'If music be the food of love...play on'

Good afternoon all!!

So this week, we discovered we will be accompanied by live musicians for the run of our production. Incredibly exciting!! But for most of us, it is our first time working with a live band. So just what does this have in store for us? What better way to find out than talking to our very own musical maestros....musical directors (and also cast members) Emma Duke and Dominic Rogan.

"Hi Dom and Emma! So first, tell us, what has your experience of being 'musical directors' for Nell Gwynn been like so far?"

Emma - It has been wonderful to be a part of such a hardworking group of actors. To be MD’ing with Dom is incredibly rewarding; we have seen everybody grow so much in confidence musically, which is especially great as we have a diverse range of musical backgrounds and experience as a cast.
Dom - It's been a great experience as Emma and I have been using the skills that we've previously gained as singers and musicians and applying them in a new way so that we can teach the rest of the company. It's the kind of thing you don't usually get to do when your just a singer.
Emma - The music rehearsals have been a great ensemble activity as well, as we get to work all together as a cast, as we are cast members as well as MD's!!

And what do you think of the music and lyrics for 'Nell Gwynn'?

Emma - The songs are a joyous part of the show, including some fantastic comedy moments! The style and instruments we are using help colour the world of the show and the period we are transported to. They are all very catchy too, so be prepared to be singing them all the way home.
Dom - It's a fantastic score that's been married beautifully with the script and gives the play an additional layer of entertainment!

Have you faced any challenges so far along the way?

Dom - The main challenge has been the complexity of the score when compared to the experience of the company. The music itself has some beautiful period harmonies but these can be challenging even for trained singers, let alone a company that has only been singing together for a few months!!
Emma - We have called extra rehearsals and created support material such as recordings of each of the harmony parts to ensure everybody has what they need to practise during the week. As we only have Saturday’s and limited rehearsal time, we have all had to be proactive and honest individually about what we might be struggling with, so that Dom and I can help and support. Getting your head round this type of complex choral music is not easy and so it really is impressive what we have all achieved together in under 5 months!
Dom - I have to say, I've been so impressed by the work ethic of the company and the sound is really starting to come together.

So tell us about the live musicians, what sort of music and instruments will there be?

Dom - I believe we will be accompanied by keys and a string quartet, some of whom are members of the Royal Philharmonic orchestra!

And how does singing with a live band compare to singing with a pre-recording?

Dom - From personal experience, there is nothing like singing with a live band. They add a whole new dimension to the performance, really help to drive the music and add so much depth to the sound.
Emma -  Working with such talented and professional musicians will be an absolute joy for all of us. We have just begun organising rehearsals with live instruments as up until now we have been using piano backing recordings and it will be a significant adjustment for us as a group. This partnership between us and the musicians really allows for much more musical flexibility so we can enhance the dynamics of each song and create some gorgeous moments.

That's all for this week folks!
Come back next week for more...
Ticket details COMING SOON.

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The cast of Nell Gwynn

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