Post 2: FIrst Steps

Hi all, 

So where did the project come from and where does it stand at the moment? The initial idea for the show cropped up in 1999 but then really came to the fore in 2003. Since then I've been thinking about it, and in 2005 I started to practically develop it.

The piece is a triptych of three pieces: Appreciation, Repeat After Me, The Nominees Are. The project had originally been conceived as a single piece, but soon split into the three parts, for reasons of structure, content, and development.

The parts were then tested out in work-in-progress form at various venues. Appreciation has been tested twice at Leeds Met Studio theatre on heir scratch nights. Repeat After Me was tested as a solo at the 'Performing Literatures' conference in Leeds and then as a duet at Emergency in Manchester. The Nominees Are was tested as a piece called There are a few people I'd like to mention at Perambulator in Bradford.

I then put out an open call for collaborators, which attracted a really strong response and I asked the following people to become involved in the project: Kevin Egan, Rachel Gomme, Suzy Harvey, Gillian Lees, and Michael Pinchbeck.

A number of documents had then been supplied to the team including:

• Atlas (List of books, films, music, fine art, and other influences on the project.)
  
• Encyclopaedia (Document explaining where the ideas for the project came from and how they developed.)
  
• Script for Appreciation (Part 1)
  
• Script for Repeat After Me (Part 2)
  
• Draft funding application.
• DVD of works in progresses of Appreciation and Repeat After Me.
• CD of music.

So now the project is seeking funding and partners, and the creative team are looking at the material sent to them in their spare time. 

Best,

Phil.