The rehearsal period of this play was a most unique, challenging and strange phenomenon for all of us. Scotland was still in a form of social distancing when we started rehearsing with only three families able to meet. Consequently our initial reading and casting readings took place online via Zoom.
We were eventually able to rehearse in the Drama Room but under strict guidelines wearing masks, using the Radio Room and Landing at Islesburgh as a waiting room and some rehearsals only taking place with one or two people. And the room was always freezing!!! with windows and doors open regularly. Rehearsing in masks for two hours is not easy either.
Covid was always there in the background but eventually it struck ...... Stephenie our Director caught the virus and others were required to isolate if a household member caught the virus.
We are very lucky to have some IT savvy members and Martin Summers and Cheryl Cluness were able to set up a link for Stephenie to direct from her home. This was her view .....
.... and this was our view in the drama room. Were were still at the blocking stage when this happened so it was not easy for Stephenie or ourselves to determine moves etc. but ..... we did it!
Sometimes there were not enough of us to rehearse, so those who were able met to go over lines.
This has probably been the most challenging play in the Drama Group's recent history against the backdrop of the Virus and socialising restrictions. There were many times in the play when we would normally have hugged, touched each other, etc. but all those emotions had to be achieved in another way.
The daily testing was rigorous and each member of the cast will tell you how as we neared the performance and indeed during the performance that daily test was unbelievably stressful. But we achieved the final performance which I think we all thought was amazing in the circumstances.
Photographs: Martin Summers
