Happy New Year - a look ahead into 2008

Firstly, Happy New Year. We hope your 2008 is full of twists, turns, surprises and successes.

We are staring at a calendar trying to work out where the months are going.

2008 is set to be a busy and exciting year for Random Accomplice.

We are currently collaborating with Douglas Maxwell, script writer, on a new production called 'HUMBUG'. This is scheduled to arrive later on in the year of 2009.

Meanwhile, we are currently seeking funding to stage our new script 'REUNION' in February 2009. Some lucky people may have caught a reading of this a few months ago after a script development week at the Tron.

Alsol, we have just started our residency in the Harbor Arts Centre in Irvine. We are working with the youth theatre classes and a writing class. Together, we are working to a production, provisionally titled 'MaryMass(acre)' which is set to be pe performed in August of this year.

Johnny and myself are currently directing the Youthworks Drama production 'Burying Your Brother in the Pavement' at the RSAMD.

So that's January for us, we pretty much have our year mapped out for us. We'll keep you updated with any performance dates/ new projects in the runs/ parties we know about.

Kevin Wratten

The Water-Babies

Julie is about the begin rehearsals for the Arches Theatre Company's upcoming performance of 'The Water-Babies'.

This classic piece of children's literature will be staged at The Arches from 5th December > 6th January at various times throughout the month. Check out http://www.thearches.co.uk/WaterBabies.htm for information on times and dates.

Be sure to attend this magical piece of theatre....

Kevin Wratten

Well folks,

Time has flew so fast and Johnny's run of 'Little Johnny's Big Gay Musical' is over. It ran for 4 sell out nights at The Arches and has been getting a lot of positive reviews from the press.

Thank you to everyone who supported this production and we hope you enjoyed the performance(s).

What's next, I hear you ask?

PANTO!!

As time draws nearer to Christmas, it's time to enter Panto Land. No, not just Panto Land.... 'Johnny's Panto Land!' Johnny has had the quill pen in hand and has written his very own rendition of Cinderella, which runs from the 28th November > 29th December at the MacRoberts Arts Centre in Stirling. (Flyer below)

Thanks for reading,

Kevin Wratten

Staring at a shoe box

It's that time of the week again for a blog update.

We are looking at a shoebox. A scaled shoebox the size of The Arches studio theatre space. We are looking at the scaled model of 'Little Johnny's Big Gay Musical' set.

Meanwhile;
Johnny is working hard to memorize the 40 page script -- the joys of the one man show!
Julie is busy choreographing and blocking the show.
Karen is busy carrying her keyboard around and editing the score.

I am currently advertising, learning the art of networking and putting together a portfolio.

No time for pausing, it's already 12.36PM in the day!

Be sure to join us on the opening night -- 31st of October @ 8pm. Since it's Halloween -- why not dress up?

Kevin Wratten

The rehearsals begin

That's right folks; the rehearsals are underway for Johnny's new show. As time ticks down to the performance, we are at work refining and editing scripts, compositions and Julie is in full choreographic swing as she teaches Johnny the classic box step. Will it make the show?

Whilst in these rehearsals, one has the urge to burst suddenly into song. So far I have managed to contain myself.

Get your diaries out. Check your email. Open your snail mail.

'Little Johnny's Big Gay Musical'
Wednesday 31 October 2007 > Sunday 04 November 2007
8pm
www.thearches.co.uk

Over and out (for this week).

Kevin Wratten

There's a new 'Blog Boy' in town

Hi,

I’ve just embarked a six month internship with Random Accomplice and thought a nice place to begin would be with an introduction.

My name is Kevin Wratten and I’ll be doing my best to mediate the weekly happenings of RA onto this virtual hyperspace that is the Internet.

Right now, music rings our ears as we enter rehearsals for ‘Little Johnny’s Big Gay Musical’ which will be performed in The Arches from 31st October > 4th November. Be sure to join us – sequins optional but advised.

Stay tuned and remember to clean your PC monitors weekly.

Kevin Wratten
Random Accomplice Blog Boy

Every cloud has a silver lining....

Disappointing news at Random House after discovering that current project REUNION was not successful in the current round of funding at Scottish Arts Council. Obviously we were really excited at the prospect of touring again throughout Scotland early next Spring. However we have dried our eyes, washed out our snotty hankies and stopped feeling sorry for ourselves - after all every cloud has a silver lining...

REUNION is the story of 6 people returning to their Secondary School reunion with disasterous results. Last week saw an informal reading of the show at the Tron Theatre with a fantastic cast of Cora Bissett, Gordon Brandie, Mary Gapinski, Paul Hickey, Allan Sawers and our very own Julie Brown. Feedback from the audience was extremely positive and we are now geared up to get this out on the road. It promises to be a performance that delivers both in laughs and poignancy. We'll keep you posed.

Johnny x

Summer Nights

Things are starting to kick off again here at Random House. We've barely even got the dirty laundry washed after our fantastic time in Prague when its back to work on more projects. Late June saw us working at the RSAMD with the BA (Acting) course on our new project REUNION - which we hope to tour in 2008. It was a great few days and has really got us excited about the next major tour.

July now sees us even busier - Julie is currently housed up in the Arches working on the annual Circus Summer School while I'm up at RSAMD directing new musical theatre project 'Hinterland.' After that its straight back into the rehearsal room to start on the Big Gay Musical. It's all very exciting - we'll keep you up to date!

Johnny x

Czech-ing Out

And so the bags are packed, currency ordered and suntan lotion applied (just in the off-chance that its sunny when we land). We are off with LITTLE JOHNNY'S BIG GAY ADVENTURE to the Prague Festival after playing a few dates in Glasgow and Stirling (lovely audiences at all). Whilst over in Prague the Random's are also working with the Playwrights Studio USA on new readings of both American and Czech writers (very exciting). We'll be sure to fill you in on all the gossip whilst we're out there!

Love J and Jx

Here's Johnny

After a few weeks stuck in the basement armed and dangerous with only the script from Little Johnny's Big Gay Adventure, the show opened at the Arches last week. Thank you to everyone who attended the show - the reception and feedback has been really positive. For anyone who missed the show (what were you doing? Watching Eurovision? Hang your head in shame!) we still have another Scottish date this week at Stirling in the MacRobert Theatre (8pm on Wednesday 16th May). It would be great to see you there. After that the Random are off to Prague. We'll keep you fully posted in any mischief that happens there!

Take care
Johnny x

Project Recast - Development Week

Julie and Johnny had their second week of funded development provided by The National Theatre of Scotland Workshop on ‘PROJECT RECAST' in February 2007.

The work-in-progress questions whether someone else could live your life better than you do. What does humour aim to hide? Do we always have to face up to the truth? Oh yes and, of course, what are the consequences of sex?

“Julie grabbed her jeans from the floor and hustled into them. Hating to be undressed in front of Johnny already thinking, “Oh no, oh fuck! Shit what have we done…”

There to help try answer some of these questions were Andrew McKinnon, taking on a directing role. Actors and recasts Stephen Docherty and Jill Riddiford, Playwright Douglas Maxwell, David Sneddon and Dave Shae who were contemplating design and other technical issues. Producer Ruth Ogston and Shona Miller (intern) were also happy to help. The week raised a lot of new ideas not least Johnny and Julie adding RP (in)abilities to their CVs.

Signed Shona

Something Wicked Workshops

Random Accomplice are now offering Workshops to accompany their production of Something Wicked. These workshops draw upon the practices of drama educationalists such as Jonathon Neelands, Tony Goode, Dorothy Heathcote and Peter Slade. All three workshops have been created by Shona Miller, intern with Random Accomplice.

HUBBLE, BUBBLE
This workshop is suitable for higher, advanced higher or HNC level drama students. It would be of particular interest to students interested in creating their own work particularly of a comedic genre. It focuses on the structures used within Something Wicked and the devises that were used to create the work. It is a practical session that should leave participants feeling not only empowered to create but also be able to talk critically about theatre.

THUMB PRICKED
This workshop is created for higher drama students. Ideally rolled out before students attended “Something Wicked,” the workshop aims to develop a clearer understanding of the themes within the show. It looks as the use of drama as a tool to widen the participant’s social development. The themes investigated are relationships, guilt and grief.

GOODBYE MAMA
This workshop is designed to be run after Higher drama students have attended a performance of Something Wicked. It gives the students a chance to investigate the themes and dialogue contained within the performance, particularly focusing on the idea of Private vs. Public Personae. The workshop challenges the student’s writing, directing and performance skills, as well as furthering their understanding of the performance.

If you would like further details, or would like us to deliver these workshops please do not hesitate to email us at: mail@randomaccomplice.org

Signed Shona x

Random Accomplice in Dolls House Terror Plunge

Hello Randomees - as Autumn approaches that 'leaves' us no choice but to update you on our Summer festivities. No sun, san or Sangria stories but instead preparations for our Scottish tour of Something Wicked beginning rehearsals in September. But more of that later.

We've just completed a development week with the National Theatre of Scotland Workshop. The week was a collaboration with Phelim McDermott (Improbable Theatre), playwright Douglas Maxwell, Random-Regular David Sneddon, and new to the team, Ruth Ogston and Dave Shea. Headed under the soon-to-be-changed-cos-we-couldn't-think-of-anything-better title of PROJECT RECAST we've been looking at how we remember things. Or don't in Julies case. (See Julies coupon opposite for something you'd rather forget!) Can you remember your first day of school or do you remember what your mammy told you? Do you remember your first kiss or do you only remember the moment leading up to it? We've discovered that we can barely remember what we had for breakfast but can still recite the rap section of Club Tropicana.

During the week we also (re)discovered a love for the classics - Ibsen, Strindberg, Brecht and Bobby Brown's 'Two Can Play That Game.' Could the Randoms make a show just like those classics and still keep a flavour of our delightful charm? Time will tell....

Random Accomplice on Tour

Exciting developments at the Random House. We're escaping Glasgow to tour around Scotland. Goodbye Sauchiehall Street, hello fresh air!
2006 will see Random Accomplice on tour with sell-out performances SOMETHING WICKED and LITTLE JOHNNY'S BIG GAY ADVENTURE. Keep posted for details.

Arches Scratch Night

Just thought we'd let you know that Julie and Johnny are planning on presenting a 10 minute performance entitled RESOLUTION as part of the Arches Scratch Night, Tuesday 24th January at 7.30 pm (Pay What You Can). It's just over a week away so get that date in your diary! **

They're trying to perform together again, its been a while (1 year, 4 months and 1 day to be precise). He now thinks he's an International solo artist, because he managed to sell out for one night last year with Little Johnny's Big Gay Adventure and his face was on a poster during the Prague Fringe Festival. She thinks she's an International accomplished actress because she got a character name and biog for Something Wicked and managed a trip to Turin to "network".

Together something should happen. They have to make it work, but for some reason they can't. Johnny's too busy trying to get down to a 30 inch waist (aided with his trusty You Are What You Eat monthly magazine) and Julie's trying to eat her body weight in Quality Street.


New Year, New Insults, New Random Accomplice.


** Start from Scratch. See what happens. You have ten minutes...
Following the success of the Arches' first ever Scratch night in November 2005, Random Accomplice along with Hoachin' tushie, Graeme Alexander-Young, Kirstin McLean and Al Seed get their ideas in gear.
Post-Scratch, offer your opinion in the bar.

Image by Iain S Hales