Half Moon's fantastic play Begin/End has now come to an end.

So it's finally over.
Begin/End - does just what it says on the tin. It began and now has come to an end. As a small theatre company Half Moon don't have a repertory company of actors who can be relied on to put on ad hoc performances, so the fantastic Begin/End company will now go their separate ways.

Begin/End finished up at Oval House Theatre in London and all the team went down to give it a farewell send off. The performers Rachel McKenzie and Amy Costello once again were fantastic, good luck with whatever comes next! Stage Manager Trevor Nichol has also been a star, coaxing Half Moon's old orange van - Jessie, around the country and hosting the after show 'textbacks' with the aplomb of Oprah.

So thanks to everyone who has supported Begin/End around the country, we think it has been a fantastic production, we hope that you have too. Don't forget there are educational resources for the show and lots more information about Half Moon on our website - check it out. www.halfmoon.org.uk

BEGIN/END LIFE ON TOUR

So, it’s been four weeks since we left the home of The Half Moon Theatre in Limehouse and Begin/End started its national tour. We’ve been to Lough, Gateshead, Bethnal Green, Cambridge, Barking, Lancaster, Deptford and are currently playing at the Salisbury Playhouse. Our first priority was to get to know (and love) our amazingly fabulous bright orange tour van...Jessie! After loading and re-loading the set into the van three times over, way back in Gateshead, we’ve learnt our lesson and have perfected the art of packing. Service stations have also become a second home; de ja vu has set in as we head up and down the M1 weekly.

A great thing about touring is seeing so many different venues and constantly meeting new people. Every theatre has been so welcoming and has really helped Begin/End’s small (but perfectly formed) crew get the show up on time with the sound, lighting and video as the production team originally designed. Often this is difficult due to different theatres having different equipment, but that is all part of the fun of touring.

As we travel from place to place, something which has kept the play fresh for us is how the audience reaction changes. This can be anything from what people laugh at, whether we hear chatter or gasps, and what questions are asked during the text chat back which happens after the show. We’ve definitely been kept on our toes with questions and comments about the play which we hadn’t even considered. When audience members come up and chat to us after, especially young adults, the feedback has been really positive; we even had our picture taken with one youth theatre group!

Today we’re going to gatecrash the resident youth theatre’s workshop to say hello and see what they’re up to. Next stop on the tour is The Birmingham Rep so we still have lots to look forward to, and Jessie is still going strong!

VJ Paul Hithersay reflects on how Begin/End has developed

First time I've been to Cambridge and the Junction in years. The venue looks absolutely great from outside and the work done on the inside has utterly transformed it.

My eyes just went straight to Anna's set on stage where it looked so perfect from the height and distance of our seats, it made me say 'wow' out loud! This was the first time I'd seen it since the tech rehearsal, it was like being greeted by an old friend!

Then the first words and I'm impressed again at just how strong and natural Amy's characterisation of Lili has become. I was always impressed with what I saw of Amy's work in development at Half Moon, with the whole process of Angela's direction and the ideas that emerged. The performance I was seeing here was perfect. This IS Lili. Then from the moment Yaz appears I'm transfixed again. The timing and poise that Rachel has and maintains throughout, is, actually awesome. The way she conveys Yaz's character growing and changing is so well conceived. Her movement, body language, gestures, voice, and facial expressions are riveting and they absolutely fit the moment.

What really works for me is the amazing dynamic that has developed between these characters. I was hugely impressed by the way in which Amy and Rachel have worked together in making the relationship between Lilli and Yaz so believable through how (as actors) they move and interact physically on stage. The way Rachel has understood Yaz as someone who changes while her friend Lili stays stuck, is played out physically, as well as in dialogue and narrative, with great insight, finesse and empathy. They have both made this work on so many levels. The way Amy lives Lili's turmoils, frustrations and rejection is just brilliant. She makes you able to feel exasperatingly contradictory emotions about the way Lili thinks and behaves. You feel her almost going mad with both the joy and the pain. The story is of a roller-coaster emotional journey, Amy and Rachel took us on it with impressive skill and power.

The stage management was seamless magic, the music filled and fitted the world of Lili and Yaz's journey with real integrity and purpose. I thought the visuals worked well, not too intrusive but still appropriately meaningful. There was never a moment when my attention was away from the action. Time belonged to the world within the stage and the story. Lili and Yaz (Amy and Rachel) absolutely owned it!

A superlatively impressive show in a very impressive venue.

Judging from the audience response and the perceptive, enthusiastic questions afterwards, they were very impressed, too!

If you've been wondering where the Begin/End team are... here they are in Lancaster, Cambridge today!

Rachel, Amy and Trevor reunited again and in Lancaster - good to see the Begin/End posters up and about the town too! Thanks to all who came to see the show and for your questions after the performance.

Another Begin/End review

Begin/End has received another review from Lyn Gardner at the Guardian.

"David Lane's two-hander maps the girls' relationship with intensity, in ­writing that is flecked with everyday poetry" The Guardian

If you missed it in Saturday's Guardian then have a look here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/stage/2010/feb/12/begin-end-review

Meanwhile the Begin/End company are preparing to return to London with a busy schedule of performances coming up, across the country. Look out for them coming to a venue near you soon. http://www.halfmoon.org.uk/shows/BeginEnd.htm#schedule

If anyone is planning on using Begin/End in the classroom then as well as this blog there is a great learning resource pack online. It can be downloaded from the Begin/End page of Half Moon's website. http://www.halfmoon.org.uk/shows/BeginEnd.htm#Resources

Review by Micah Holmes, Broadway Barking Young Ambassador

Begin/End is a beautiful story about a friendship that grows and blossoms until it changes lives and touches people.

It is the tale of the trials and tribulations friendship can bring, and how to overcome them.

The story is taken from two girls' points of view, and carries a beautiful storyline with it. Lili and Yaz are two lonely girls, trapped in their unfortunate lives. They they find each other and slowly begin to escape their surreal surroundings.

Aimed at audiences 14+, Begin/End is well scripted, excellently portrayed and has a pure, wonderful story. Begin/End is a must see for young actors, older actors and anyone who wants an inspiring thought provoking pieces of theatre.

Begin/End will be shown at The Broadway Barking for one night only - Thursday 11 March.
Be there, or be square!

Review by Micah Holmes

Stage Manager Trevor, keeps a photo diary of the tour!

A postcard from Gateshead!