29th August 2008
A couple of weeks have passed since our 3rd and final intensive week working with all our performers round the country. The last group was in Notts and what a brilliant, touching, week. The performers worked their socks off and we’ve done some brilliant recording/filming. The standard of the singing was truly excellent and hats off to Sarah and Ben for getting the group singing so well.
Back in July we were were at the RFH to host a week working with our 4 groups from London (Passage, Connections, Queen Mary, Crisis) and our Luton NOAH group. Another great week led by Rowan and Sharon and focussing on a lot of acting skills running in parallel with the filming and recording. Lovely to be at the RFH and have pretty much the whole of the basement to ourselves. The week culminated in a really enjoyable trip upstairs to see Wizard of Oz!
At the start of July we were at the Blackfriars Centre in Newcastle – sceen of our rehearsals for Whirlwind in 2006. Great to be back and awesome to see all the groups together from Ron Eager, Byker Bridge, Crisis and ECHG in Middlesbrough. One of the nicest parts of the process has been seeing everyone for all 10 groups meet for the first time. We had another fantastic week here and a lot of the ideas for the filming came from this week.
Now we have film and recordings of about 70 people and it’s all being put together by Flat-e and Mira Calix into our new piece! There should be a taster video on the microsite soon; Multiadaptor the graphic designers are putting together the flyer and Gaianova are busy building the screen.
We’re pulling together the tour dates and things are looking very exciting! More soon…
Matt
11 Comments
2nd September
The first 20 minutes of Mira’s music has been completed… and it’s gorgeous!
I am a member of streetwise nottingham and i cant wait for december 3rd/4th! The intensive week should have been renamed the absolutely fabulous but not long enough week! It was very enjoyable and alot of fun! Thankyou to matt peacock and everyone else for creating streetwise and giving me something i can be proud of!
I really enjoyed and valued the opportunity to be part of this production. Now that we can actualy visit the site and see the progression, it’s all so sureal. Everybody who come from London to work on the performance were so supportive and encouraging. I feel so lucky to have had the opportunity to be part of something so amasing. I will definatly be logging on to the site every couple of days to see the progression.
At our St Theatre today we received the news that Ben and Sarah would be leaving in 2 weeks, this was obviously devastating news to us as a group. Unfortunatly a couple of our members have said that once the ‘Secret Heart’ performance is over in Dec, they will not be returning to St Wise.
However, I feel that instead of giving up-we should apply all that we have learned from Ben and Sarah, and continue with the brilliant work we know now that we are capable of producing both individualy and collectively. This would be the best tribute to them both as teachers.
Hope my words of encouragement next week with help them to change their minds, fingers crossed!!!!!
Thanks for your lovely messages. The flyers/posters are being printed as we speak so should be circulated to all the groups over the next couple of weeks! Matt
Hi Matt , I first of all want to say a great big thank you for giving me and the Byker Bridge gang the best opputunity we have ever had , It was absolutely amazing doing the previews of the My Secret Heart. I know there was a few highs and lows over a few things but when push comes to shove we as a group always pull together. I will never forget my stay in Lucerne or will i ever forget the wonderful people and friends we made.you Matt deserve an OBE as far as iam concerned because the way you have changed peoples lives and self esteem and given us oppurtunitys we would never in a million years get needs more recognition. cant wait to see you all again in December at London so until then take care love Bridgette.
hey!!!!!!!how is every1
really good site,i am from nottsgroup have made a blog page on myspace for ne1 who would like their say on how workshops n experience of project is,amazing week working alongside mira n all team have now seen some of dvd n haven forgot bein promised we would have copy of slideshow of our silohete shapes of us jumping up n down as i agree wen we saw these on our workshop week r fabulous,workers are prob workin on our work for our london tour n our finished piece which is gonna be shown loads of places round world,good work everyone
I am very excited to have been involved in this internationally shared creation. I can hardly wait to perform at the Festival Hall in December.
My favorite moment during the August intensive week in Nottingham for me was when Mira Calix was recording MY solo voice for inclusion in the finished piece. I was so very, dare I say: Proud.. when Chantal herself told me that I could really SING!
Streetwise has given me so many priceless opportunities over the past few years with the aid and direction of the best professional singers I have ever known. Wonderful people too – all of them. I have to say that I do miss the angelic voices of miricle worker Tutors Ben and Sarah who have recently moved on to pastures new and I hope they catch sight of this mention and I wish them both happy days and diamond smiles.
– I have learned how to control and enjoy the sound of my own voice. From making a sound to a roar and the ability to take a risk and experiment.
– I have helped to write songs too .. well lyrics at least.
– I very quickly grew to have confidence when singing and acting in public: St Peter’s Church, Riverside Festival, Nottingham Council House, Market Square, Southwell Minster, Base 51, YMCA and International Community Centre.
– We have been taken on many theatre trips to see various spectacular productions. Where sometimes it became a challenge for some to stick to the Streetwise ethos to ‘be kind to each other’, but we learned how to support and encourage even the weakest amoung our troupe, so that we can stand as a team when we unite our voices and perform to the best of our ability.
– I am honoured to have been selected to participate in the Work Placement Scheme at Nottingham Playhouse. I have met many interesting people and have seen lots of first class performances. I am never without current topical conversation as a result. I have been so inspired that at the age of 49 I have recently started a first diploma college course in Acting, just to see if I can as I am dyslexic. I am enjoying the experience so far, continuing the ‘having fun’ that I first came across within the Streetwise sessions.
– I have sung in different languages: Italian, Latin and have now had a go at a Spanish chorus. The weekly sessions have consistently, not only lifted my spirits but also fuelled my positivity enabeing me to sing a duet in a Colwick Theatre Club production of Oliver. I’m very pleased to tell you that last week I successfully sang two solos avec microphone with live band – ‘In These Shoes’ Kirsty Maccoll with a spanish chorus and ‘Wild Thing’ The Goodies.
– I am now also involved as a commitee member with an independant local group of artists of various mediums called – The Lost Artist’s Club . We will be having an exhibition at The Art Organisation on Station St, Nottm in January. We will be having a performance evening and I will be singing and acting with other Streetwise members. I have the words and melody of the Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves permanently engraved in my mind and I just love the lilting melody. I hope the public feel the same way when I perform it acapella.
I doubt I could have attempted quite a lot of things that now have a permanent place in my life without my Streetwise envolvement and the Passion it has kindled deep within my Secret Heart.
THANK YOU MATT & Everyone at Streetwise Old & New, Not forgetting a Big Thank You to Everyone on the MY SECRET HEART production.
Luv Johanna xXx
hi leighanne here im in the middlesbrough streetwise group and i carnt wait till dec 3rd/4th and thanks to matt peacock and david and emily
i dont know bout you guys but all these comments are making me all emotional. not to mention VERY excited to be involved in the london production of MY SECRET HEART. THANK YOU MATT PEACOCK FOR EVERYTHING!!!! you should be KING OF ENGLAND!
Hi again, we had a rehersal and a run through of the performance today at our theatre group. I must admitt it all makes more sence now, as I was wondering how we were going to perform with the cilidrical (???) screen. Must admit the more I see/hear the more I more excited and proud I am, of being given such a great opportunity. Well all I can say is I’m really lookin forward to going to London and giving it my best….”break a leg”
I just want to say what a wonderful experience it was to see My Secret Heart in London – one I’ll never forget. Its such a moving and beautiful piece of work with such an amazing and committed performance from everyone.
I am so glad there are these short films on the website. I’ve been busy posting links everywhere I can think of!