Toni has also blogged beautifully about Halloween at Nostell
If somebody asked you if you wanted to spend 3 nights of your half term holiday in some freezing cold, pitch black attics of a manor house that hadn't occupied for at least 70 odd years, more than likely, your answer would be, 'No, thank you'. However, now I can't imagine spending my holiday doing a better project!
Halloween at Nostell has been a great opportunity to be involved in something a bit different to the usual projects at Yew Tree. In the attics, there were no lines to learn but just directions to follow and adapt.
I think I speak for everyone when I say that from the first Saturday evening rehearsal to leaving Nostell Priory on Thursday night, every moment has been utterly enjoyable!
The first full day at Nostell included seeing the attics for the first time. Even in daylight, they seemed quite eerie but they were very interesting to walk around. We had our first go at doing what we'd set in the rooms, while the plants came round, before going back down to the stable block for lunch. Afterwards we experimented with our skills and ability to scare people by telling ghost stories in small groups. They were done very well from my point of view. Sam and Libby had stories that linked together only to make it more unnerving but our groups particular favourite was when Daisy had a power cut and lost her wifi. Later on, we got into costume for the first time, while Beth G. covered the zombies and murderer in fake blood. Seeing everyone in costume was great! Before the day had ended, we all went into the orangery to see how the children's play "What a Witch" had come along, which was fab!
By the time we were going up to the attics for the first time in the dark, at the end of the second day, everyone was full of excitement and nerves for the first tour, having just played a game of Ninja Warrior with no lights. We knew the attics would be different in the dark but for those who hadn't done the project before, it was quite a shock. However, after the first few tours and words of encouragement from older cast members, I think a lot of us surprised ourselves. I fefinitely did! I wasn't too sure how I'd react in the attics alone but I was never really alone. There was a hole in the corner of the wall that went from my room to the zombie room, another on the other side that went to the poltergeist room and the vampires and stewards were just outside on the corridors and kept coming every so often to check we were all okay.
There was nothing better than the feeling of hearing somebody scream or making someone unnerved and once the first few tours were underway, the time seemed to fly. Before we knew it, we were being lead back down the stairs and were leaving for the day.
On Wednesday, the first performance of What a Witch was to be held at 11 o'Clock. It had come along an absolute treat, with an excellent performance from Beth G, Bobby and Dee. We were all given different roles within the performance, whether it be town callers to advertise the play, front of house staff managing the desk as people came in or being plants to help the children become more involved. After the performances and an hour or so of games, it was time to go to the attics again.
I've had an amazing time doing Halloween at Nostell and it's given me a chance to make friends with some great people! If anyone was nervous up in the attics, everyone was extremely supportive and gave words of encouragement in a sibling like way and by the end of the project, on Thursday night, Jack made a comment saying we're not just a team, we're more like a family, which shows how much projects like this can do. I'd like to thank everyone involved for making this project what it was, and it's times like these that make me feel really proud to be a part of Yew Tree Youth Theatre!
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