Breeders by Ben Ockrent

WE HAVE HOPPED, SKIPPED AND LEAPT INTO 2020

WE HAVE HOPPED, SKIPPED AND LEAPT INTO 2020

Happy New Year!

2019 was a big one for The Green Room Productions. Being our 10 year anniversary we chose to start our season with the amazing (world premiere!) play Someone, Somewhere by Pat Davis. This was the true story of 22- year old Jessie Earl, who disappeared from her flat Eastbourne in 1980. She was a 'missing person' until 9 years later when her body was discovered hidden in dense undergrowth on Beachy Head. We worked with Pat and Jessie’s parents, John and Val, to bring this story to the stage. We all invested our hearts and souls into this production and we are incredibly proud and honoured to have produced a piece of theatre that impacted so many people in so many ways. It was a very moving experience for those onstage and off, and I know that those of us who were involved in the play will ever forget that time. When we collated all the emails, comments and letters we had received to give to John and Val, there were 10 A4 pages! We are hoping for some more news about Someone, Somewhere in 2020 so watch this space.
***** ‘Simply stunning’ *****’

Breaking Bad (Theatre) News With Baby Animals

Breaking Bad (Theatre) News With Baby Animals

These are shortened and much more condensed descriptions of what were, at times, heart-stopping theatrical nightmares! Each one of these situations was eventually overcome and - thank goodness - solved without the audience suspecting a thing. But for those of us backstage, on stage, or out front we all gained a few more grey hairs on those days.

I am 100% sure there is no ‘good way’ to give this kind of news to anyone involved in the theatre. There never seems to be time to even fully digest what you have just been told because as soon as the news is delivered a plan has to be made (usually extremely quickly) as to how to combat the issue. The time to fall apart is post-show in the bar. But maybe the blow would be softened by some of these gorgeous baby animals delivering the news. What do you think?

Buns Glorious Buns!

Buns Glorious Buns!

When I look at the props list of a forthcoming play and I see that it has some rather unusual props on it, I actually get quite excited about the challenge. However, Steve Darvill - a member of our company who quite often helps to source the props - will probably say his heart sinks! Over the last two or three years it seems that a number of our productions have contained unusual props. We have had to hunt for some quite bizarre items - but more of that in another blog. Our next production, Breeders (What’s On in Eastbourne), certainly has some ‘weird and wacky’ props. The play centres around Santa Lucia Day and I was intrigued to see that Saffrons Buns were included on the list. Having no idea what they were I hopped over to Google to find out more and ended up delving further into the subject than I first anticipated. So, for all you bun lovers out there (said the actress to the bishop) read-ahead!...

2009 A Theatre Throwback – Where It All Began In Eastbourne

2009 A Theatre Throwback – Where It All Began In Eastbourne

On 1st November 2009 I formed The Green Room Productions. Our first play was The Collector, based on the book by John Fowles and set in Lewes.  It was a two-hander starring Tim Bond and Leah Mooney.  Leah is still an integral, and founding, member of the company - these days you will find her in our tech box, lighting our productions.

My first task was to find us a venue. The (then) Headmaster of Willingdon Community School along with the drama teacher very kindly allowed us to use their school drama studio to perform and rehearse in.  We cannot thank their staff enough for the support and generosity they gave us in those early days, which enabled the company to grow and flourish.