Show Blog: "Falling Up Stairs” isn’t as painful as it sounds.
Katherine Ramdeen is a student at Studio 58 who will be acting and co-creating a piece for Risky Nights #2 entitled Falling Up Stairs, directed by Chris McGregor.
I think it takes a willingness to be open, a sense of absurd humor, and an agile body to find the fun and pleasure of it. I’m taking the time to write you on one of our days off (every Monday). Now in the beginnings of our third week of rehearsal/discovery, I feel like I’ve been working with these people for years. In some cases, my relationships with my fellow actors do go back a couple years, in 2008 when I first started the 3-year Acting Program at Langara College’s Studio 58. In other cases I’m realizing new friendships with new friends, as well as my first experience working with a director from the community, Chris McGregor, and assistant director Emma Slipp.
Every day something rather magical happens in SU032. I’m constantly finding myself being pushed to and beyond my limits as an actor, performer, and human being. It’s scary, exciting, nerve-wracking, and most of all, fun! Delving into the world of clown has me re-writing my definition of what clown is and who I think I am. These preconceived notions of what I am and what I’m capable of are constantly, yet friendlily bombarded by Chris’ way of expanding our minds and sense of play.
Hours have been spent on exercises where a full commitment to the mind, body, place in space and connection with others is tested and re-tested, and mere minutes are spent creating dialogue for each other and then throwing it on stage with minutes to prepare, just to see what sticks and what doesn’t and how we can make it work. It’s amazing to realize that theatre doesn’t have to be something that some depressed drunken poetical genius spews out on a dark and stormy night, but it can fumble from the minds of young artists under a quickly ticking clock.
I’ll be taking my day of rest and appreciating the downtime, but am overzealous to be thrown into the unknown tomorrow!
Risky Nights runs April 6-11 and you can find more info here.
