And so it is...

The interesting thing about doing a Shakespeare in America with a New Zealand accent is that the language is already foreign, therefore the challenge is in making it clear to an American Audience.

We are working with people of different backgrounds with very different skills and it is frustrating sometimes to get across knowledge about Shakespeare without patronising - because everyone is in a different boat when it comes to that and we only have 3 weeks of 2hour long rehearsals to put it on! Some people are very relaxed because it is unpaid, community theatre, it is for 'fun' - but I want to put on a show I am proud of. I'm excited to perform Shakespeare to people who might not have seen it before and I want them to like it!! I want to do a great job with Helena - she is challenging. Ensembles always fascinate me.

The COLONISATION piece with Adam, I'm very engaged in. It has the same problem of something foreign trying to transcend to an American audience. And be aware that most people here either don't know where NZ is or think we are part of Australia.

But he's been very clever in saying the people we are really showing are the English and Irish in the context of New Zealand colonisation. So, the aim is to have parallels that the American's can identify with, but that really comes from us.

It is very funny, bawdy and silly but dealing with some huge issues that we are still facing in NZ. I like the humour because it's testing what we are comfortable with. And Adam, Brony, Tane and I all go extreme first, which is great, because then we can pull it back because we've got a largely conservative audience.

So I have been writing and writing and writing which explains why I haven't been writing here.

We have all joined the gym, which is fantastic, I went there yesterday on a hangover but felt instantly better afterward... go figure.

We have spent days walking around, meeting the locals, basking in the summer air.

-Though I gotta say, this morning it is howling wind and there was thunder, lightning and rain last night - anyway. On thursday night, we decided we were all hungry around 10pm and Steamboat is small, so hardly anywhere open. And we'd had a beer or two so we got our gladrags on and traipsed off up the hill to the resort which was like a Ghost town, we carefully made our way around in the dark then just as we were giving up, we heard a faint laughter and clink of glasses in the background. And being New Zealanders, and generally a bit curious/adventurous, we followed it and found a funny little VIP club that had a smallish group of hospo types milling around inside. It looked so nice in there...

In we lurched, thrilled at the possibility of dinner and wine.

The bar tender was so sweet, re opened the kitchen for us and GREAT quality, cheap vege wraps and corn slices came our way and the house wine? None other than Montana (rebranded to something like Breakrock) Special Reserve Sauvignon Blanc. We were well pleased. Not only that, but we became best friends with the owner, Michael, who bought us a shot and wants us to get back there for the DJ and GoGo dancers on Tuesday. I am so there.

We made a dance floor, Beyonce played, and a catwalk ensued. It was divine.

Em rocked up to some locals and started chatting, then we all joined. And the next thing I know, I was left alone with one of them, a nice guy, while the others went outside to hang with the smokers. Now, I was a bit slow, perhaps the wine, perhaps just a bit slow. But they were totally setting me up. Hilarious. And the funny thing was, the guy totally started hitting on me in a naff, cheesy kind of way, which unfortunately put me right off. 'Shall we go outside and look at the stars. You wont see any prettier stars than in Steamboat. Well, maybe...' Looking directly into my eyes. Sweet but um? Are you kidding me?

Ha.

Today we were meant to launch into a hike but the weather is too shite and dangerous. So, a day of line learning and maybe go on the gondolas. By the bye, the only crap thing about the heat here is that my hair has turned into a complete fuzzball, seriously thinking about giving it a massive chop... we shall see.

Finally a note of excitement, Ian, this lovely American dude, is in COLONISATION and we have just found out he is a hardcore commercial pilot with DELTA. Because of the f**kups with the volcano in Iceland and the recession, he is on call but mainly tutoring at the moment... But, he said he could fly us all to Vegas for a weekend!!! We would only have to contribute to petrol!!!

Now, this'd be scary as, because it is one of those freaky deaky 8 seater planes, but we'd fly over the Grand Canyon and into Las Vegas people. Oh my!!

Liking the idea heeeeaaapppsss.

Ok, I'm going to post some pictures separately as the blog is having mild conniptions. xx

Day one on the community theatre plays.

Some thoughts: Over the Beaten Track is the charming bookstore where Skiers and Mountain rangers go and quietly (which is so weird for Americans) read, sip lattes or mostly iced coffees. Hung out with Mark Twain and Abe Lincoln

Food is quite weird. A lot v processed - cheese is a very strange colour. I went for a major walk yesterday around the main drag of downtown. Then came back and hung out at the condo with the frens' and got ready for a bit of community time...

Last night we had the most incredible feast at Stuart Handloff's (director) Special ordered in BBQ meat with massive ribs and pork and beef cutlets with the most tasty sauce... though I am seriously thinking about cutting out red meat from my diet.... We also had a wine or two, which affects us so much more than back home. The altitude here is insane. Walking anywhere makes you feel asthmatic but not in a hideous way, you just have to breathe more.

We met new Bffs - Katie - and a whole bunch of folk from around here, some involved in am-dram, some not. Stuart really has worked so hard to get this whole thing working as a cultural exchange holiday. It's really very cool.

Then back home we stopped off and I can't believe how cheap spirits are here! The whole group bought a bottle of Canadian Club and we had CC and Drys in the spa. I had one on account of wanting to look at lines. Despite intense tiredness. 3 hours sleep. So going to have a siesta shortly...

Em and I went on a glorious walk today. All down through the valley and to some shops where I got a $2.50 chicken salad and Emma splashed out somewhere fancy (I'm all for saving my pennies for NYC, however, we have just found out we can get 2 nights accommodation and flights to Las Vegas for $300... tempting)

I've never been to Queenstown, but I imagine that Steamboat is quite similar.

Today, we had rehearsal for the two shows I'm in. I am so thrilled to be playing Helena in Midsummers. What a delightful challenge.

And Adam Donald is directing a piece called COLONISATION: A GENTLEMAN"S GUIDE which is being devised by us.

So I think I have two major challenges, one with the Shakespeare in making fresh Helena's text as I can imagine how other actors have done it before which is limiting me. So I am about to start a rigorous text methodology block for myself. As - even though this is free theatre and 'fun' - I want to work internationally and want to be able to communicate in a new and ballsy way.

With devising, it's really about fitting in with the style. I didn't enjoy the last production of Adam's so much. I rate him highly, but I want to pose questions to the group without breaking what they have set up already.

I want to make bold offers, strong choices and really bring something into the fold. (They've been working on it for a while)

With this particular piece I am curious as to how we are going to engage our audience in the material. We are performing to American's who are coming up in family groups to have a picnic and to watch a bit of free entertainment. We are dealing with huge NEW ZEALAND issues in a light way. But seeing as people here think NZ and Australia are the same thing and their only concept of colonisation is the movie Australia... we have to create some well thought out parallels.

So that's where I am at now. A siesta, then some text meth, then some reading, then cooking a vege feast.

Mucho love xo

An absolutely GIANT dog we met, owned by a New Zealander. Emma tried to ride it. The owner was not impressed....

McSteamboat

Before I left pictures. Sorry they're all out of order. Damn you blogspot.

Hallo and welcome. Coz, I have just arrived. After a very very long travel time with no sleep, here I am in Steamboat Springs, which is charming and idyllic.

I want to make sure I strike a healthy balance between education (which I wrote about a couple of days ago) and what's going on - as my memories shite, and I'd prefer to retain this information!

And as you can see below, we are living a sweet wee condo with this double bed room and a suite which we gals are going to share around. As it is very flash and not fair for just one to have the whole time. No siree bob.

Well, I'll start with the story of goodbyes: firstly an inebriated but fun night with wine, italians and new bffs in town. Not much to say except it is really nice when you meet friends of your friend which justifies why that friend is so great to begin with - So Esther and Lydia are brilliant friends of Aroha and make Aroha all the more great.

esther, lydia, aroha and kate
em and kate in steamboat

Saturday was spent with Dad, lunch at Scorch-o-rama and getting a wee digi camera for my birthday present. Booyah. Was such a nice day. Did anyone else know that George Harrison funded 'The Life of Brian' and had to mortgage his house to do so. All because he wanted to see how it turned out.....!?

Anyway, then a night of raucous fun, laughter and bittersweetness followed with a night out at circa (hawhaw - clearly the hub of all things McGilly) and then town, Betty's and the stupid Apartment bar which is trying to be a New York wankfest (haha, will probably come back with a faux American accent and then who'll be laughing??!!)

It was extremely wonderful and overwhelming because it was the first time I really clocked how much support I've had on this venture. Am very lucky. Am very thankful.

Then I was HIDEOUSLY hung over on Sunday but still managed to repack. Which is great. On account of I think I might've actually nailed it this time and brought the necessities but not brought too much! Hung out with Mammy all day and then she made a delightful meal which was shared with friends and family. Hilarious series of events, in that the (raw) chicken didn't turn up until the people turned up (sorry Uncle Michael but it was quite funny) so we had to make do for a couple of hours while it cooked. It was really all my fault because I hate fish pie, and everyone seems to have wanted to make it as a going away feast. Despite knowing it is something that makes my stomach turn.

Then I think, now you have the low down on my going away party stylings. Well, actually you don't because once I realised my parents and all their friends are reading this I had to make some censor offers...!

Got to the airport and had an emotional time saying g'bye to Mam and Soph. Crammed in on late air NZ flight then running late for our international flight to Los Angeles... was a mish. I had too many small bottles of liquid going through customs. But I explained to the customs officer that most of my tiny clinique/Yves Saint Laurent/La Prairie stuff was sealed (all got free as bits from other people - so I'm not a rich one) and that it was an absolute necessity that I have the brightening eye cream. To cut a long story short, I had to remove one deodorant - which I gave to Emma - and got on the plane.

Qantas is definitely not the most comfortable seating. No leg room, and I have stumpy legs. And it was extremely full so I couldn't go lurching around trying to find spare seats. Actually, I tried to no avail. Got into trouble when I thought I'd found 3 sweet seats and it was the air stewards. However, our air steward Brett (there was only one lady steward on the plane) took to me and Emma, we really impressed him with our charm and wit, and therefore got a ton of freebie chocolate and bits and bobs. He offered a massage at one point which was clearly a joke but I made awkward by talking about having a 45 minute one. Oh yeah.

I watched several films. Coco and Stravinsky which I liked very much. Two characters who are very full of themselves and appreciate seeing that in each other while pretending all other aspects of themselves don't exist. Beautiful scriptwriting with a director who knew when to give space without seeming long, drawn-out, etc. I think I preferred Audrey Tatou as Coco, but Anne ? gave something very sexy and stubborn that Audrey wouldn't have pulled off perhaps. Mads Mickleson is just glorious.

What else? I watched about 20 minutes of Dear John. Valentines Day, which was funny in parts, A Single Man which was very good. Colin was divine. And Nicholas Hoult reminded me so much of Dan Hannah.

Ok, so I didn't sleep. We landed in L.A and tiredness set in. My customs officer was I'm sure, the same guy I had a couple of years ago, who was soooo nice then! This time however, He kept looking and checking my passport 'What are you doing in the U.S?' 'Where's Steamboat?' 'Why go there?' Because I was so demented I just harped on about charming friends and Broadway, which made him smile. It's funny how you can be made to feel like a crim, when you have done nothing wrong!

Next, LAX. And the finding of our flight to Denver. What a mission trying to get tickets. And not pay the extraordinary baggage cost. Um what, $45? No. So sorted that then got on a bumpy ride to Denver with some very badly groomed air stewardesses who kept forgetting which city we were going too, and on which, despite the weird humming on the right wing, I slept for one hour. We had been travelling for about 20 hours by this point.

An beautiful ride to Steamboat - took ages - but seeing amazing grand canyon-esque rocks with the American Flag fluttering away on it and horses, and broken down old mansions, and shite loads of skilodge condos. All against pine trees and streams and big hills.

And now, here in the condo. A dinner with Stuart at Panda Chinese. Yum. And sleep. That's all for now.x

more

Tectonic is a company I have been following since I was 19 and in THE LARAMIE PROJECT, which they made from a series of verbatim interviews with people in Laramie, Wyoming following the hate crime killing of Matthew Shepherd. It is a company whose values and art I hold in the highest regard and it is a huge honour to be spending time in the rehearsal room, running errands, making props, etcetera.

The USA is somewhere I connect with and yet feel so distanced from. The whole schtick there behind process (in any job) is vastly different from NZ. A lot more competative. Sometimes good, sometimes bad.
I think there is a laziness that sometimes comes into my work. Usually in lack of specificity.

One other challenge I am setting for myself is to keep touching base with how I'm feeling. I was reminiscing the other day about self assessments when I was at Toi Whakaari. This is when you assess your performance and process, then go into a room and go over it with your tutors. It suddenly dawned on me that the only reason I got overwhelmed and would often have a cry in assessments was because people were asking 'How are you doing Kate?" and I didn't really know because I charged ahead moving onto the next thing before I had time to 'assess' what I had learnt and how it affected me as a normal everyday person and as an artist.

Colorado and New York City: Educational holiday

On Monday I venture overseas yet again for a two month stint in Steamboat Springs, Colorado and then a month in New York.
3 months seems like an age, but I'm sure it'll go by sooooo quickly!
In Colorado, I'm seeing the sights and also going to be part of a community theatre festival, devising a show over there with some kiwi mates and acting in a short(er) Shakespeare. coooollll.
Because it's going to be such beautiful weather over there with a lot of exciting things to do, it is important I write, blog, respond to what is going on within the framework of some questions around what I want to make and how I want to continue my education in acting and making theatre and film.
In New York, I am doing an unpaid internship with Tectonic Theater Project. www.tectonictheaterproject.org
A theatre company that play with the concepts of form, purpose and connection with audience - all of which comes into what I want to explore. I realise going into it, I don't have a wide breadth of knowledge regarding the history of theatre/film. And that may be something I need to do some intensive work on, so I can fully understand the use of forms that I want to manipulate and play with.
Right now, I must dash, as I am babysitting a darling wee girl and earning an extra buck for the trip.
More soon
xxx

A Year of travel

FAT PRINCE
MY CLASS GRADUATING
MY CLOAK - How I love my friends

I have graduated from drama school and I have travelled the world this year.

I think that has been an influential part of shaping my work and my ideologies as... me.

Experiencing France and the strong family ties made me realize culture is everything. I am one of the fortunate people who is made up of many cultures that weave together to make me: French, Maori, Irish, Scottish, Spanish, English. I feel like it is my responsibility to myself to investigate these ties. Whether it be the languages or the culture (that's both the same though isn't it?) People create from themselves and share from a place of connection tend to be the ones I most respect. So, in making my work, I think that the strongest work, the work I'm most proud of, has been those that have connected to my whakapapa and/or morals.

In the Caucasian Chalk Circle, our graduation production this year, Christian Penny (director and leader) simplified things. From the get-go, he made things about connection. Casting was made on who had the quality that represented the characters best. Scenes were constructed from who had skills or offers that connected best with the story. The result was a promenade piece that has created a huge forum about work (http://www.theatreview.org.nz/reviews/review.php?id=2592) and how work is presented. This forum I find totally exciting and disturbing and challenging - I don't know how I would respond - But what I have realized is what is a better way to showcase actors than from a place of connection? Within that production, I went from hating it and the process to finding ways for it to work for me to being very proud of what we created. I occasionally have a few niggles about being cast as in my role of the Fat Prince. A disappointment of being cast as a man or old woman so many times. Roles that I will not be cast in outside of school. A bit of a double edged sword. Because, I am lucky to have the experience in working against physical type but unlucky in that I haven't worked in type for a while. But Oh Yes, I have been lucky to have been taught what I have been taught and now have a process to (try to) make the best of everything. To challenge myself in my craft. Questioning everything from purpose, to audience relationship to form. So, I feel actually lucky with my sword because now I have a weapon (haw haw) to work with. The challenge for my work is not to fall into work that is easy for me - the comedy OTT stuff that is expected. I know I can investigate more than that. Can risk more. So there you are. A bit about the end of my year. I expect I'll backtrack and write more later. Ciao xxx

SYDNEY WITH THE GALS

Well, I'm actually going to have to do a major update soon but yesterday after one hours sleep (ha) we arrived in Sydney at 8 in the morning. We settled into the Holiday Inn (fyi nice but so many rules) and had a wander and a zzz then off to a full body one hour long massage - SO AMAZING!!!
Then, a spot of shopping - Oh yes we all got treats but the creme de la creme of the day was seeing the amazing Alan Cumming live in Cabaret after a sumptuous dinner at the Opera House. What a gift that man has, he worked his relationship with the audience - slightly nervous or adjusting or something at first but his voice. Oh my! He is just divine. When he sung Mein Heir from Cabaret I got chills. I want to be his best friend. More on that later. Have to go am with the gals. Need to stop using net
xxxx