How to rehearse with a large community cast?
Rev Janice Hamilton was director and producer of the West Cheltenham Passion Play. Although she had never directed a Passion Play before, rehearsing with a large volunteer cast was an insightful and exciting journey.
How did you start rehearsing?
We worked through the scenes backwards and started at the end with the crucifixion scene. So each time we met I would give everyone tea and coffee and get everybody to introduce themselves. Over time we would have new people there or old people not there, so we always introduce who you are and what you’re playing. Then we would read the script around.
But before that I would do a thought for the day. So I’ve either something that if I’d been but as I’d read it through the script before hand in preparation. Something that would come to mind or something that I’ve been reflecting on. I’d always make it really clear that I’m aware that this is not everybody’s faith. Not everybody prays, and that’s absolutely fine. But this is a space for us to have a think and a reflective time, and if you want to pray and do so, and if you want to just sit with happy thoughts, that’s also fine.
We approached rehearsing from a Christian viewpoint with no apologies for that, but also allowed the space for people not to feel uncomfortable.
How did you read through the script?
When we read through the script together I would say, as you’re reading. Think about the emotions, think about what you want the audience to experience. What are we hoping to generate with those that are watching. Think about the interaction with one another. What’s going on here? Is there anything you don’t understand? Is there any any backstory that we need to think about to understand what’s going on?
So we would read it, having been directed to those questions, and then afterwards discuss in the group. Sometimes depending on the size of the group, depending on how many people are in the scene, we would have a huge group. And sometimes it was a small, or broken into smaller groups to discuss with the people near you.
How did you discuss the script?
We would discuss the emotions of the characters and we would talk about anything we don’t understand or that we need to explore. People had a few different interpretations, and it was great. Everybody just really took part in that discussion. I loved it!
There was one young seventeen year old from a non-faith background. He’s probably used to this sort of thing because he does drama,. He had all sorts of insights that you know from a non faith background, and yet really understanding the story.
Some people obviously came from a very faith based, you know. With preconceived ideas in a sense, but it was good to be challenged and have a new angle to something. Then bearing in mind all those emotions, we would actually stand up and be vaguely grouped and read it while they were there. Then we blocked it.
I learned new terminology! So we would block it out depending on the scene. The crucifixion scene was huge and we didn’t manage to get through the whole thing in one evening, but for other scenes we were able to get through the blocking in the evening.
If you want to find out more about rehearsing with a large volunteer cast, you can find more information in our other blog posts. If you want to join a large volunteer cast and experience rehearsing and performing the Easter story, you can search for a Passion Play near you. Our trustees would love to help you set up a new Passion Play so if you know people who would form a core team to get started, please contact us for help and support!
