How remiss of me!

I got so carried away with Summer I forgot to mention the delightful young lady who brightened our days during her work experience with Aesop's.
Sythey joined us for a week in July and after spending a day in the office gaining an insight into the running of the business, she joined the actors on the road.
Her time was well spent assisting with get ins and outs, introducing us to schools, and helping with Drama Workshops.
Judging by her eagerness and enthusiasm I guess she really enjoyed the experience.
Sythey is one of many placements we have had the pleasure of meeting. Each one has brought ideas of their own, reviewed our plays and provided useful input.
We look forward to receiving another one in 2011.
Thanks again Sythey.
Bye for now.....

New School Year Ahead

Sorry for the long delay, but even we have to take the occasional break!
Summer is virtually over. We have dealt with the "crazies". That is those who want us to write a play, costume it, prop it, compose the music, rehearse the actors, etc. etc. and then perform it once for 50 kids. Oh yes, we do get asked.
Talking of actors, we have two new ones joining us for the next year, and maybe longer. I am sure Caroline and Laurie will enjoy being with us. They are currently heavily into rehearsals. and their profiles will soon be appearing on the "actors" page.
We are hopeful that the Government cut backs will not cause schools to curtail "live drama". We all recognise what an important part it plays in the education process.
Bookings have been coming in for the first and second terms of the new school year which confirms my belief that teaching is not at all about long holidays and short days; our business has taught us that the teaching profession demands a great deal of effort, work and preparation outside of school hours.
On the subject of which I must get back to some preparation of my own.
Until the next time....

Basking in the Sun

I have to admit I have been enjoying the final arrival of Summer so much I have been lax in keeping up the blog.
The end of the school year is rapidly approaching and, sadly, we shall be losing Mike after some two and a half years with us. He feels the time is now right to move on to something different, and we will be wishing him every success furthering his acting career. I have no doubt that his natural talent will carry him far.
Next month will be devoted to rehearsing two new actors, and I will tell you more about this next time I write.
Yesterday was great fun as we performed "The Gingerbread Man" to a packed audience at the Amphitheatre on the promenade in Folkestone.
We had envisaged all manor of disasters that might befall us, including being swept out to sea. But the day was perfectly still with bright sunshine. In fact, the only real danger was sunstroke!
Since I last wrote, as well as schools, we have been busy at a number of theatres, including Lauderdale House, The Riverhead in Louth and The Landmark in Teddington: all to big audiences. Next weekend we will be back at The Hub in Verwood.
Now I must busy myself checking rehearsal schedules.
Until the next time,
Albert.

We Don't Do Crazy!

I will start this comment with an apology to my readers if they feel offended in any way by what follows.
At least once a month I am guaranteed to receive an email on these lines.
"Hello, we are a school in (Slovenia) and we are proposing a day dedicated to the thousands of workers who have contributed to making our country what it is. We should like you to come and perform a one hour play for our 60 primary children on the subject of achievement. Is this something you can do? Many thanks SV"
Now this may be a touch extreme, but I am making a point.
We have a very active website that provides in depth information on the plays and workshops we perform. Nine plays are current and have to be learnt by our actors.
So do I reply:-
"Yes, of course we should love to write, prop, costume, music, choreograph etc. etc. a play to perform just once to 60 kids. I can give you a ball park fee, but somehow I don't think I will hear back from you"
Or do I just bin it, and with a sigh recognise this is now the silly season?
Until the next time,
Albert

That was the week, that was!

In this business the one thing you can be sure of is you will be breaking your neck to meet commitments during National Book Week.
Christmas may take some schools by surprise. Oh, should we have booked earlier is heard only too often in early December.
Never so for N.B.W. Oh no, we are already being asked for next March, and we have yet to recover from this one.
Now the one thing of which you may be certain is that the schools that book early will be in the most remote and inaccessible locations. Motorway! What motorway? Try and find one in Suffolk. Of course there is the M11, or motorway to nowhere as I prefer to call it. Dumped in Cambridge and then what? You may try the A12. Okay to Ipswich, but thereafter watch out for moving haystacks.
Not that I am complaining, business is business. But it would be nice to have the occasional lie in say, to 6 a.m.
Oh, must remember to get to bed early tonight, have to be up at 5!!!

The show must go on.

A few days ago the coolant light on our V W Estate came on with a warning not to continue driving. The problem was clearly loss of coolant, but no indication from where, and the temperature gauge did not register a problem.
The only free time available to sort it out was Thursday afternoon. Unfortunately, our regular dealer could not accommodate us but, thankfully, Martins of Camberley came to the rescue.
We scurried over on Thursday afternoon and, after a pressure test, got the news we were fearing-radiator leaking and must be replaced immediately.
By now it was around 4pm and Martins could not guarantee they could effect the repair that evening in case they hit an unforeseen problem.
What now? The guy on reception was most helpful and suggested Kendall Van Hire close by. Needless to say it was pouring with rain, but a kind lady, also on reception, drove us there. Within no time we were fitted up with a van and on our way.
Martins finished the job on Friday and we picked up the Estate Saturday morning. There was no charge as it was done under guarantee.
Now whilst this is a pretty boring story, we did have the pleasure of joining the ranks of the most hated and feared road users, albeit our van was blue and not white.
It was probably clear to those around us that we were not truly professional van drivers and that alone was sufficient to install terror in their minds.
Anyway, all ended without mishap, and our aching necks and backs have left us feeling somewhat more sympathetic towards white (and blue) van man.

Recession, what recession?

If anyone out there is looking for something before Easter I may be able to fit you in in the afternoon of 19th March, provided you are near Reading, where we have 2 shows booked for the morning. Yes, we really are that full.
Now you are probably thinking next week is half term so there's the break. Forget it! Next week we are performing "Billy Beware!" at 7 Children's Centres and "Gingerbread Man" at 3 more, all laced with a sprinkling of Drama Workshops. And, to cap it all, we are back at Blacheath Halls on the Saturday with "Robin Hood rescues the Forest".
Not that we are complaining. Actors want to act, and I want to keep paying the ever increasing bills.
Have to go now. Got to sort out the VAT!