Day 14 - Our influence spreads (well, maybe...)

Evening', all.

Today has actually been a largely uneventful day, so this blog post will be quite short (quiet, you lot cheering in the back).  After running around seeing lots of shows yesterday - as you were all well informed by Naomi - it's been quite nice to have a relaxing day.

So, this morning Ronan's sister came to see the show, so there was a little family reunion there - she also used to live in Edinburgh, but I doubt she ever saw anything like 'Norman Shadowboxer' whilst she was here!  Much of the day was spent flyering, and whilst the rest of the company went to see the excellent 'Bane', I spent some time updating the website - particularly to include our reviews.  Huzzah!

Whilst out and about today, though, I did spot a couple of interesting things in shop windows...

The house model is made of cardboard - and inside is a lamp, incredibly similar to the shadow boxes we use in the show.  Unfortunately I didn't make a note of the shop this was in the window of - but it's pretty close to our venue, so I'll pop along again tomorrow to find out, and take another look.

The cityscape is also made up almost entirely of cardboard, and is one of a number currently on display at Schop  - an art gallery based just off the Royal Mile in Edinburgh.  The attention to detail is fantastic, and is yet another reminder of just what can be done with something as simple as cardboard.


Anyway, the reason I'm showing you all this - other than showing the amazing things you can build from cardboard - is because the childish part of me is imagining taking Norman to these places, and acting out a Godzilla-esque scenario where our hero towers above the world he inhabits.  If enough of you think it's a good idea, I'll pursue it


To be fair, that's probably as good a time to end as any.  Mainly because my delirious ramblings are suggesting I need to sleep.  Goodnight, world!

- Dan

Day 13 - Massages and reflections (but mostly massages)

If you've followed the wise words of our producer, Dan Baker, on this blog, you'll know that he was planning to see lots of shows today - eight, in fact! Eight!! So, today...I...Naomi O Kelly...am your SPLOGGER.

Today we have more energy. Note to self, though: Dan and I agreed, on our wee* walk to the venue this morning, that in future a day off during a fringe run would be A Good Thing. This year, we have no days off, and it's tough. (* Note my effort to seem Scottish.**) (**We met a TV man from Newcastle today who was very proud of having a tartan print notebook.)

The show went very well. We're now using a Frank Sinatra version of "The Girl from Ipanema" for when the audience enter and exit; This is referenced when the Spanish mosquito (a character in the play) hums that tune during the story; The adults in the audience often get the joke, which is lovely!

Other lovely things:

Lovely thing: Today we discovered a wonderful review of our show, from reviewer Jo Caird for Fest magazine.

"Norman Shadowboxer is the company’s debut show, but you would never guess it, such is the understated brilliance with which this sweet story is told."

Here's the full review: http://www.festmag.co.uk/reviews/180-norman_shadowboxer

Lovely thing: While we were lunching at the Udderbelly, a woman came by who is selling massages at the fringe, and massaged the bejaysus out of each of us (except Dan, who was off seeing his eight shows.) She left us light-headed (in a good way), and also told us about a clown show we should see. Her name is Lynsey Tash.

Lovely thing: Ronan (Artistic Director) and I went to a fringe symposium about children's theatre yesterday, where we listened to More Experienced Children's Theatre Makers, and where I laughed a lot with a few people over slightly too much red wine afterwards. Certain folk have promised to come along to the show and give us feedback. Fantastic.

 

I'm asking some soul-searching questions about our show after that symposium, including: Is Norman a children's show, or is it a show that children just happen to enjoy, along with their parents and other adults? How much does this matter? How might this affect how we market the show, and how we create our next show? Are we courting the "children's theatre" thing, or should we make a show and then ask ourselves who would like to see it?

Lovely thing: Ha ha ha, this is so funny: We (EmptyBox Theatre, except for Dan, who is seeing eight shows right now) have been in the sitting room for the past two hours, watching TV and generally relaxing; I've just realised, however, that three of us are sitting on the floor, simply because one of the two sofas is already occupied by two  puppets!

Goodnight, all.

- Naomi