Ensemble Character Creation – Peripatetic Style!

Come play with us on January 27!

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Mdme Directrix’s very good friend, Rebecca Longworth, will lead a workshop on January 27 called Ensemble Character Creation with the Peripatetic Players.

This workshop is open to all! In it, you’ll create your very own character, and play together with other workshop participants to perform an original adaptation of a short fairy tale… just like the Peripatetic Players do it! Read on for more info, then Sign Up Here!

The basics:

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What: Ensemble Character Creation with the Peripatetic Players
When: Sunday, January 27, 10am – 2pm
Where: Port Costa, California

How To Sign Up: Register at this link!

Cost is just $40, which supports both Idiot String and the Port Costa Conservation Society. Residents of Port Costa, Crockett, or Tormey pay just $10 thanks to the generous sponsorship of the Crockett Community Foundation.

The details:
Stretch your theatrical muscles, develop your own eccentric character, and hone your ensemble-creation skills!

In this workshop, Idiot String’s Artistic Director, Rebecca Longworth, will guide you through the Peripatetic Players’ signature style of character-building and collaborative creation, rooted in delight and play. You’ll come away with a new character ready to hit the stage in a variety of settings, new insight and confidence as a performer, and new collaborators dedicated to accessible ensemble theatremaking. You’ll also laugh a lot!

Using methods developed by the Peripatetic Players use to create their actor-characters, you’ll cultivate delight, vulnerability, and authentic presence on stage. You’ll gain insight into your habits as a performer, using those as strengths to build from. Then, through improvisation, eccentric exploration, and play, you’ll develop a brand-new character that’s unique to you! Your character will find their voice and form relationships, then build an ensemble with other delightful weirdos to adapt a short fairytale together.

After the workshop, explore the wonderful and tiny town of Port Costa, where you can hike the hills, relax with a book, or discover whimsical artwork and fabulous antiques — making the whole day an invigorating experience.

We are excited to play with you!

Who is this workshop for?

We’re looking for participants from a variety of backgrounds with a range of performing experience…

  • Actors who want to incorporate more physicality, playfulness, or vulnerability into their character work
  • Physical performers ready to deepen ensemble skills, mindfulness, vulnerability and play
  • Performers of all stripes seeking to gain insight into their habits, incorporate a sense of delight and play into their practice, or explore new ways of collaborating in ensemble
  • Anyone seeking more relaxation, confidence and delight on stage and working in groups
  • Those interested in devised theatre-making, collaboration creation, or the Bay Area ensemble theater community
  • Non-actors with an openness to learning new techniques, accessing vulnerability, and building ensemble
What to bring:
  • Snacks and/or a bag lunch
  • Water bottle
  • Notebook or journal and pen(cil).
  • Closed-toe shoes and clothes you can move in, preferably solid, neutral colors.
What’s provided:
  • Some costumes and accessories to try on — we encourage you *not* to bring your own, but instead to surprise yourself with something new!
  • A creative environment rooted in connection, support, and delight.
How to sign up / cost:
sppp_signup_button

Your investment of $40 supports Idiot String, our workshop leaders, and the Port Costa School as a community space. Residents of Port Costa, Tormey, and Crockett pay just $10, thanks to generous sponsorship from the Crockett Community Foundation.

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Come one, come all – to the SPPP’s first workshop!

Come play with the SPPPs!

*Update: this workshop has been RESCHEDULED for Sunday January 27*

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The Peripatetic Players and their very good friends Rebecca, Joan, et. al. will be leading a workshop this November 3 [rescheduled for January 27!] called Ensemble Character Creation with the Peripatetic Players.

This workshop is open to all! In it, you’ll create your very own character, and play together with other workshop participants to perform an original adaptation of a short fairy tale… just like the Peripatetic Players do it! Read on for more info, then Sign Up Here!

The basics:

What: Ensemble Character Creation with the Peripatetic Players
When: Saturday November 3, 10am – 2pm
Where: Port Costa, California
portcostamap
How To Sign Up: Register at this link!

Cost is just $40 to pay workshop leaders, and help support Idiot String and the Port Costa Conservation Society. No one turned away for lack of funds.

The details:

Stretch your muscles of eccentricity and ensemble with the Peripatetic Players!

In this workshop, you’ll experience the Peripatetic Players’ signature style of character-building and collaborative creation, rooted in delight and play. You’ll come away with a new character ready to hit the stage in other settings, new insight and confidence as a performer, and new collaborators dedicated to accessible ensemble theatremaking. You’ll also laugh a lot!

With methods the Peripatetic Players use to create their actor-characters, you’ll cultivate delight, vulnerability, and authentic presence on stage. You’ll gain insight into your habits as a performer, using those as strengths to build from. Then, through improvisation, eccentric exploration, and play, You’ll develop a brand-new character that’s unique to you! We’ll help them find their voice and form relationships, then we’ll take our characters for a spin… building an ensemble with other delightful weirdos, and adapting a short fairytale together.

After the workshop, explore the wonderful and tiny town of Port Costa, where you can hike the hills, relax with a book, or discover whimsical artwork and fabulous antiques — making the whole day an invigorating experience.

We are excited to play with you!

Who is this workshop for?

We’re looking for participants from a variety of backgrounds with a range of performing experience…

  • Actors who want to incorporate more physicality into their character work
  • Physical performers ready to deepen skills, mindfulness, and play
  • Any performers seeking to gain insight into their habits, incorporate a sense of delight and play into their practice, or explore new ways of collaborating in ensemble
  • Anyone seeking more relaxation, confidence and delight on stage
  • Those interested in devised theatre-making, collaboration creation, or the Bay Area ensemble theater community
What to bring:
  • Snacks and/or a bag lunch
  • Water bottle
  • Notebook or journal and pen(cil).
  • Closed-toe shoes and clothes you can move in, preferably solid, neutral colors.
What’s provided:
  • Some costumes and accessories to try on — we encourage you *not* to bring your own, but instead to surprise yourself with something new!
  • A creative environment rooted in connection, support, and delight.
How to sign up / cost:
sppp_signup_button

Cost is just $40 to pay workshop leaders, and help support Idiot String and the Port Costa Conservation Society. No one turned away for lack of funds.

How Samuel Peaches writes a song…

Last week I sat down with Mr. Samuel Peaches himself to ask him about his creative process. My primary question?

“How do you write a song?”

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He gave me his answer in the form of a short essay, which was… interesting to transcribe to say the last. I bring it to you here:

How To Write A Song
by
Samuel Nathaniel Xavier Peaches III esq.

Writing a song is my Favorite Thing To Do.

I often write such terrible and precious songs that I am unable to continue for my eyes weep rivers or my body reels so. I’ve had songs whisper to me from the driest darkest corners of the earth. Songs that have crushed my back as the sun falling from the sky. Songs that have splintered my core and like the Fearsome Phoenix streaking from the ashes I am Reborn! I have tasted starlight on my tongue, and felt the molten core of Earth almighty on my footsoles.

You must turn yourself inside out and backside in to write a song. Upside Down and Rightside over Left. Only when you are bereft of every single faculty your mind and heart can offer, do your begin to realize your song just might be finished.

But there are many more steps to take and paths to follow before peaking through the leaves: just ahead of you is that little moonlit harbour, sparkling reflections of silvers dance across the water, contrasted by the slowly bobbing amber glow of windows in the village, smoke ambling lazily up into our diamond fretted roof. Grazing clouds feast on the warm tropical air. Fireflies drift past hunting for love and a drink. In the purple distance your ship floats anchored. Dark sails hoisted, gaping portholes slowly lilting back and forth.

You leave the black humming jungle and start down the grassy path, gravity filling your bones with buzzing we haven’t tasted since our youngest years. Your feet pick up speed on the hot earth as your crew lies snoring; dreaming and resting for the voyage that leaves at daybreak; the journey across the sea to lands unknown and wilds untamed.

Samuel Singing

I think that means that Samuel must travel on a boat to a jungle at sunset to write a song…

How do you write songs?

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Getting Back Into the Swing of Things

Hello All!

It has been far too long since our last blog post, so I am here to give you all a special delight today!

The SPPP’ers have been meeting every other week or so since the beginning of the year to …. play. We have playdates. Sometimes cool things emerge, sometimes business-type things emerge, and then sometimes…. feats of greatness emerge.

Like what happened on Sunday, February 25th 2018.

Sunday saw Samuel Peaches, Thumper, Princess Gwen, Guy Hank, and Madame D. starting to make their adaption of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Fellowship of the Ring entitled: A Lord of A Ring.

And it was delightful.

I can honestly say that I don’t think the five of us have laughed so much in so long — we laughed so much we all started crying at one point!

We can’t wait to keep creating things for you — if you have something you’d like to see, send us a message, and we will see what we can whip up for you!

Love,

Marlene (Princess Gwen)

Influences & Inspirations!

We of the Peripatetic Players are influenced by a great many groundbreaking works of art and legendary theatrical ensembles, which inform both our process and our craft. One of the most seminal of these is surely The Muppets — and for Shakespeare and Space Wars, no Muppet episode is more resonant with our own creation than “Pigs in Space with Luke Skywalker”

I particularly love Piggy’s classic handling of the inappropriate comments about her weight — it’s clear she’s had to develop an iron-fist style of management to keep the show on track. Perhaps Mr. Peaches could learn a few things.

But that’s not all… the stars of Star Wars appear in the entire Muppet Show episode, number 17 from Season 4 of the show, and perform a spectacular dance number at the end.

And, many years and one corporate purchase later, Muppets cast as Star Wars characters to create mashed-up action figures have striking similarities to the casting of Peripatetic Players as both Muppets and Star Wars personalities. Gonzo as Darth Vader? Beaker as C3PO? Obviously.  And make special note of the Storm Troopers…

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Disney’s Muppet Star Wars action figures

We have our own ideas as to which Peripatetic Players correspond to various Muppets… some of them are definitely reflected above.

Which Muppets do you think most accurately reflect Peripatetic Players?

Thumper has been lobbying the Players to determine how they’d cast themselves in Thumper’s adaptation of Star Wars, named Space Wars. You’ll have to see the show to find out who’s who!

Shakespeare or Space Wars opens Sept 10, 2pm at the Berkeley Marina! 

SPPP SorSW Photo Shoot!

Here’s a behind-the-scenes peek at today’s Peripatetic photo shoot!

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Guy and Thumper setting up the scrolling backdrop

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Musical interlude

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Guy is solving a problem

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Meekins at work on a likeness of his idol and mentor, Samuel Peaches

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Princess Gwen!

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The dashing Mr Peaches

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Mr Meekins

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Ready to tackle SHAKESPEARE!!

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Shakespeare vs. Space Wars photobomb

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Space Wars vs. Shakespeare photobomb

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Costume pieces

Character Profile: Lion

He’s a noble beast, but he’s got a lot to learn…

The Lion & The Mouse -- illustration by Sam Bertken
The Lion & The Mouse — illustration by Sam Bertken

When we first meet the Lion, we know he’s impressive as the King of the Forest… but even he can learn from his mistakes. To play the lion. an actor must have a strong presence and and even stronger ROAR… He’ll be hunting, but he might also become the hunted!

There are plenty of stories about animals trying to imitate the lordly lion, but we’ve selected just a couple stories in which the lion gets to show the more complicated sides of his character. Any actor would be eager to sink teeth into this meaty role… making it the perfect fit for our own leader and impressario, Samuel Peaches.

See for yourself this weekend, when Aesop Amuck opens at DeFremery Park in Oakland on Saturday and the Noe Valley Town Square on Sunday. And help support the whole tour on Kickstarter!

Link to our project on kickstarter
Help take Aesop Amuck around the Bay Area this summer!

FluxWagon Needs a Makeover!

It’s true! We are underway with modifications to makeover FluxWagon for her new adventures with Aesop’s Fables. She’ll still be the same lovely red-and-yellow on the outside, with colorful worlds on the inside. But the Fables require a much more pastoral setting than the exotic locales of the Kipling tales we told in O Best Beloved. Allow the Players to tell you more:

And you can help! Just click on over to our new Kickstarter campaign, where any amount will help not only get FluxWagon ready to roll, but pay for boring things like insurance, park permits, and artists’ rent.

Thank you!!