How is an Opening Doors Rehearsal any different from ones I have experienced?

Opening doors are an organisation in Malta that bring the arts to adults with a range of disabilities. They participate in weekly classes, shows and even tours where this year they will take their Ensemble production to Leeds, UK.

On the 11/04/2018 I attended my first Ensemble rehearsal for their upcoming show. I wasn’t quite sure what I would experience, what the level of dedication would be and how far along they are in preparation for their show (26/27th of this month).

Coming in without much experience or background knowledge, you would think working with vulnerable adults that the session would be slower paced, a lot simpler, and a little loud and chaotic.

WELL WAS I WRONG?

The ensemble team are made up of talented individuals from the dance, music and drama classes. They have been rehearsing since November in their take of the “Little Prince” and will be touring their production to Leeds, UK this year. Can we just see how amazing that opportunity is and how skilled at delivering a cohesive story to go to another country. A privilege I would love to attain one day too.

Under the watchful eye of Sandra, artistic director, I was introduced to the staff (teachers from each discipline of dance, music and theatre) and took my place in the Valetta venue. I was greeted by many actors and dancers I had worked with before, who outstretched their kindness to engage in conversation with me and what I had been up to. I couldn’t help but notice how close everyone was. Not ‘we have to work with each other so will be polite’, but everyone genuinely respected one another and supported their peers whenever they could. There was no discipline divide of who was in what profession, but a unity found within the arts. I am amazed as my last ensemble experienced was the exact opposite- the competition and segregation of dancers, actors and musicians regardless of rehearsing for the same amount of time as Opening Doors has with this production.

Rehearsals begin. Without any hesitation the room was buzzing with excitement as everyone was told to start from act two, people taking their places- musicians at the instruments and actors and dancers off stage. Almost immediately lines started flowing and every warm and heartfelt conversation dissolved as the concentration focused solely on this show. The passion and love to do what they are doing showed through every movement and word, every drum beat or piano key.

It was a stop start rehearsal, meaning as soon as something arose that needed fixing everything was stopped. A general note would be given to explain what needed altering and then the tutor in charge of that discipline would give a note and demonstrate. The most interesting aspect for me that I took was that of timing. I would expect everything to be done with musical queuing, for example ‘when X happens in the music, Y happens’ however a counting technique was used and not just with the dancers. The musicians play in response to what is happening on stage, allowing a flexibility for the natural variations that happen between performances. This meant that on stage, the performers were more in tune with one another and what was happening to know each other’s moves and ques to begin to count when their entrance would be. As a result, we have a tight working team.

If a note was given about a line, it would always be encouraging knowing that we can push for even more and the response to this positive reinforcement technique was remarkable (in a nut shell positive reinforcement being praising what has been done well to encourage it to grow more). Actors would ask how it was coming across, and pay close attention to the emotion in even a relatively small line that I would probably over look if I was doing the same thing. The articulation to detail, the continuous care after such a long time rehearsing is amazing. Of course we all know the stress with a show around the corner, lines getting stuck on the tip of our tongue or memory blank. This stress was dealt with effectively by the care in the smaller details. By going over two lines a couple of times, confidence grew again and delivery became clearer. This meant that by taking away the time pressure stress gave, everyone could focus in the present moment.

After a busy run of two acts, everyone left Valetta behind for another day ready for the week long evening rehearsals to come.