Dispatches from the Rehearsal Room: Week Two on Perseverance Drive

In today’s ‘Dispatches’ Madani reflects on the first week of rehearsal for Perseverance Drive.

‘As a company we have made many important discoveries this week’ says Madani. ‘What has been most revealing is discovering the musicality of the play and in doing so unlocking the positive shared experience of the Pentecostal Church; the unity, the hope and the salvation that is offered by gospel hymns has become crucial to the play.’

‘All eight actors are strong, spirited, and interestingly have all had an experience of the Church in childhood, so they are bringing a lot of personal experience to the rehearsal room.’ There have been challenges he says: ‘finding the Bajan accent is going to be an interesting journey, I can tell already. It is considered a very unique accent in the Caribbean, and sounds totally different even from the other small islands that surround it – I’ll keep you updated!’

Highlights of the first week according to Madani:

‘Having Robin in the rehearsal room with us has been amazing. The script is still changing, and becoming tighter and leaner with every day.’
‘Ed, our Sound Designer, running a choral session with the cast was really lovely’
‘We start every day by singing gospel songs, which all of the cast connect with from their youth. It’s almost a nostalgic exercise – everyone starts the day with a smile on their face.’