​1 Birthday Girl Director, 5 Actors, 1 Producer and 1 Blogger – Hello, for the final time!
 
Friday, as well as being Director Megan’s birthday, marks the end of Phase 1 of the Research and Development for Rock Bottom. The end of a week of exploration and evolution.
 
As the week draws to a close, a sense of all the techniques, exercises, stories and experiences coming together is felt. The beauty of Research and Development is that more often than not, even though a phase ends it marks the beginning of the next chapter in the production’s life. With that in mind, the final day lends Itself to summarising and evaluating.
 
The morning was spent again delving deeper into each other’s stories, with one actor using the words of the actor next to them. Then submitted material was worked and reworked finding the humour in deep and personal stories. Scripted work was revisited, and even more new material was discovered. Of course, birthday cake breaks were taken intermittently.
 
Amy, Sol, Jake, Janelle and Amy bring life and energy as well as sensitivity and understanding to each of the pieces they perform. From 2 minute exerts to longer, developed storytelling. Each of the actors brings something different to the table and in turn a wealth of talent is exhibited.
 
Throughout the week Megan introduced different ideas and methods. Each would build upon the previous and created a well-rounded and varied mix of performances. Having visited and revisited different stimuli and material, the week is concluded with a strong understanding of what was enjoyable, what was challenging, emotive, funny, effective and so on.
 
Rock Bottom, as a concept, is important and this week’s R&D is the first step in creating something powerful that addresses and makes the issue accessible through art. On day 5 it is easy to recognise the progress made in such a short amount of time and start to mark out a path for the next steps.
 
It has been a pleasure to be a part of this process and see such strength and joy built out of dark places. This is the start of a very exciting journey, and if the last 5 days are anything to go by, it’s going to be incredible.
 
“That was brilliant, feel free to agree with me.”

​1 producer, 5 actors, 1 director, 1 blogger – hi again! – the penultimate day of the Rock Bottom R&D.
 
In only 4 days, a group of near strangers have become a close and caring group, working towards a common goal. It is hard to deny the weight of the subject matter at hand, but even in the absence of hugs (thanks Covid) we help to uplift, support and comfort each other.
 
Today looked closely at the stories of those in the room. Our 5 actor’s own experiences of Rock Bottom: what led them to Rock Bottom, what has helped them on the path to recovery and how did they feel throughout. Director Megan guides each interview with questions that empower and enable the group to share openly and safely.
 
It is easy to notice similarities in the accounts given… “common denominators in very unique stories”. The shift from submitted material to first-hand stories from the room adds a whole other level of emotion. Asking the question: when is the right time to tell your story?
 
Yoga for Joy begins the day. Within each story it is possible to find the joy and laughter. Copious cups of tea, stretching and even a socially distanced disco dance break keep the room light and energised. The strength and sincerity within the space is evident and overwhelming at times.
 
By the end of the day, stories are exchanged and brought to life by alternate actors. All of a sudden, a whole new perspective is created, as each actor hears their own story embodied by someone else. Accents and mannerisms are interpreted and redelivered as the words that flowed from one mouth are scripted and performed by another.
 
With only one day left of the R&D it feels like a very poignant place in the process. The connection felt to each other and to the project is intense. Being a part of this process has been eye-opening and the importance of the piece has grown more apparent as the days go by.
 
Roll on day 5!
 
See you tomorrow!

​1 director, 5 actors , 1 blogger – hello! – in a different space.
 
Today marks the midway point in this R&D week. A change in space brings with it new opportunities and new restrictions each paving the way for more creativity.
 
The journey of Rock Bottom flows in many directions: as a concept within this production, highlighted in the stories submitted and echoed in the experiences of the people in the room. With each exercise and prompt from Director Megan a new path is uncovered.
 
At this point in the week questions arise surrounding the piece itself – how do we want to tell these stories? How do we want to portray the lives that they have resulted from? Starting the week with only an idea and source material, through to finishing day 3 having worked and blocked pages of script: something palpable is being created… something special.
 
Hearing and seeing people’s very real stories come to life through the bodies and voices of others, and becoming engaging, entertaining and enlightening. Having experiences interlink, complimenting and contrasting each other as snippets of text and powerful quotes weave together to form a narrative.
 
The voices in the room weigh in with suggestions, differing perspectives change the course of action and the journey continues to adapt and develop as time goes on. An open and creative room where the thoughts of all are valued and considered. A combination of knowledge, experience, understanding and a motivation to create a worthwhile piece of theatre.
 
In a different space, no longer floating high above the city but surrounded by the sights and sounds of bustling Manchester, focus turns to movement. The journey accelerates with the adding of physicality and the connections made with the stories told become heightened.
 
The morning was research filled, with more and more content being uncovered. A midday trip to the nearby chippy followed by yoga… got to have balance, right?! The afternoon was spent with music, dance, the occasional teary eye and warmth.
 
Roll on day 4!
 
See you tomorrow!

1 photographer, 5 actors, 1 director and 1 blogger – hi again!
 
Verbatim theatre – made from real people’s words.
Instead of creating characters and plots from places of imagination Rock Bottom draws from real life accounts, presented as videos, voice notes, text conversations and written documentation.
 
In the same way that “based on a true story” spanning a screen at the start of a film brings an instant gravitas to the upcoming scenes, knowing that the words being realised in this room stem from lived experiences adds a deeper level of emotion, intrigue and responsibility.
 
Each story told, either shared round a tabletop activity, listened to and repeated, or developed into a performance, brings comparisons and stark contradictions from the one told just moments before. As we build databases and spreadsheets, draw inspiration from others and breathe life back into transcriptions, twists and turns unravel and play out before our eyes.
 
The retellings are laced with recurring themes that provide insight as well as elements that we can all relate to on one level or another, but in the same moment the intricacies surrounding individuals and their mental health are undeniably clear.
 
A day spent delving deep into material: drawing quotes, transcribing analysing and exploring. An overwhelming desire to escape rings true in so many of the stories. An ultimate decision to give up or carry on… hitting Rock Bottom. The subsequent events and the consequent road to recovery, however, differ immensely. The saving grace in one story was the downfall for another. 
 
Discussions of self-help, medication, competition within mental health – building a strong base of understanding from research and discussion to ensure that all stories are treated with respect and all decisions are justified.
 
Speaking the words of others, treating them with sensitivity and understanding their power.

Whilst our lunchtime walk was rained off by a classic Manchester downpour, the energy in the room allows for discovery through fun whilst establishing the balance between interpretation and truthfulness.
 
Roll on day 3!
 
See you tomorrow!

​A special 'thank you' to Mark Russell for joining us in the room today and taking wonderful photos. 
 
 

Rock Bottom – Research and Development Day 1
 
1 director, 5 actors, a blogger – that’s me! – and a week’s R&D for a verbatim piece of theatre exploring different people’s experiences of Rock Bottom.
 
In its essence, Rock Bottom is a single stimulus that resonates with so many in such different ways. Researching and developing the stories of those who have hit what they believe to be Rock Bottom makes this undeniably clear. A subject matter that is relatable yet entirely unique.
 
As our 5 actors {Amy, Janelle, Sol, Jake and Amy} share and discuss their own experiences as well as anonymous reports of others hitting Rock Bottom, linking factors and identifiable truths rise to the surface. An undercurrent of understanding runs alongside new discoveries of lived experience and conditions.
 
Director Megan asks is knowledge power? Do diagnoses and labels create opportunities to bridge the gap in understanding mental health conditions or do they create a clinical escape route from important discussions using emotive, descriptive language. In the same way that each individual in the room has their own experience with mental health and Rock Bottom, the way in which their experiences are classified is far from one size fits all.
 
In our brave space looking over the skyline of the city, we learn from each other and through wider research tasks. How conditions are defined, described and retold through similes and metaphors, how they manifest, how they feel.
 
A narrative begins to unfold through discussion and experimenting with text, audio accounts and videos. The beauty of research and development, in particular day 1, is going from “hi, nice to meet you” to a space filled with energy and creativity.
 
The day begun with socially distanced yoga, and ended with 5 actors on their feet, guided by a director. Personal stories, interviews from friends and strangers, experiences of those in the public eye. Accounts of  mental health, hitting Rock Bottom, differing treatments, the road to recovery.
 
A room filled with questions of why issues that affect so many remain stigmatised and diminished by society and even those close to us. Empathy for the experiences of others and admiration for the journeys taken. Rock Bottom uncovers all this, and more.
 
Roll on Day 2!

​See you tomorrow!

Director: Megan Marie Griffith
Blogger: Faye Jones
Actors: Amy Du Quesne, Jake Hagan, Amy Gavin, Solaya Sang & Janelle Thompson