Will Lockey and Them Next Door

Friday:

I can't believe that the show is already tomorrow! It's 10:30 pm and I can't get to sleep I'm so nervous.

On Monday I arrived at the millennium hall full of anticipation for the week. I was unsure how the week was going to play out
as the group is much younger in this P.I.A.W. I was certain about one thing though, it was going to be a crazy, weird, and wonderful week and I was going to get to see my bezzies!

This P.I.A.W is been based on 'The Twits', the gruesome book written by Roald Dahl. There are so many great characters and events to be inspired by in The Twits so I thought the week was going to be easy enough - just a funny play, right? Well boy was I wrong! This week has been the most difficult out of all 14 other performance projects I've taken part in with TVYT. (and yes, this is going to be my 15th performance. Yay!)  

We welcomed a new practitioner this week named John, who specialises in clowning! Now TVYT, as you may know, isn't too experienced in this field of performance, but it was going to work in this play.

By clowning I don't mean dressing up in a multi-coloured Afro wig and bright red nose, but just behaving like a clown. John taught us that when you're clowning, you don't really know what's normal and you are basically a bit stupid!

To be honest most of the group (including me at first) were unsure about it because it was all new. I think we were just a bit worried that the whole play would be us being clowns… but I think some of the best bits of the play are clowning: like Maisie's scene with Thomas, and definitely the hilarious double act of Phoebe and Katie! It's definitely taught me to never dismiss new things and just go for it!

This blog will have been put on the website after the show so for those who are reading this and have watched it then good for you! Those who are reading it and didn't watch it then this is for you!

Them Next Door is set in a village hall that people have been squatting in and it's for sale. Each room has different, crazy characters such as: Adidas, Elise and Barbara. My character is a very deadpan and seemingly dim estate agent, he is pushed around by his boss, George, who loves money! Don't worry though - I stand up to George in the end! It is really difficult for me to do this character because it is way out of my comfort zone, I usually do extremely energetic characters. I was really encouraged to try something new which I think is going to pay off as my character is, in my opinion, really funny!

This week most people have been completing their Arts Award Explore, but I have been an Arts Award advisor because I completed my Arts Award Explore in the last play in a week - The Birds Stop to Listen. Being an Arts Award advisor means that it was my job to help people if they were stuck basically! I also had experience with Bronze Arts Award which I completed this year which helped.

Right, I'm gonna go to sleep now but keep reading for what I write tomorrow, talking about how the show went!

Sunday:

OMG I CANT BELIEVE THAT IT'S OVER!! :(

When I walked in yesterday morning the set was AMAZING! The walls were covered in wallpaper, there was a dining room table covered in disgusting leftover food, there was a mattress and car seats for the living room.

We performed three shows back to back and they all went better than I thought they would! The audience weren't shy when we had to interact with them, which is great!

I'd like to say thanks to Helen and John for directing and that I had a great time!

See ya, Will :)