Graeme Sanders

It's our first student blog this week!
We kick off with the lovely Graeme Sanders.

GRAEME: 

" I play George Pepper in The Red Peppers, Bill in Still Life and Mr Wadhurst in Hands Across the Sea.

This will be my third production with ATS and is definitely my most challenging so far. My roles variously require me to sing, dance as well as act and use a variety of accents all whilst rising to the challenge posed by the pace, wit and timing that Noel Coward’s writing demands.   

Red Peppers

George Pepper is one half of a husband and wife vaudeville double act who ply their trade in the regional theatres of 1930s pre-war Britain. George is convinced that the humour and all-round entertainment value of their act is of the highest calibre (after all the act was good enough for his mum and dad to perform) – his wife Lily is not so sure. Set during a single night in a small British regional theatre, The Red Peppers charts George and Lily’s volatile relationship with each other and the theatre management which starts backstage and threatens to follow them through the curtains and on to the boards…

George is a driven, single-minded man, intent on continuing to perform the tried and tested material of The Red Peppers no matter what anyone else’s opinion may be.

Still Life

Bill is a solider and a bit of a wide boy who, along with his companion Johnnie, enters Myrtle Baggot's tea room intent on some out of hours alcoholic refreshment. When Myrtle denies them their request they become intent on causing trouble until Albert Godby is summoned to throw them out. This scene acts as a somewhat intimidating contrast to the intimacy of Alec and Laura's exchanges moments earlier and serves to underline the growing admiration and affection that Myrtle has for Albert Godby.

Hands Across the Sea

Mr Wadhurst is the slightly reserved and slightly brow-beaten husband of Mrs Wadhurst. The couple are visiting London as part of a break from running their rubber plantation in Malaya. Mrs Wadhurst decides to pay a visit to Lady Maureen’s apartment, having been invited some months ago when Lady Maureen first met the Wadhursts whilst visiting Malaya. Mr Wadhurst has a slightly uneasy feeling about their visiting Lady Maureen, but, with his mind perhaps pre-occupied with the slump affecting this rubber plantation in Malaya, bows to his wife’s enthusiasm and confidence that all is in order.

The cast of ATS is a close knit, hard-working and very talented team. I am lucky to have been cast in all three productions as I get to work closely with so many of the cast, principally Siana Cooper (Lily Pepper - The Red Peppers), Joshua Battaliou (Johnnie - Still Life) Olivia Sawbridge (Myrtle Baggot - Still Life) and Suzy Davenport (Mrs Wadhurst - Hands Across the Sea).

As my largest role is George Pepper I spend the most time rehearsing with Siana Cooper  where many hours have already been spent running lines and tightening cues to keep to the energy and pace demanded by a Coward play. A special mention needs to be made here for Siana who, along with the incredibly talented Julianne White, has been a true star not only in assisting Julianne to choreograph the Pepper’s dance routines but also in patiently helping me rehearse my choreography - a guiding light through my journey into the unfamiliar world of dance!

I’m hugely excited by the opportunity to act in Red Peppers, Hands Across the Sea and Still Life – an excitement that builds with each week as the plays begin to take shape and constant refinements are added under Amanda Redman’s expert and exacting direction.

Artist’s Theatre School runs every Saturday from September to July. Before Christmas the sessions comprise weekly master classes from a range of industry experts. From January onwards the sessions become rehearsals, directed by Amanda Redman, leading to a full-scale production to the public in July at Questors theatre, Ealing.

If you’re considering auditioning for next September I would definitely recommend it. For people thinking of training professionally, or those simply wanting to re-enter the business then ATS provides a unique opportunity to train and work under the highest standards and provides an excellent grounding for these routes (if you’re in full-time employment you can do this whilst still keeping the day job!) However you MUST be able to commit to attending every Saturday during term time and also be prepared to rehearse independently during the week to keep pace with Saturday rehearsals (oh, and did I mention ’rehearsals’?). The work is hard, the standards are high but the results are well worth it.

Don’t miss the chance to see the finished article by ATS in July! " 

We are now taking the Easter holidays so join us after Easter when Velvet Brown will be taking over the blog!!

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