to the Jerwood Space where some practitioners were presenting the beginnings of a show. Again lots going for it, so all in all a very productive day.

WE MADE IT TO 1,000

Thursday, 26 January, 2012 by Jez Bond

Congratulations to the team - and all our faithful followers. Thanks to loads of great tweets and retweets and Friday Follows we made it past 1,000 followers this morning. In fact on Friday we were ranked number 6 in the UK for Friday Follows! That's pretty good going. Plus another 90 or so poured in just in the last few hours thanks to some new tweeters on the case! 

MUST FILM

Wednesday, 25 January, 2012 by Jez Bond

So much to do and so little time (so many times have I said that). Desperately need to go to site with the video camera and make a record of the fast changes to the upper floors. The joists are in and in a couple of weeks the framing system that forms the walls goes on. We'll be watertight in the front building before we know it! 

JUSTICE FOR A MOVING NIGHT

Tuesday, 24 January, 2012 by Melli Bond

The credits for evening's show gave us many reasons to attend - familiar director, producer, actor and venue; and whilst some might think we would be biased in terms of expectation and enjoyment I can assure you I am very open equally to take each show on its own merit.

And so tonight we saw 'Execution of Justice' at the Southwark playhouse. A well done piece of theatre - Joss Bennathan directed this large cast and gave, essentially a court room drama a very punchy and well paced delivery. I'm pleased to say I wasn't put off by the accents - as often happens to me seeing American plays here in London. A pet peeve really as I don't understand why Americans aren't cast more often? They live here, work here and are good. So thankfully this production has American actors as well as Brits with good ears!

An enjoyable evening though an upsetting story - that's a good night at the theatre. Make me cry, make me think make me laugh; whatever it is please make me do something, that's why we go isn't it folks? That's why you'll come to the Park - that's certain.

BIG TRIP FOR BIG MEN IN BIG SOCIETY

Monday, 23 January, 2012 by Melli Bond

It's only for one night but packing to stay away is still something that takes thought - mainly because I remember how cold it is 'Up North'! Going to Leeds you would think I was heading for some unheard of town or half expecting a wild journey as I rationed my water and covered up with my huge blanket/scarf/rug - a very snugglish item.

On arrival to the theatre there were all sorts of people inviting me in - it did suddenly feel like I was on a journey back in time to 1910. Big Society, directed by the lovely Rod Dixon of Red Ladder, had a great mix of Variety Show songs and dance with the truth of backstage both in the characters' personal lives and in the politics they lived and breathed - which reference very nicely our own modern issues.

My journey in time continued to the next day where I met up with my university friend from Hull - and we realised that we had both a lot to catch up on and further years of companionship ahead. 

I also had coffee with Rod and John of Red Ladder and hope that we will develop a strong working friendship in the years to come...

What a great journey! Big laughs. Big fun. Big Plans!

INCREASING OUR PROFILE

Friday, 20 January, 2012 by Jez Bond

The team as a whole decided recently that we should really have at least 1,000 followers on Twitter so we've been undertaking some hardcore 24 hour profile raising via our respective tweet decks - encouraging people to retweet and 'friday follow' us. The good news is that it's been working very well indeed. Whilst last night we had a mere 650 followers, now as I write this it's closer to 800. Please continue to spread the word and let's hit the big 1,000. Onwards and upwards everyone! Thanks for your support :)

MANIC THURSDAYS

Thursday, 19 January, 2012 by Jez Bond

Meetings on site, meetings off site

Meeting with a prospective new board member, meeting with some more local actors

Meetings on the ground floor, meetings on the roof

Just another manic Thursday.

EVENING STANDARD

Wednesday, 18 January, 2012 by Nouska Hanly

An exciting few weeks...!

Following our first fundraising party hosted by Sean Mathias and attended by Sir Ian Mc Kellen, Rupert Everett, Matthew Kelly, Michael Pennington and David Parfitt, the Evening Standard has published an exclusive on Park Theatre, published in today’s paper. Other coverage includes my own piece on the party published here on www.offwestend.com

Its great to be able to assist in getting news of the theatre ‘out there’ into the public domain, especially knowing the amount of work, effort and passion invested by everyone involved.

The Evening Standard exclusive reflects the fantastic endorsements the project is receiving from the UK theatre industry’s most well respected and best loved stars, among them Sir Ian McKellen and Celia Imrie, who have backed the plans wholeheartedly.

Aside from launching the Park in the press, the exposure will hopefully help raise the remaining £300,000 for the Education Floor and, as the article says "put theatre back on the map in Finsbury Park!"

INTERVIEWS

Tuesday, 17 January, 2012 by Jez Bond

I was interviewed by The Evening Standard today, they are writing a story which will go into tomorrow's paper. I have also been approached by a magainze who want to do an article. Nouska Hanly, our Associate, has been really fantastic in getting the word out to the press following last week's fundraising party. Loads more to do today, watch this space...!

SLEEPING DOGS

Monday, 16 January, 2012 by Jez Bond

I spent the day helping a great friend of mine, playwright Brenda Gottsche, with her latest production 'Sleeping Dogs'. The play tells the story of a man who has led a double life of sorts and whose family is coming to terms with the revelation. I have known Brenda since I directed a production of The Fulham Jesus, her first play at Barons Court Theatre (and subsequently worked on three further productions with her there and at the Old Red Lion). 

Today I helped the team by providing audio recording and editing facilities (my sideline) - as some of the play is set in a radio studio and some of the callers will be pre-recorded. A fun day, therefore, with a lovely mix of actors and creative team dropping in throughout the day. 

Sleeping Dogs will be playing at the intimate Baron's Court Theatre from 1st February. Apparently the pub upstairs have refurbished and the food's good. We're going to make a night of it!

DAVID HOROVITCH

Friday, 13 January, 2012 by Jez Bond

We're very excited to introduce our newest Ambassador, David Horovitch. We are thrilled to have such a wonderfully experienced and accomplished actor on board.

Melli and David met when working together on Caryl Churchill's Serious Money for BBC Radio. David lives locally and was extremely excited to hear about Park Theatre's plans. Suffice to say that once he stepped inside and took a tour he was hooked.

When I saw him at the bar at the National yesterday night, after his production of Grief, he was already handing out development packs. Now that's commitment to the cause! Welcome to the team David - we look forward to a long and fruitful relationship together! Read all about David here on our Ambassadors page.

LONG LUNCH

Thursday, 12 January, 2012 by Jez Bond

A lovely long lunch at the Soho Hotel today. The food was delicious and Simon and Brendan from the aptly named Feast - who treated us to this meal - were excellent company. I fondly remember the chocolate mousse with passion fruit coulis and honeycomb crumble, after which I could eat no more! That's not the whole day but a great portion of it - which is unusual, as time-wise lunch is a luxury we can't often afford.

PARTY NUMBER ONE

Wednesday, 11 January, 2012 by Jez Bond

Hosted by our fabulous Ambassador, Sean Mathias, a dozen industry professionals gathered on site for a glass of wine and a tour this evening. The afternoon had been spent preparing the top floor of the site, clearing, tidying, setting up tables and sofas, softening the lighting, applying some fragrances, candles and arty touches all of which combined turned building site reek into building site chic.

And so at 6.30pm on the rooftop of a former Finsbury Park office block gathered some of the finest performers, directors and producers including Sir Ian McKellen, Rupert Everett, Mathew Kelly and David Parfitt. Sean gave a marvellous speech after which I delivered a talk and tour of the site - add to this some glasses of wine, some homemade Park popcorn (courtesy of Director of Development, Annabel Topham) and you have the recipe for a great night. Indeed it was - and with pledges of support and donations this was a terrific kickstart to our series of small fundraising parties...

TIME

Monday, 9 January, 2012 by Melli Bond

Minutes... Hours...Weeks... Years
Sitting on hold for 20 minutes.
Waiting on the platform 5 minutes.
Taking the meeting's minutes.
Walking my Mastiff for 1 hour.
Planning the party for 3 weeks.
Having a dream for 12 years.
Building a dream for 2 years.
Time to share the passion and the excitement...

Every minute.

PRIVATE READING

Friday, 6 January, 2012 by Jez Bond

This afternoon I attended a closed reading of an exciting 'new' play that Sean Mathias is directing. I use new in inverted commas as it's actually an old play by a playwright now sadly passed away that was never completed beyond a first draft - so it's been an interesting process for Sean and the team as to how to take this draft towards a production-ready script. Hopefully I'll be able to write more about it further down the line - and indeed perhaps Park Theatre may even be able to get behind it. That's just a teaser for now...

DIFFERENT WORLDS

Thursday, 5 January, 2012 by Melli Bond

After a morning working my day job I went to work... to my other day job. I'm an actress a well as creative director for PARK and today was a fun acting day! December saw me playing (amongst other things) a Latin American character speaking Spanish speaking (yes I am bilingual) and some very fun health and safety issues on location. Now I understand David Cameron's urge to rid the UK of extraneous health and safety! But today from the safety of the studio I was hurled up into the air, kissed a sexy guy, drank some crazy potions and got thrown out of an exclusive club onto my ass - only to bounce up again! Don't you LOVE cartoons.

BEING SCOTTISH

Wednesday, 4 January, 2012 by Charlie Ward

One of the recurring problems of being Scottish is that I've never learnt the rain dance.  In balance it's probably a good thing, as my dancing is easily mistaken for a crude and unpredictable form of primordial warfare.  A rain dance from me would most likely induce a climate catastrophe that would make even The Weather Girls blush.  Which is why I have decided to launch an appeal to all of our supporters to slip on their meteorological dancing shoes and help us shape the weather.  Next Tuesday is our first on-site fundraising party, and as Jordan has failed to deliver a roof two months early, we are seeking a balmy thirty degrees on the mercury and a nice crimson sunset to put our guests in the giving mood.  I'm prepared to offer bonus points to any dance that can deliver a sign from on high that now would be a good time to support Park Theatre.  So don your sombrero and shake out that old Hawaiian bird skirt: it's time to rock.

DEVELOPMENT PACKS ARRIVE

Tuesday, 3 January, 2012 by Jez Bond

The development packs arrived in the post today and look great!

It's taken a long time to get here, through tweaks, tweaks and more tweaks. But it's important to get everything just right - and we have.

Time to start getting them out there now - through parties, through ambassadors, through trustees, through people in the local community. If any readers fancy picking up a few and distributing to their friends, colleagues and neighbours that would be wonderful. Please get in touch...

2012: THE YEAR STARTS HERE!

Monday, 2 January, 2012 by Jez Bond

It's a bank holiday Monday here in the UK, but for the Park Theatre team the second of January means the first day of the most important year ever. There's lots to be done and we have a strong feeling that this year may just go by quicker than ever. Whilst most start back on the 3rd the team have already put in a few good hours today.

Tomorrow we are expecting delivery of our development packs back from the printers and the giant task of reaching our goal towards the education floor kicks up a gear. You'll all be hearing from us very soon indeed!

NEW YEAR'S PLANS CANCELLED

Friday, 30 December, 2011 by Jez Bond

By order of the management - I must remain resting. Rightly so, otherwise I'll never get better!

REFER TO YESTERDAY!

Thursday, 29 December, 2011 by Jez Bond

I have been instructed to stay in bed and off the computer!

BY ORDER OF THE MANAGEMENT

Wednesday, 28 December, 2011 by Jez Bond

I have been instructed to stay in bed and off the computer!

OOPS

Tuesday, 27 December, 2011 by Jez Bond

Never go out when you are only just starting to get better, you'll only get ill again!

GETTING BETTER...

Monday, 26 December, 2011 by Jez Bond

I'm towards the end of this illness now - at least I hope so. A weekend spent mostly in bed (up for Christmas lunch thankfully) and today I am slowly getting back to normality; starting to catch up with the many tasks that have been piling up. We'll leave it there for today - time for another Lemsip!

CHRISTMAS

by Jez Bond

In the lead up to Christmas for what do I pine the most? For the comfort of a warm fireplace and a mug of hot chocolate - for a show to stage in the new year - for a week long getaway in the Maldives? The answer is all of these things. The reality is that my Christmas pudding is still cooking - and will hopefully be plump and juicy (hold on, I think that's the goose) in time for next year.

So this year's festivities are likely to be slightly surpressed  - not in a spoilt child "where's my present" kind of way but simply due to the fact that we'll be as busy as in any other week of the year. We are seeing shows pretty much every single night between now and Christmas eve, fundraising requirements are getting more and more demanding and the workload is increasing daily - despite some of the pressure on site being taken away due to increased project management support. Can father Christmas please bring me a new brain (mine is frazzled), some extra hours in the day and some money for the education floor...

CATCHING UP WITH ME

Friday, 23 December, 2011 by Jez Bond

Well it was only a matter of time and sure enough, with the festive season here, the cold weather outside and having stopped for a couple of days rest last weekend, my body has decided that enough is enough. I woke up ill this morning. My achilles heel when I am run down is always the glands in my throat - and typically my throat is burning and it hurts when I swallow. So lots of rest (well as much as possible), hot drinks and... well that's it really. The usual meds are lemsip and ibuprofen. Sadly antibiotics never work so it's just a matter of letting it take its course. Does mean that Christmas is a bit screwed, but I think both Melli and I predicted this would happen. 

Best recharge the batteries for the big year ahead!...

CHRISTMAS IS COMING

Thursday, 22 December, 2011 by Jez Bond

So much to do, so little time. Christmas is coming, email responses from people are slowing down and most people aren't picking up the phones. Dave and I are still battling on with loads to do. On site the substation walls are nearly complete. Soon we'll forget we ever had that space - which will be a good thing to get used to! Desperately cold outside now. The wind is picking up and with our roof off, the wet weather is most unwelcome. Tomorrow's the last day on site then then work will resume on the 3rd January. Here, however, in the warmth of my flat, work continues as ever...

PUPPETS COME TO LIFE

Wednesday, 21 December, 2011 by Jez Bond

A day of meetings, some at home, some on site and some out in Soho. I showed Sam West the building and he was very excited by the project. I hope he may be able to give us some time and get involved - he lives locally so that's a plus.

In the evening we went to the first show in a long time to which we bought a ticket (rather than being invited). It was War Horse. A truly magical experience for the life-like puppets of the horses (and a star appearance from a goose!) After a short time one ceased to see the puppeteers (who were superb not just at the movements but all the noises as well) and felt one was looking real living, breathing horses with individual characters. A moving story set to the horrific backdrop of World War One.

GROWING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION

Tuesday, 20 December, 2011 by Jez Bond

Today our Chairman and I met three new board members, who will officially voted on at our January board meeting. It's very exciting as the diversity of skills and experience is now really fantastic. On site the floor joists for the fourth floor are halfway complete and the new floors are visible from the pavement. We're growing in the right direction. In the evening a fun play at the White Bear - where I seem to be becoming quite a regular!

BREATH THAT FRESH AIR!

Monday, 19 December, 2011 by Jez Bond

What a lovely break! Yes a complete break, as in no phone calls and (almost!) no emails for three days. We had a long weekend in Dorset with some friends; Christmas carols, log fires, country walks, late nights - and late mornings. I feel revived and ready for the tens of shows I am seeing over the next few weeks.

TRYING TO LEAVE

Friday, 16 December, 2011 by Jez Bond

Need to pack for the country but there's so much to do. This weekend we are having a little getaway with some friends who have just moved down to Dorset. I'm determined to leave before the hell that is Friday traffic kicks in....! Blog - done :)

KEEPING THE FORCE STRONG

Thursday, 15 December, 2011 by Jez Bond

'm starting to feel the inevitable slow down of productivity from certain quarters as Christmas sets in. It's the usual combination of a rush of last minute requests and, in certain cases, a 'winding down for the holidays' mentality.

However at ground control, despite illness, the force is still strong amongst the Park Jedi. Annabel was a real (storm)trooper earlier as, dosed up with drugs but coughing none the less, she braved a one hour Skype meeting. I'm not quite sure where this random Star Wars theme has come from - I'm not even a major fan of the films. Perhaps I've been subjected to subliminal Christmas advertising and there's a special deal on the box set at HMV.

Anyway, just heading home after production number 25 (ish) of Hamlet. This time in a crypt! Engaging but I have a major issue with all these 'site specific' / 'promenade' shows - chiefly that the sight-lines are awful and a complete lottery. You can end up missing entire scenes - and that's coming from me at 6ft 3"!

THE TEAM GROWS...

Wednesday, 14 December, 2011 by Jez Bond

We have two new board members - but I won't announce them until they are official. We have a great quote from Nick Kent (Artistic Director of the Tricycle Theatre) who came round site today:

“Park Theatre is an incredibly exciting new theatre in an area of London not well-served by the Arts. The new building promises to be very popular with local people, and to be a landmark destination for all Londoners.”

Nicolas Kent, Artistic Director, Tricycle Theatre

We're starting our fundraising parties in the new year and are having a hige push to raise the money needed for the Education Floor. Please please if you can give anything then do donate. Every single £ helps - and with Gift Aid every £ you donate is worth £1.25

GOOD DAY

Tuesday, 13 December, 2011 by Jez Bond

Lots of meetings and lots of things bubbling away that are starting to come to the boil. Amazingly it was the first day that I felt 'wow, I'm not behind with emails etc' - yes, I know, always a bad sign; it usally means that a storm is brewing.

STARBUCKS

Monday, 12 December, 2011 by Jez Bond

Starbucks, Victoria Street, London. Not the most glamorous of meeting places, but a handy one for both Sean Mathias and me. Over some hot chocolate we chatted about the key fundraising priorities for the theatre over the next vital few months - and it was wonderful to see Sean, like our other Ambassadors, fully engaged in the process. Despite his hectic commitments next year, he will host a party on site, invite friends and colleagues to our fundraising launch and help me write letters to other potential supporters. We're also looking to secure some big names for these events - watch this space! So much to do, but with support like this I know it's possible. 

REMAINING OPEN

Friday, 9 December, 2011 by Jez Bond

Must we always be remain open to everything around us, to possibilities, to the potential of an open door? It's true that it you close yourself off from the world, if you don't send out the right messages into the world, then the things you want to happen aren't just going to come to you. So should I feel guilty for switching off on the tube? For five minutes of Angry Birds, for zoning out for a few moments? Should I be sitting riding the Victoria line sending out Park Theatre's fundraising needs to the carriage of strangers? You know I probably should, but I just don't have the energy to do so every day. That's why I'm determined that over the next few weeks we build the number of Ambassadors, we build the number of people on the board and we generally beef up the power of the team. Having Annabel with us is already a great benefit. We need to continue building in more senses than one - we're going to need to work together and tremendously hard in order to achieve our goals.

SITE SPECIFIC

Thursday, 8 December, 2011 by Jez Bond

A site specific promenade show in Shoreditch Town Hall today, with my friend Hugh Ross playing a simply awful human being. He's lovely in real life, honest! We walked from room to room, with action happening continually around us and the atmosphere was dark and intriguing. As we were finally ejected onto the pavement at the back of the building nobody quite knew whether the show was really over or not. Tomorrow it's on to safer pastures - where one can sit in a theatre seat and watch a show from the comfort of the shadows!

CREATIVE ISLINGTON

Wednesday, 7 December, 2011 by Jez Bond

We had a successful networking event this evening, hosted by our lovely neighbours John Jones. 25 or so people came on a site tour of the theatre (whilst a similar number attended a tour of John Jones - well worth the visit by the way) and then around 90 people convened in John Jones' gallery space for wine, talks and a short extract from the play that our writer in residence Sarah Rutherford has been working on. The evening was attended by some key figures from the council including the Major, Phil Kelly (a local ward councillor), Paul Convery, the Executive Member for Leisure and Regeneration, and the Arts Office, Pete Courtie. It was extremely exciting to hear, from everyone, the plans for the future of Finsbury Park - and it's clear that the area will be changing significantly over the next few years.

NAUGHTY

Tuesday, 6 December, 2011 by Jez Bond

I didn't write a blog today. For the first time in.... over a year.... ever?..... oh dear... so much to do! 

NEW DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR

Monday, 5 December, 2011 by Jez Bond

We're very excited to welcome Annabel Topham to the team! An incredibly talented, intelligent person with a delightful bubbly personality and tremendous energy, we have no doubt that Annabel will be a valuable asset to the Park family. 

It's lovely to see some donors coming forward after all our recent tours. There are loads of ways to get involved and support us and now with Annabel on board we will be sure to power full speed ahead with our fundraising.

You can see her photo and biography under the staff page and if you'd like to talk to her about supporting us, then she would be delighted to meet with you.

On the last blog I wrote about exceeding targets for the tours - well now you can each help us to exceed our targets for our fundraising. We're going to have the most amazing building - and with all of your help we can ensure that the very best work happens both on stage and, through our community and education programmes, off.

EXCEEDING OUR TARGETS

Friday, 2 December, 2011 by Jez Bond

Earlier in the year we set ourselves a target of showing round 250 theatre companies / producers / directors by the end of this year. I'm pleased to announce that we have exceeded this target and will have shown round almost 300 by Christmas. A week tomorrow is the final group tour - an exclusive one for the NE London branch of Equity. However today was the last of the general industry tours for this year - and, across two groups, we showed round fifty people; including some West End producers and drama schools. 

The drive now over the next few weeks will be on the fundraising. Very tricky of course with Christmas looming - as people tend to focus on their own personal family commitments during this time. 

All the steel for the third floor has now been erected on site - and next week they begin on the fourth and final floor. I'll be sure to post a photo soon...!

BIRTHS, DEATHS & MARRIAGES

Thursday, 1 December, 2011 by Charlie Ward

I enjoy a good switchboard as much as the next man: the automated selection system and synthesised Wagner are enough to brighten up any winter morning, and this is particularly the case with a local government hot line.  I sometimes detect a certain wariness when I get through to an operator, almost as if I might be calling the council because I want something from them.  I do, and so the game is to make me somebody else's problem.  Each call is like a little tour of their extension list.  'You'll want to speak to Gary', I'm told, but unfortunately Gary never wants to speak to me.  It's like my fourteen-year-old love life all over again.  When I've done a full circuit of the office, they resort to desperate measures and forward me to The Answering Machine of Doom, from whose borne no message has ever returned. 

Until yesterday, that is, when I received a surprise call.  'You left a long message on my answer machine', he says.  'But I'm not quite sure why you're ringing me about your theatre.  You see - I work for Births, Deaths and Marriages.'  Not the Arts Officer, then?  He pauses and has a think.  'Arts...  Arts...  You know, I'm not sure that we do Arts anymore.'

101 DALMEMAILS

Wednesday, 30 November, 2011 by Jez Bond

At 2pm this afternoon I counted the emails that had been pouring in since 8.30am. Over 70 - and, amazingly, I had just about been keeping on top of them. By 6pm it was over 100. It's always like that on days in between tours, the buzz seems to be superstrong and traffic starts to pile up on the information highway. It's hectic, but at the same time fun - knowing that we are sparking such interest. Melli said that over the course of the day she received proposals from theatre companies throughout the UK, Australia and... Utah!

It's gone 10pm now and we've just finished a fundraising meeting. Time to.... relax a little before bed... and time to eat some chocolate....!

NEW AMBASSADOR

Tuesday, 29 November, 2011 by Jez Bond

A busy day on site today - with two industry tours and two local residents tours and meetings in between. The result of the lunchtime tour was a long chat, over 'breakfast', with director Sean Mathias - who, we're very excited to announce, joins Celia Imrie and Roger Lloyd Pack as an Ambassador for Park Theatre. Sean and I are meeting to chat about the way forward in the next week or so. So more on this anon.... Suffice to say there are some exciting opportunities for us all!

BUSY WEEKEND

Monday, 28 November, 2011 by Jez Bond

A busy weekend with an evening party, a lunch party, a rehearsal (with the kids I teach) and a show at Waterloo East Theatre. In the midst of all this, two more funding applications done. Today we're sending out five more and preparing for more site tours tomorrow...

APPLICATIONS

Friday, 25 November, 2011 by Jez Bond

Loads more applications today, so many to post out and so many emails to respond to that we still haven't plugged the new website in all the social media. I'm waiting for a time when I can dedicate 30 minutes (at least) to plastering over Facebook and Twitter and, ideally, sending out some emails. 8.30pm and typically it's still go go go here at base camp. Both Melli and I furiously working away. For her there's a week of tour left to arrange and emails still fly in every hour with new people wanting to join...

MORE TOURS

Thursday, 24 November, 2011 by Jez Bond

Whoah. I'm getting exhausted from these site tours - but, at the same time, it's great fun. Between the morning and afternoon sessions we showed round another 40 people today. Fun to point to the bay window which now proudly sits there in steel awaiting its floor and glazing. 

YOUNG VIC DIRECTORS

Wednesday, 23 November, 2011 by Jez Bond

Today we did a workshop for a group of 25 Young Vic Directors in Short Street (opposite the Young Vic). Following our many site tours (more tomorrow) it was a refreshing change to present our plans in a different space and context. Here we delivered a workshop looking - in a similar way to the transmission workshop I ran a few weeks back - at the changing styles of theatre and auditoria forms over the years. We concluded that there is a need for an extremely intimate theatre now... enter Park Theatre (and our presentation).

WELCOME TO THE NEW WEBSITE

Monday, 21 November, 2011 by Jez Bond

Well, it's been a busy year for us at Park Theatre. As we fast approach Christmas, we will have toured round over 250 theatre companies, directors and producers, we will have the majority of new steel in place and we will have launched our fundriaising initiaives.

We have been working with the wonderful 'Feast Creative' over the past few months to develop a brand. We've come up with an identity of which we are very proud and I write today's blog, for the first time, from the new website.

In a couple of weeks we will have, back from the printers, our Development Pack, which will list all the ways that people can help to support us. If you'd like to know how now you can go to the Support Us page..... you could be the first person to buy a seat!

NEW WEBSITE A MATTER OF DAYS AWAY

Friday, 18 November, 2011 by Jez Bond

Exciting times. New website days away. Development pack the same. A private launch to our board on Monday evening and then the public unveiling to follow shortly after.

OFFICE PARTY

Thursday, 17 November, 2011 by Jez Bond

If you’re expecting a night out sitting in an auditorium watching a play on stage and you’re not able to adapt your expectations then Office Party at the Pleasance just isn’t for you. If, however, you fancy a non-traditional theatrical experience, a few drinks, some laughs and perhaps the opportunity to make some friends then this is just the ticket! I won’t give it away for those who haven’t seen it but suffice to say it’s enormous fun, full of surprises and I highly recommend it.

BIT BY BIT

Wednesday, 16 November, 2011 by Jez Bond

Bit by bit today things have been getting closer to the finish line.

On site I witnessed the fitting of some of the steel that had been delivered by the crane yesterday. Like a giant jigsaw puzzle it’s all starting to take shape. The hoarding at the front has received its first coat of red and a new ramp has been erected inside, to take the new steels up half a storey to the back of the building on the upper ground floor.

THE CRANE

Tuesday, 15 November, 2011 by Jez Bond

The road was closed and the crane arrived…. Wow!

Sadly I did not make it to site today, with so much happening ‘back at the base’. Such a shame as I would have liked to video some of the manoeuvres. At least Jordan kindly emailed through some pictures.

NO TRUTH BENDING REQUIRED

Monday, 14 November, 2011 by Jez Bond

A lot of work spent on grant applications for the Education Floor today. We are about to submit our second and, hopefully, as the week continues more will flow…

It’s taken so long getting to the first one but that is apparently just the way it as; as the initial stages involve the most work – in our case re-drafting the business plan, creating a Case for Support and preparing answers for the array of questions that funders can ask.

SEASON KITCHEN

Thursday, 10 November, 2011 by Feast Creative

This evening four of us went to Season Kitchen for, shamefully, the first time. The restaurant opened earlier this year and, judging by reviews online and by the fact that it was full tonight (luckily we had booked), seems to be doing incredibly well. And so it should be – the food was delicious, the service was great, the atmosphere was just right and the bill was very reasonable (we could have well spent double in a lesser restaurant in the centre of town. A great little find – I shall certainly be spreading the word.