Rehearsals...

As mentioned in yesterday's Blip, today were final read-through rehearsals with scripts, at Salisbury Arts Centre - and their Scriptwriting Group, the Doo-Dah's. (Yes!).

These are pro actors, or drama students and they get these scripts on the day, ie two hours before this final rehearsal, and is also the first time the director sees it, the scriptwriter, or anything! Directors are pro's too, working at a local level.

Eight short brand new scripts - the theme had to be around 'current affairs' - were acted tonight - about 70-80 people from the general public pay a fiver (a lot of regulars, now, too) for about 2 hrs with interval and such, not bad value for a freezing February night! Cost you more to stay at home....

I stayed for this actual showing and hob-nobbing with them after (as you do!). I've been doing this for about 3 years now, mostly as a favour to the organiser, whom I've been good friends with for a good while. Oh, there's a major buffet - seriously good home-cooked grub - for the cast and writers - and photographers!

I used the same lens for theatrics that I did here which is a different performance and venue - the Sigma 24-70mm f2.8, as the actions takes place all around you. However, for this close-up, the Nikkor G 85mm f1.8 was used. Here it is unsharpened.

I had to quickly choose which to edit, for Blip. I shoot loads - I've no idea what's coming up next, so have to keep the camera to my eye almost all of the time. Do that for 1.5 hours and that heavy (nearly 1kg, on its own) Sigma 24-70 and you know you've done it! Light levels are quite low and we always keep the images in colour - which goes against the old tradition of theatre.. Images are used by the venue and the organisers, in brochures and online, - the actors too will always want good publicity shots of themselves.

The coats are not because the venue's cold - there are almost no props so basic dress, accessories and chairs have to be the 'scenery'.