The Making of So It Goes: Part 1

SET DESIGN

As ‘So It Goes’ is now available online until 29^th May,  we thought we’d take a trip down memory lane and show you a little of what went on behind the scenes.

First stop: Set design! We chatted to design extraordinaire Emma Tompkins and found out how she created that stunning and iconic final scene, based on Holkham Bay.

Holkham Bay, 2014

“The thing that struck me most about the beach was the horizontal lines that seemed to extend forever at Holkham. A flatness that just wandered into the horizon. We also kept noticing the thin wide shallow pools of water that caused the sand to wriggle into these beautiful patterns.

The biggest challenge was taking the width of such a wide open beautiful place and translating it into a moment that could be made on a stage by Hannah and David in a way that kept the magic but didn't cause the action to lag (something Lecoq training seems to help with in transitions).

Emma's digital mock up of the Holkham Bay design

I knew the set needed to fit in any sized venue, work with festival storage, and be made with the kind of materials you can afford on a fringe budget. The beach scene is also the pinnacle of the story, one that shows a release of feeling. And the first time colour is released into Hannah's world to coincide.

The final beach design in action. Photo by Richard Davenport

I found most of our solutions in the usual place designers on the fringe end up, IKEA, B&Q and my local hardware shop. Garden bamboo poles and canvas held together with the classic combination of gaffa tape and cable ties became the back fan, combined with garden parasole bases and cheap wardrobe railings to keep everything upright, in addition to the trademark cardboard.


The whole thing was made in my front room and painted in the garden. I think the stones still have the paint marks! The design was complete with bags of Tesco value flour rapped with black gaffa to act as stage weights to keep the back piece from falling forward! Were nothing if not resourceful!"

An early mock up of the beach design

Well I think we can all agree that Emma did a fantastic job and that beach was an exceptional finish to the show. 

Watch the set in action (until 29th May)

See more of Emma’s design work here. 

It's coming home

We're thrilled to be bringing So It Goes back to London for performances at the Southbank Centre on March 4 & 5.  We're performing over a weekend of work exploring how we live with death, as part of Southbank Centre's Belief & Beyond Belief season.

After our international adventures, we're delighted to be bringing So It Goes back to home soil. Tickets are available here.

So It Goes in Shanghai

As soon as we got back from Georgia, we took So It Goes to China, to perform at Shanghai Contemporary Theatre Festival.  It was a brilliant trip, where we played to big, friendly audiences as part of an incredibly exciting programme of innovative, international work.

We spoke to audiences as part of a post-show Q&A and also took part in a panel discussion about physical comedy, where we had the chance to talk about the Jacques Lecoq School to a Chinese audience who, for the most part, weren't aware of his work and his legacy.

Massive thanks to everyone in Shanghai and to the British Council!

So It Goes in Georgia

We spent three weeks in Batumi, Georgia recreating So It Goes in a new Georgian-language production, with two Georgian actors.

The show opened to a full house and received a standing ovation.  It will continue to run for a further fifteen performances, as part of Batumi Drama Theatre's repertoire of work. 

A huge thank you to Batumi Drama Theatre, British Council and to the region of Adjara's Ministry For Culture, who made the project possible.

The Tompkins Top Five

So It Goes heads to the Edinburgh Fringe from 24 to 30 August.  (Book ahead here.)  It's been excruciating following all the reviews and tweets from the festival, whilst we're stuck in London!

However, our Associate Artist Emma Tompkins has been at the festival all week, having designed Daniel Bye's show Going Viral, which is on at Northern Stage at Summer Hall at 2.10pm.

She's spent the week gorging herself on theatre, naturally, and we asked her to choose her favourite five shows.

THE TOMPKINS TOP FIVE

I've tried to pick the shows that really stuck with me and not just to name the shows I know because I've worked on them or my mates are in them. Which is tough because I'm proud of the hugely talented companies and individuals I've worked with this year and a lot of my friends are in some really fantastic work! (Check out my twitter @emmatompkins if you’re curious about those) 

But without further ado, my top five (and a half) picks of the Fringe are as follows.

1. Pole by Bent Theatre

Underbelly, Cowgate; midnight

A really arresting performance piece blending strikingly different verbatim stories of women who pole dance. From sports enthusiasts to a woman who uses her skills undercover to help victims of sex trafficking, all blended with beautifully poignant physical theatre and dance.

2. Here is the news from over there (Over there is the news from here) 

by The Bloody Great Border Ballard team

Northern stage at Summer Hall, 11.10pm 

A different collection of writers, performers and artists from the UK and Middle East come together each night to weave bespoke stories and yarns (literally). Funny, moving, slightly anarchic political theatre on the hoof and, true to any middle eastern gathering, there's tea.

3. Portraits in Motion by Volker Gerling in association with Aurora Nova

Summer Hall, 12 noon.

Volker Gerling decided to walk the lengths and breadth of Germany looking for people he wouldn't normally meet, and catching a fleeting 12 seconds of them on film. This show is a flick book mega mix of the stories from humanity that you wouldn't normally hear but are so glad you have, the most absolutely charming way to spend an hour.

4. The Solid Life of Sugar Water by Graeae

Pleasance Dome, 4pm

An old fashioned play this time.  A very well crafted piece of theatre and intensely engaging collection of writing, performance, direction and design. The company also display a model of the set outside so partially sighted and blind audience members can feel and understand what the actors are moving on. Such a brilliant idea I wonder why we aren't all doing more for access to our shows.

5. The Christians by Gate Theatre 

Traverse, various times

I hate jumping on trendy theatre band wagons and The Gate certainly don't need me to get bums on seats but I was really surprised by the critics' responses on this one. Sometimes when I'm watching shows I'll compose the review tweet in my head; when I watched this show, I started deeply interrogating my own feelings on religion and realising just how relevant this show is at a time when our own regional theatres are renting themselves out to churches. I'll still be talking about this show weeks later.

This is not advertising stunt for The Christians, it's just religion doing a very good attempt at theatre.

5.5 Abacus by Early Morning Opera

Summerhall, 6.10pm 

I don't understand this show. I don't think I'm supposed to. Or maybe I am, or maybe that's the point. Wildly complex pastiche, or a genuine blend of Kony 2012 graphics meets final year central st martins TedX lecture this is definitely one for the curious. I'm mainly recommending it so you can go, then explain to me what the hell happened.

Edinburgh Fringe 2015

We had THE BEST time at the Edinburgh Fringe last year, when we emerged starry-eyed into the world and premiered our debut show So It Goes. (Relive the good times here.)

This year, So It Goes returns to Edinburgh for the last week of the festival: 
24-30 August, 1.55pm at Underbelly, Cowgate.  Book ahead here.

But with the fun kicking off this week, here are a few recommendations...

Shows by our Lecoq brethren
Feast by Clout (15.55, Zoo)
64 Squares by Rhum and Clay (19.30, Underbelly)
Jurassic Park by Superbolt (18.50, Roxy)
I'm Not Here Right Now by Dancing Brick & Soho Theatre (18.25, Summer Hall)

Shows we've already seen and loved
Islands by Caroline Horton (14.05, Summer Hall, from 22 August)
Women's Hour by Shit Theatre (14.00, Summer Hall, alternate days)

Shows we think will be brilliant
Going Viral by Daniel Bye, designed by our Associate Artist, Emma Tompkins (14.10, Summer Hall)
Hug by Verity Standen (15.30, Forest Fringe, from 24 August)
Backstage In Biscuit Land by Touretteshero (17.00, Pleasance, from August 24)
You're Not Like The Other Girls Chrissy by Caroline Horton (11.20, Pleasance, from 22 August)
God Are Fallen And All Safety Gone (20.05, Summer Hall, from 17 August)
Blind Man's Song by Theatre Re (15.30, Pleasance)
This Much by Moving Dust (19.45, Zoo)

Other shows by our Producers Show And Tell (they have impeccable taste)
Duchess of Canvey by Diane Chorley (10.30pm, Underbelly)
Fylm School by Simon Munnery (19.40, The Hive)
And Nothing But by Simon Munnery (15.30, The Stand)
Lie Collector by Yve Blake (5.20pm, Pleasance)
A Gambler's Guide To Dying by Gary McNair (Various, Traverse)

The guy me and my sister see every single year because he's a total comic genius
Paul Foot (19.20, Underbelly)

Finally, check out the other shows in this year's fantastic British Council Edinburgh Showcase here.

British Council film

With our UK tour over, we're looking ahead to the Edinburgh Fringe.  So It Goes will return for a limited run from 24 to 30 August, back at Underbelly, Cowgate where we premiered the show last year.

This time, we're part of the British Council Edinburgh Showcase.  The British Council have made this fantastic film, featuring an interview with Hannah and footage from the show.

Tickets for Edinburgh are on sale now!

More Brighton buzz

Still mopping up tweets from Brighton Fringe!  Thanks to all our audiences over the weekend, we had a fantastic time.  The show heads to The Lowry in Manchester next, on Friday 15 May.  Click here for all our tour dates.

#BrightonFringe fantastic ,beautiful and totally original loved so it goes @OtherplaceBTN .deserves every praise going,MUST SEE DONT MISS!

— simon schneider (@antiqueman) May 9, 2015

In Exeter, Salford, Sheffield or London? Highly recommend seeing So it Goes from @ontheruntheatre on its tour http://t.co/SVAJaOfPdr

— Samuel French UK (@SamuelFrenchLtd) May 11, 2015

#BrightonFringe So it Goes @OtherplaceBTN absolutely brilliant, everything theatre should be

— Heather James (@funnyhorse) May 9, 2015

How good was @ontheruntheatre's So It Goes at @OtherplaceBTN tonight? Very moving and powerfully performed with a neat set. #brightonfringe

— RosieBlackwellSutton (@rmmbs) May 10, 2015

Just watched 'So It Goes' @brightonfringe beautiful, moving, devastatingly wonderful. Fantastic play. Everyone must see this! Cried so hard!

— Sara Huxley (@Sara_Huxley) May 10, 2015

@ontheruntheatre beautiful performance at the fringe yesterday, so pleased I made the journey down

— Adam Laurence Hedley (@AdamLHedley) May 11, 2015

'So it Goes' at the Basement is the best show I've seen this Brighton festival. The audience was in tears at the end http://t.co/2jnAcuWzXX

— Peter Chrisp (@PeterChrisp) May 9, 2015

#BrightonFringe fans, caught As It Goes by @ontheruntheatre last night - poignant, moving and beautiful, beautiful theatre - GO SEE!

— Jess Plant (@PTTjess) May 9, 2015

Extra show announced for Shoreditch Town Hall

Possibly the best review we've ever had.  Certainly the most creative!

We're having a fantastic time performing So It Goes at Shoreditch Town Hall, in London. The final week has completely sold out and we've just announced an extra matinee performance at 4pm on Saturday 18th.  Tickets are going fast, so book ahead now!

The Times' Chief Theatre Critic, Dominic Maxwell, made us his Top Pick of the Week in Saturday's paper.  We were also a pick of the week in Metro and Time Out.

Since then, we've also had a 4 star review from Time Out and our second 5 star review from The Times!

Today, Metro put us in their Top 5 shows to see in London:

Here's a round-up of what our audiences have been saying on Twitter:

Can't recommend @ontheruntheatre more. Saw the show #ShoreditchTownHall last night& was captivated by the clever, hilarious & moving story
— Rachael Morrow (@RachHMorrow) April 16, 2015

Went to see the fantastic @ontheruntheatre this w/e.So it Goes: direct, slick, innovative.Dealing with the reality of grief.Cried buckets.
— Lizzy Clark (@Lizzydclark) April 15, 2015

Just saw @ontheruntheatre's #soitgoes for the second time tonight. Cried more than the 1st. Tickets still available: http://t.co/ckbHmpgRgm
— Daniel Saunders (@DJKSaunders) April 14, 2015

Wonderful show #SoItGoes by @ontheruntheatre runs at @ShoreditchTH til Sat 18th.Please see it if you can @showandtell http://t.co/VUyRO8WYDw
— Belisarius Mock (@sfeegrade) April 12, 2015

Loved @ontheruntheatre 's show this evening at @ShoreditchTH . A gentle and beautiful story!
— Toby Peach (@TobyPeach) April 11, 2015

@Show_And_Tell @ontheruntheatre @ShoreditchTH It's funny, very moving, brilliantly performed, and generally superb. Laughed,cried,loved it.
— Belisarius Mock (@sfeegrade) April 11, 2015

@ontheruntheatre funny, smart and moving. Really touched by the show this evening. Thank you for reminding me... she lived.
— Katie Edmondson (@Katie_Edmo) April 11, 2015

I went to see So It Goes last night at Shordeditch Town Hall. It was incredible. Please go see it and please take a tissue @ontheruntheatre
— Stacca (@Stacca) April 11, 2015

So It Goes come to London

Not long until So It Goes reaches London!  We're on at Shoreditch Town Hall for two weeks, from Wednesday 8 April to Saturday 18 April (not including Sunday 12 but yes including all the other days, including Monday 13).

We're very excited.  Home crowd!  In fact, we've been singing "So It Goes is coming home" to the tune of "Football's coming home" for over a week now.

Tickets available here.

David & Hannah x

So It Goes tour starts soon!

We hit the road next week! 

Starting with Ormskirk, near Liverpool, then Canterbury a few days later... then Halifax, Leeds, Ipswich, London, Gloucestershire, Oxford, Southend, Margate, Brighton, Manchester, Exeter, Plymouth, Sheffield... then London again!

We can’t wait to take the show far and wide.  It’s such a pleasure to get it back on its feet having only performed it once since we premiered in Edinburgh last August.

Full tour dates, info and links to buy tickets HERE.  If you’ve seen the show already, do spread the word.  If not, we hope to see you at a show soon!

David & Hannah xx

February thoughts

Hannah drowning in whiteboards, at The Omnibus this week

Thanks to everyone who came to see So It Goes at The Omnibus in Clapham.  It was great fun to perform the show again and The Omnibus really is a lovely venue to work at.  Do check it out if you haven't already.

So It Goes will be heading on tour in March, with performances all over the UK until June.  Head to our Tour page for all the dates and links to box office.  Tickets for our London run at The Shoreditch Town Hall (8-18 April) have just gone on sale.

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We've been busy working on a new show, with help from Camden People's Theatre's Starting Blocks scheme.  The highlight is always our weekly meeting with the other artists taking part, when we discuss how our projects are going and hear about the other artists' processes.  It's both fascinating to hear about the work and uplifting to have made new friends and to gain an insight into other people's work.

We'll be sharing new material at a work-in-progress performance, alongside all the other Starting Blocks artists, on the last day of CPT's SPRINT Festival (March 29).  Tickets are on sale here.  Do check out the rest of the festival programme, as there's loads of good stuff on.

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We went to see Islands by Caroline Horton at the weekend, the bouffon show about tax havens which has caused a stir.  Caroline is a really influential theatre-maker for us and we loved Islands.  I ranted a little on Twitter over the weekend about how sad it was that certain critics were too lazy to judge it on its own merits.  (They are allowed to not like it, by the way, but merely dismissing it or implying 'it's not a proper play' is contemptible.)  But three cheers for the bloggers.  This review by Stewart Pringle and this by Andrew Haydon are PROPER pieces of writing which engage properly with the show and, in both cases, put it into some broader context.

Tim Walker wrote recently, in a dull-witted swipe at the online community, "who, honestly, can name an internet critic who has the authority of, say the Guardian's Michael Billington?"  The critical response to Islands seems to demonstrate that mainstream critics are not just the victims of a general move to digital journalism, but of their own self-inflicted irrelevance, ignorance and laziness.

Islands is on until 21 February at The Bush.  I recommend it heartily.

David

Furthermore, any critic who puts sarcastic inverted commas on the phrase 'a devising process' should be banned from profession.#IslandsPlay
— On The Run (@ontheruntheatre) February 1, 2015