Crying Out Loud Blog

Üsküdara Gideriken
When Going to Üsküdar

Üsküdar’a gider iken aldi da bir yağmur
When going to Üsküdar, rain started

Katibimin setresi uzun eteği çamur
My scribes’ coats are long, his skirt is muddy

Katip uykudan uyanmış gözleri mahmur
The scribe has woken up from sleep, his eyes are cloudy

Katip benim ben katibin el ne karışır
The scribe is mine, and I’m the scribes, hands will mix

Katibime kolalı da gömlek ne güzel yaraşır
How much it suits my scribe to have a starched collar

Üsküdar’a gider iken bir mendil buldum
On the way to Üsküdar I found a kerchief

Mendilimin içine lokum doldurdum
And I filled the kerchief with Iokum (Turkish delight)

Ben yarimi arar iken yanımda buldum
When I looked for my helper, I found him at my side.

Katip benim ben katibin el ne karışır
The scribe is mine and I’m the scribes and hands will mix

Katibime kolalı da gömlek ne güzel yaraşır
How much it suits my scribe to have a starched collar

With excitement surrounding the build up to tonights opening night I observed the tech and dress run of What If. Seeing the whole piece from start to finish including the installation showed just how much this weeks rehearsals have payed off. The piece is atmospheric and moving, all the elements coming together to create Layla Rosa’s very personal vision.

One thing I have found interesting observing two weeks of rehearsals is the way that, in a piece combining so many different art forms it can be a challenge to unite these elements. Whilst the artists vision remains the most vital part of the process it is interesting how technical elements can add or take away from this. Although Layla expresses a wish that the installation videos could be more of an installation which the audience walks around I think it works how it is. The turning off of the screens creating quite a dramatic moment in itself, focusing the audiences attention on the stage in preparation for the performance to come.

The piece draws the audience in till you find yourself immersed in the music and movement. The Jacksons Lane theatre space fits this perfectly as the audience is close enought to feel the emotions of the performers but far enough away to enjoy the overall visual image of the piece. Excitement and anticipation surround tonights opening performance and if you don’t make it along tonight i recommend you don’t miss this exciting performance.

I sat in on some of Monday’s What If rehearsal today and was amazed at the transformation of the space. Having worked on Strings last week the Jacksons Lane theatre now looks completly different for the performance of What If. With the screen taking centre stage and a rope hanging elusivly at one side of the stage even empty the space looks ready for performance.

Today I saw the different aspects of the show really working together, the music, dance, circus, song and visual effects blend together surprisingly well. Layla is clear about what she wants which I think comes from the fact that the piece is so personal to her. There is a real feel of this about the rehearsal, everyone seems invested in this work and doing it justice for Layla.

The space and costumes are very powerful and even at this stage where the performers are walking things through for technical cues I can see the Layla’s message is a strong one and she uses many elements to portray it. The Burka’s effect the performers movements somewhat, especially on the trapeeze and it is important to consider that women who wear Burkas cannot show their legs. It is clearly important to Layla to maintain this attention to detail from costume details through to the movements themselves.

Although What If has been performed before the new space will add something different to the performance. It is an exciting work which I think will surprise and enlighten audiences later in the week. I recommend the post show talk on Thursday with Rupa Huq for anyone who would like to learn more about the piece and Layla’s ideas behind it.

Last week I worked as an Intern with Crying out Loud and got to experience the rehearsal and development period for Strings on Strings. It was amazing to see Layla at work with the technicians and the performers. The first day focused on the technical aspects involved in the piece such as lights and smoke…I watched as Layla and Mike and Joe tried to create the perfect state with lighting and smoke to evoke the ‘other world’ feel of the smoke below the ropes.

Layla’s focus was on how to keep an installation feel to the piece in this new space, it seems that performing a piece in a different space effects not only the performance but also the relationship with the audience and overall feel of the work.

Watching Layla rehearse with the performers I noticed a real attention to detail in the work. The movement worked perfectly with the musical score. The floor space and the ropes seemed to become a character’s in themselves as the performers interacted with the smokey space and I began to understand the nature of the work further. Moments of silence and stillness added together with the score and beautiful ariel choreography were really coming together.

By the end of the week it was clear that the different aspects of the work- live music, performers, lights and the smoke all had to come together in order to portray something to the audience. This was something very interesting about watching a work develop over the course of a week. The development period opened up new aspects of the work and the fusion of all the elements working together to create the artists vision.

Having seen the development of the piece so far I think Friday and Saturday’s performances will be exciting, I for one will be looking forward to getting the full effect of this new piece in the theatre at Jacksons Lane.