1st post 25th January 2010
After having directed Peter Hutley’s play at Dundas Castle for 5 years and other venues around Scotland, we had always felt that the play would be great in the States but no matter how we tried, it just never seemed to materialise until 2009 when Sir Jack Stewart Clark’s Marketing Manager met the Assistant Warden from Angola – the largest penitentiary in the States and they shared the vision for the play. Cathy from the prison thought it would make an excellent project and we began visits and discussions.
In April 2010, I will go to the prison to begin setting up the project with a team of inmates who will act as the Steering Committee. We will decide on the venue within the grounds, plan the construction of a lake and walls of Jerusalem as well as begin casting and rehearsal schedule.
The play itself will be performed in May 2011 and will be open to the public. A film documentary is also planned.
This is a huge challenge but a very exciting one – the prisoners proclaiming freedom to the world! Fabulous!
2nd post – 18th March 2010
Well, plans are underway for the visit in April. Whilst I am there, I will work with the prison and inmates to get everything set up and then see how we proceed. To get used to my Scottish accent, I have suggested they listen to The Proclaimers! All very exciting. Will be interesting to see how it all goes. I am busy collecting images and plans to take with me and emailing the very large “How to produce a Passion play” so that I dont have to take that in my luggage! Just received my tickets and have about 7 hours in Newark Airport before flying to New Orleans – any suggestions as to what to do for 7 hours welcome!!
3rd post – 6th April 2010
Having just finished the large scale open air promenade production in Edinburgh, I am now concentrating on the US visit which looms next week. Been in touch with Angola and have a provisional plan for my time there which is great. I will be meeting the guy who is going to be Associate Director and together with the others we will plan the next step forward. The rodeo will be on when I am there, so it will be great to witness that and see the potential audience! May 2011 seems a long way off but it’s really just a year till the production and a lot to do! I will take some rehearsals when I am out there and we will no doubt cast. Would be great to have an army of Roman Soldiers, a colony of lepers, a teeming market place – cast of thousands!
4th post – 19th April 2010
So – today I should be well into plans onsite at Angola but due to the Iceland volcano, those plans have been totally changed! The whole visit will have to be rescheduled. Really frustrating and disappointing but nothing we can do. Hope to go out in the Summer now – time is running out, so it is essential that we begin the planning and put things in place. Will keep you posted!
