Gorgeous Avatar by Jules Horne

Avatar on Tour - Dumfries

West to Dumfries: the show transfers to my (sort of) home territory as part of the annual Arts Festival. Dumfries Theatre Royal is Scotland's oldest theatre building, with links dating back to the country's well-loved bard, Robert Burns. It's a helluva squeeze to fit the set into the tiny proscenium arch space - not because the set is too big, but because the entrance doors are tiny, and lead through a convolution of corridors that challenge even the bendiest bits of set (and technical team). Eventually, it's fitted together, but it's a close-run thing - no time for a thorough sound and light check before the audience is already filling the auditorium. So it's no surprise when - 21st century spots plugged into ancient circuitry - the lights blow just a couple of minutes into act one. It's a couple of minutes before the audience is totally sure the murky lighting isn't a daring directorial decision. Meanwhile, Actors Pauline Knowles and Phil Hoffmann - admirably cool and measured - keep on with a new, spookier version of the show, with only backlighting to guide them. Eventually, assistant stage manager Gemma calls a halt, and the backstage team sort the problem. Any swearing and sweating is kept under wraps - at least, as far as I could tell, from out in the audience. The show goes on under the watchful eye of Rabbie Burns, whose white ghostly bust perches high on the wall.
And afterwards: a post-show discussion in the bar. Quite a few local writers turn up, including a couple of young filmmakers about to shoot their first short. We talk about the differences between film and theatre writing, and Suzanne (Grahame, literary development officer) talks about how writers can get their work read and developed.
Meanwhile, everyone else is busy with the get-out. It takes until well after midnight. Then we scour the streets of Dumfries for a (very) late-night pub, a quick half, then home.

posted by Jules Horne @ 5/30/2006 07:03:00 PM