Some credit for the Black Company...

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It’s difficult to know what to write about as there is just so much Yew Tree Theatreness going on. I’ve had so many brilliant moments at youth theatre this week and equally it has been a week full of challenges. Sapphire are struggling towards consistency, their high points are an absolute pleasure if they could always work at their best they’d be breathtaking. Green are well on their way with their new project and inspired me to start writing their script after their session on Monday. Gold are trying to attain the excellence they know they are capable of and the read through of “Shooting Truth,” was a delight to be part of, so full of potential. And those are just the things I’ve done…there are two versions of 12 days of Christmas in rehearsal, Crimson are in the final throws of their rehearsals for Cinderella and the writers are preparing to be all ready for their sharings at Nostell Priory and Open Mic Night.

However I think I’m going to focus the remainder of this blog on the Black Company because they don’t really get enough credit. The sheer talent in this ensemble is something that deserves recognition. On Thursday they not only had to adapt their version of “Lost Happy Endings,” but they also started devising their next production, “The Princess Blankets.” It seems that whatever is thrown at this company they just deal with it and what’s more they deal with it whilst being lovely. What I appreciate the most is that they are utterly dedicated, that they have used all their considerable Yew Tree experience to embed excellent principles and ethics of working process and performance style and that they are without ego. They are in fact a unique unit of artistry and integrity and because they neither take this for granted nor revel in misguided complacency they are both a pleasure and a privilege to work with.

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