It’s hardly surprising that in these difficult times when people are trying all sorts to keep themselves entertained, we theatrical types are turning to the theatre to help us. In fact, we have found that engaging in play readings over video call is so helpful, so much fun and such a nice way to spend time together while apart that we wanted to recommend it to our followers as a great lockdown activity.
Here are the things we think are so good about it:
A Fun Distraction
Not only is play reading great fun, because you really have to concentrate on it, it means you can’t think about anything else so it provides a great escape from everything that’s going on. Our gang have had a great time reading comedies to make them laugh but also very absorbing serious plays that give them something different to think about.
Step Outside Yourself
Play readings like this don’t just give you a way to escape what’s going on, they also give you a great opportunity to step outside the parts you are usually cast in or to have a go playing a character that is totally different to you. We have had young women reading the parts of old men, older people reading the parts of children and everyone trying out any kind of character that interests them. It’s been a really enlightening experience not just to see what it’s like to try such varied parts but also to see what such diverse casting can bring to these parts.
Try it Out
Sandra, in particular, has found these play reading to be a great opportunity not just to see what people can do with so many different parts but also to give plays a go out loud before performing them. Generally, she reads plays herself before deciding whether to put them on but she’s found that reading them out loud, even over Zoom, gives them a whole new dimension to the point where she is considering putting on plays she hadn’t been sure about before. She has found it to be so useful in helping her to choose plays that she’s planning to keep doing video call play readings after the lockdown has ended because it means she can ask anyone she knows anywhere in the world to read parts to provide new perspectives on the plays.
Keep Your Hand In
It’s not just new plays we’ve been reading either. If you were rehearsing a play before the lockdown and are planning to put it on afterwards, it’s really helpful to stay on top of your lines with play readings like this because we’ve found we’ve lost our lines scarily quickly! We were due to put on Five Kinds of Silence the week the lockdown was announced and when we had a line run recently, we found that we could only remember about 80% of the lines so it really is important to keep them up or you’ll be starting from scratch with learning them.
If you’d like to talk to us about theatrical activities during lockdown or about any of our upcoming productions once lockdown is over, please use our contact page to get in touch.