The secret's out!

Susan Auty, Zelia Horrell, Camilla Lojdstrom and Fiona Stephenson promote the latest Remarkable Theatre show

Thanks to everyone who came to see Secret Bridesmaids' Business. I hope you enjoyed it! We had a great season and I'm sure everyone who performed in it loved the experience - thanks to great direction by Victoria Keating and excellent assistance from Phena Byrne.

Huge acclaim to all who made it possible from the playright Elizabeth Coleman, who has written a tremendous script full of love and laughter (but not necessarily happy ever after), to the wardrobe mistress (Andrea Reeve once again doing a stirling job) and the photographer (Dan Childs) for making us look good. And thanks once again to our wonderful audience. We literally wouldn't do it without you! Cheers all!



Relaxing as Lucy Dean with bride-to-be Meg (Fiona Stephenson) and matron of honour Angela (Zelia Horrell) the night before the wedding



Mother of the bride Colleen (Jill Derbie) tries to explain to James (David Oakley) that it's bad luck for the groom to see the bride before the wedding while stand-in bridesmaid Naomi (Camilla Lojdstrom) looks on



Playing Dress-Ups

The Weevil took her children to see a production of Pinocchio at the Gryphon Theatre the other day. They loved it, especially as they got to meet the actors afterwards; the Blue Fairy was a big hit by all accounts. There are photos on the wall of the theatre of previous productions and they spotted me in one of the pictures. 'Is that Aunty Katy playing dress ups?' the youngest one asked, apparently. And yes, I suppose it is.

I am currently rehearsing for Secret Bridesmaids' Business (which is due to open on Thursday 1st September at the Athenaeum Hall in Arrowtown), in which I get to play a character completely unlike myself. Lucy Dean is 'earthy, impetuous, direct.' She is 'tall, striking', and one hell of a trouble-maker. She never censors herself, is impossible to embarrass, and is 'not scared to say things that people don't want to hear'.

I am a Libran who is almost incapable of making a decision. I hate conflict and am terrified of hurting people's feelings. Can you imagine how liberating it is to portray the exact opposite? There are many reasons that actors act. This is one of them. You can slip into different characters and try them on for size just like a new outfit. It's a lot of fun, and can be a thrilling experience. I think you just have to make sure you don't take it too far, however, which is why I am not a fan of method acting.

When the lights go down and the audience leaves, you have to remember who you are underneath the temporary wardrobe. Acting (in the words of the great Sir Ian McKellen) is pretending. Imagination is powerful, and children instinctively know that. Maybe I have just never really grown up, but I still love playing dress ups and hope I always will.

Bisy Backson

This is the reason I've not been a particularly prolific poster over the past couple of weeks. I have been rehearsing hard for The Remarkable Theatre production of Secret Bridesmaids' Business. It's an intelligent play full of real relationships and awkward questions that you don't want to ask in case you get an answer you don't want to hear. It's funny and smart and tinged with emotion throughout.

If you are in the area, I thoroughly recommend you get yourselves down to the Athenaeum Hall in Arrowtown in a couple of weeks and enjoy a great night out! (Poster designed by Emma Newell of An Eye for Design)