WE PROMISE BALTIMORE...

that we will never forget!

The final performance is happening as I write.

It has been emotional and enthralling, exhausting and highly entertaining from the very first audition through to curtain up on this, the last night.

Let's hear your thoughts as we enjoy our final trip to Baltimore...

Performance Number 2 is underway!

We're in the middle of Performance Number 2 - the hall is packed and the excitement levels are high! Let's hear how you're doing...

Leave a comment!

Primary School Matinee - check!

Performance Number 1 - the 'Primary School Matinee' - went off with a bang - literally! Ok, there might have been a little bit of smoke, perhaps a little bit of fire but it's a rumour that any of that was real - those things are just metaphors for Mr G's fiery wit!

It was a great first show which really gave the cast and crew a taste of the excitement and adrenalin which comes from seeing all their hard work come to fruition and we've still got three performances to go so it's going to be an absolute stunner by Thursday night.

There was a lot of fun back stage as props flew around the wings, costumes burst and armies of Year 6 pupils were marched around to the far-flung functioning toilets by the editor and some excellent Year 6 navigators.

And on stage, the cast dealt with the inevitable first show wobbles like professionals, sung their hearts out and delivered their lines with ease. They were joined at the beginning by a group of pupils from West Acton, singing 'Good Morning Baltimore' - what an uplifting start to what promises to be a fantastic run!

Well done to all of you on an amazing first performance - I asked our audience what they thought as they left...

'Amazing'

'Awesome'

'Wicked'

'Great fun'

Now you can't say fairer than that!

Three days of rehearsals later...

Who says all the action takes place on stage?!

Behind the scenes there is a team of dedicated, hardworking and sensible (well, perhaps not always sensible) teachers who dedicate a lot of time to the show while still managing to teach and generally keep on top of the world too!

Ms Greer has bravely taken on the job of costumes (reaching for the baton from Ms Campbell) and she can often be seen sitting in the corner surrounded by kids searching for lost ties or fat suits with different forms of padding in them!

Ms Bhachu, Ms Davies and Ms Idros are in charge of sending our cast straight back to the swinging 60s with big hair, bright red lips and a rainbow of eyeshadow.

Ms Wood, Ms Reed, Ms Binsley, Shanai, Julia and Lizzy are showing their strength by magically transforming the stage from Edna's Occidental Laundry into the Corny Collins T.V. Show set and then into Motormouth's Record Shop - no mean feat!

Ms Elstone ... well, she's like some sort of winged creature who swoops in, averting disaster, mending wonky set, sticking props and people back together, provides tea and then swoops out again, back to T2 to talk about vocabulary and non-linear narratives.

And as for me ... well, Ms Fletcher and I have to make sure that the cast have all the correct props - not an easy task when you have to deal with missing crowns, vanishing hairspray cans, and, of course, ensuring that Lauren has the right flavoured lollipop!

But it's not all hard work! Lots of fun and laughter has been had backstage - as well as lots of Haribo sweets (well, the staff need something to keep them going!) It's almost time for curtain up on Performance Number 1 but it's not too late to buy tickets to come along and see the 'Nicest Kids in Town'!!!

Ms Martin

We're nearly there...

'The world's spinning fast now' and we've nearly reached the very first performance - primary school matinee tomorrow morning, here we come! And, just because at EWS we don't like to do things by half, we'll have another performance in the afternoon.

The cast and crew have had three days of intensive rehearsals and teching. Here are a few high (or low) lights:

• Mr G being electrocuted.
• Mr G being attacked by scenery.
• The editor being attacked by exam desks.
• 'You can't stop the beat' sounding fabulous by the end of Thursday!

Ok, so that all sounds dangerous, rather than exciting (except the great singing, of course) but I'm sure those of you who were there can fill me on on some more interesting details. Oh, I hear Vanstone and Gillingham were a bit tense too but, really, that's to be expected - they'll be on seriously good form by the time that first, exhilerating performance gets under way, don't you worry.

And the big question:

Are we ready?

We'd better be!

There's no turning back now Guys and Gidgets. Get your hairspray cans out, sort out those 'dos and join us!

P.S. Email the editor or leave a comment with your 'rehearasal best bits' - sharing is caring (actually, it's more about revealing and gossiping but something has to keep us going while we teach, plan, mark, revise, catch up on work and wait for the first performance!)

The Roquettes!

The band have now been christened - introducing ... The Roquettes!

And a message from the band leader, that cool chick who is Ms Beaumont:

'The Madison was really starting to rock tonight and the monkey was getting quite funky! Laura W was a true professional. Surely a radio station will have to hire her after this show!'

So guys and gidgets, it'S LOOKING good and SOUNDING good...

GET YOUR TICKETS IN THE FOYER AT LUNCHTIMES!

Good Morning Acton!

Today was our Sunday rehearsal and, while much of West London may still have been in bed, the cast and crew of EWS Hairspray 2011 were in the school hall early, awake and raring to go (ok, not everyone was early, not everyone was awake but we were all determined to do our best, however we chose to demonstrate that!)

With the help of some fabulous wigs, some of the cast were transformed to become 'Big, Blonde and Beautiful' and we really did say 'Welcome to the 60s' with some fabulous costumes (Nice one Ms Campbell!) - it's all starting to look rather convincing.

The indomitable Shanai has returned to us and the stage crew are whipping everything into shape and getting everyone organised for their entrances and exits (I didn't see Ms Wood eat a single sweet all day - serious dedication!) and with Ms Martin and Ms Walsh stationed in their props emporium a variety of weird and wonderful things are finding their way onto the stage - mostly at the right time (stay awake cast!) - and no one can prove how many doughnuts there were at the beginning of the day...

It's time to come up with a new name for the band for this year, but even without a suitably 60s-esque moniker, they are really swinging. "I can hear the bells"? Not over Mr Sidali's drums which are 'bangin' and have kept everyone in the mood throughout the rehearsal.

Vanstone and Gillingham have been super cool all day and you can see it in their eyes - there's still a way to go, there always is but they're starting to smile, they're swaying a little, enjoying the buzz we all start to feel at this stage and they know... it's going to be good. Very good!

Well done all - Link's got it wrong, it doesn't "Take Two", it takes the whole righteous lot of you and you're all going to be bitchin!

This was the best Sunday rehearsal we've ever had...

Bring it on!

Tiffin, Scones, Doughnuts, Flapjacks, Binsley's Buns

The title of this post is, of course, a reference to the most important aspect of the set-building process - tea break! Despite the many treats on offer though, we got an awful lot done! Here's a link to some of the photos taken during the set-building days:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ellen_wilkinson_photos/sets/72157626737800633/


Well done and thank you to all who helped to make tea, paint flats, screw bits of wood together, make tea, draw signs, move furniture, attach records to bits of wood, make tea, clean floors, look after babies, drill holes in bits of wood, make tea, paint canvas, cut bits of wood, make tea and eat cake!

You were amazing!

Hey Guys and Gidgets! Get yourselves out of solitary confinement and down to school - it's set building day! Every year, a team of dedicated staff and students dare to leave their homes in natty clothes Amber Von Tussle wouldn't be seen dead in and get themselves covered in paint and tape and dust and glue.

Two years ago set building was dominated by the creation of 'Rupert's Spaceship' for Moon on a Stick; last year was all about nostalgia with familiar props and costumes recreated for Bedazzled: Ten Years, One Great Show

And this year? This year is all about cool. Sixties cool. So get yourselves down to school for glitter, gizmos and the odd 'goddammit' (well, we can't expect everything to go right on set-building days). And much, much FUN!

If you can't make it (humph) send your encouragement through comments here.

Oh, and did I mention I made fridge cake for the crew - just in case you need any further encouragement...

Auditions, Accents and Duvets

The last play I was in I was wearing a duvet and a tin foil crown; granted I was only six at the time. I knew of the summer shows held in our school but I never went to any of the auditons - due to the fact that we only perform musicals and I am as agile as a brick and sing like a pigeon being killed by a cat. But this year I tagged along after a recommendation from my drama teacher. I was surprised at just how seriously we take our musicals. Hundreds of hopeful Billy Eliots showed up for first day audtions, all ushered into the canteen to stretch their ligaments and gurgle water. I remember the total horror that befell me as I was pushed through a dance assessment and vocal test - knowing that any chance I had of getting through to the next level was very slim.

When finally it was my turn to show my acting abilities, I was greeted by an even bigger challenge... the American accent! Standing with script in hand and my co-star at my side, Mr Gillingham asked,
"Can you do an American accent?"
To which my only reply was,
"No"
But I could do a West Country accent and my co-star could do a very impressive Irish one. After about a minute of this, both the assessing drama teachers declared, "enough!" while trying to restrain hysterics.

I was sure that I had no chance in hell of even being allowed to clean up after the show, going by my audition, which would have been best suited for a part in Poldark. But to my surprise, one day while wandering past the drama block, I caught sight of my name on the call back sheet ... and here I am, almost two months later and playing the part of Wilbur, the father of Tracy.

This whole experience has taught me that you really musn't underestimate your abilities (and that you can overestimate the standards of others!) I do beg forgiveness of all of you who are coming to the summer show - I have a duet and an American accent that goes all over the 52 states.

By Siana Brett

The "wobble"

It is that time of the production process when everyone begins to worry. Year 10s have been off on work experience, Year 11s and 13s have exams, we haven't started building the set yet, not everyone knows their lines, we are eating too many biscuits.

It must be the annual Performing Arts Wobble.

It happens every year. I remember quite a bad case during Moon on a Stick when I considered leaving the country for somewhere hot, only to return after it was all over.

But the thing about the Wobble is that it is temporary, even necessary. We need the Wobble to remind us all of how much there is still to do. We need it to remind us how much we all want the show to be a success. We need it to be able to look back after the triumph that is the first night of the show and laugh at why were worried.

So if you see me around, furrowed brow, frantically sipping a cup of tea made by Julia, I am okay. I am not worrying.

I am wobbling. And that's okay.

Gillingham

Julia makes the deadline for writing her post... (and practises her touch typing)

How about an update? Everyone likes an update!

So, rehearsals are going well; we are now into the singing and dancing stage of rehearsals, which gives Lizzie a well deserved rest. Everything is slowly starting to come together, though if you look at Mr Gillingham's face at some points during the rehearsal, you would think that the background had just fallen down on the actors. (I personally think he is on the edge of a breakdown during the whole production process). But, fuelled on a seemingly endless amount of tea and biscuits (all bought or made by myself and Lizzie I might add) we are managing to get through. It's shaping up to be a great performance!

Now, all we need to do is figure out the lighting...

By Julia Parissien

Editor's Note: Please be assured that the set will be securely attached with Ultra Clutch during the performances and that Mr Gillingham is fine (as long as he has had his tea...)

"I Can Hear The Bells!

And they're telling me there are only 30 days left until our first performance!

The First Blog is the Deepest

We're here! Well, actually, I'm here and it has taken me a while to get here, so, Guys and Gidgets, I should make the first blog a good one!

However, it's very late and I fear I may not succeed. There, now you're feeling sorry for me and you'll be lenient.

EWS has an amazing history of stunning productions, led over the years by Ms Vanstone, Mr Gillingham and their team, in various incarnations. And now you're part of another show, another year, another family.

We started the tradition of 'blogging', sharing rehearsal videos, and making dramatic trailers featuring Mr G. sounding incredibly dramatic and important, with the huge hit Moon on a Stick, two years ago and it was a really powerful way of bringing the cast together, raising awareness of the show and, come on, this is what we really have to be about - SELLING TICKETS!

It works because you are the best people to share what is really going on behind the scenes; you're the best people to drum up interest; and you're the best people to say what we're really all thinking about Mr Gillingham's dodgy accents (have you noticed that they invariably end up 'a bit Devon' in the end?) and Ms Beaumont's wickedly funny comments.

Here comes the cheesy bit before I fall asleep or get sucked into watching Indiana Jones for the hundredth time.

We're all in this together and we're having a fantastic time (no really, we are!) It's tough, it's exhausting, it's frustrating, achingly funny, rewarding, exhilarating and jolly well bleddy worth it. So we may as well share it - with our friends, our family, the whole school, THE WORLD!

Ok, I'm getting carried away and need to go to bed, but seriously, let's spread the word, have a great time and sell those tickets for what will be a fabulous show!