Our last week of rehearsals came around so quickly, I began the week feeling really excited and slightly nervous about all the technical aspects of Dance in the Dark coming together.
Sunday, our first day, was a full get-in of the set, lighting and sound equipment. It was really useful to have this day with the creative and tech team and no performers as I was able to focus on all the non-performative elements without feeling compelled to be working with the performers. I was thrilled, after a few hitches, we finally get the full sleepover den up and running in time for the tech rehearsal with performers.
Kirsty's incredible sleepver den was looking magical with a gorgeous midnight blue dance floor, cool hanging lampshades and great swathes of fabric in blues and whites printed with cute noctural animals and night time designs. The audience will sit on the floor in the round with loads of pillows and blankets to snuggle down in.
Iain worked on setting up the sound design with 7 speakers around the space we were able to achieve an immersive environment complete with snuffling hedgehogs, thunderclaps, rain and creaky footsteps moving all around us.
We were able to get our filmed shadows, made by Mark from InfuseDANCE shaped and projected onto two areas of the den. I was keen to have the projections looking very much like they were shadows on the den rather than obviously film. Jude (lighting) was able to achieve this by tweaking the projections into a rough circle with undefined edges and I was thrilled with the way it blended into the overall design.
Jude, who came to the project lighting design quite late in the process, had been able to utilise all the existing lights I owned, as well as adding a few of her own lights and created some beautiful lighting states. Dark blues for all the scary scenes and warm oranges for all the fun playful scenes. Plus some great flashes for the thunderstorm and a light up moon (lampshade) to hang down from the centre of the tent.
By Friday we were ready for a full dress rehearsal with an audience of children recruited from the local area to fully test the inteactive sections of the show. It was thrilling to hear laughter and gasps of wonder from the audience, watching the smiles on the childrens faces and their joyful interactions which includes getting ready for bed, playing with shadows and dancing with a shooting star.
We were finally ready for the show's premiere on Saturday at MAC It was everything I had dreamed of for this show and more, I was even brought to tears in the first show as I witnessed the children in the audience being tucked up in their blankets by the performers, they were so completely engaged in the show and fully participating in this world of imagination we have created.
Our premiere week was topped off with a 5 STAR review from Culture Bab "It’s no surprise this brand new show was co-created with children and families as it hits all the right notes with enraptured kids and their adult companions alike. This magical adventure into a night-time wonderland is great family entertainment at any time of the day!"
and as one child leaving the den following the show repeatedly shouted...
"BEST SHOW EVER!"
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