Article for 2014 Jan 27

2014

2014 Jan

Jan 27 Mon

On the 4th and 5th of March, Chester’s children’s drama-group Jigsaw are performing “The Firebird”, based on a Russian folk story about a prince who tries to procure an apple-stealing bird while avoiding getting captured himself for his own thievery. I know Jigsaw are doing this play because I’ve been deeply involved with them in this since the first rehearsal, even more deeply than last year when they were putting on “Ghosts of the City”. Yes, I am going to be comparing “The Firebird” to “Ghosts of the City”.

You know me as a writer. I’ve written the words to four songs for the show (two-and-a-half more than I wrote for GotC), and I think they’re pretty good songs. (Yes, I know I’m biased.) Watch out for lyrics like “The fruits that form upon each branch are lovely, lush, and luscious”, “I just want to spend forever with you”, and “I saw them returning from their quest! Returning!”

You know me as the main designer of Duncan’s Childhood Blog. I will soon be designing the programme, and I’ve designed the poster advertising the show (as I did for GotC), and Jigsaw’s director says it’s the best poster I’ve yet done. (Yes, I know there are only two.) My Firebird poster is on the right, and you’ll see the programme either at a performance or on Duncan’s Childhood Blog afterwards. Both, I hope.

You may know me as an assistant director, if you read my articles about GotC (2012 Sep 22 and 2013 Feb 08). And I am assisting the direction of this play too. I’m leading small groups; I’m writing down new stuff happening in rehearsals (I told you I was a writer); I’m helping kids with their line-learning and diction.

And I find it brilliant. The land of Jigsaw is lovely and lush indeed and I want to spend forever doing stuff as amazing as this. Every week I’m glad to return there (it sure beats doing maths homework), and I hope the kids share my enthusiasm... actually, I don’t need to hope, for I know most of them do. They’re great. They’re lively, they’re focussed, they’re creative and well-mannered. (And the supervising adults are impeccable too.) You know this means it’s going to be a terrific play - make it your quest to see it!

Here’s the Chester Chronicle’s take on rehearsing “The Firebird” and their review of the show.