Inkheart is now in full swing with press night this evening, but what has the process been like getting it to the stage? Craig Sanders has been observing director Walter Meierjohann during the rehearsals and shares his experience…
On a cool, crisp, autumnal November morning in Manchester our journey started and a group consisting of local, national and international creatives, each bringing their own unique and individual skills, came together. Excitement ensued.
One of the first things we looked at was the model box of the set – it looked incredible! A huge pile of books which sit on a revolve will help to depict the different locations in the story. 1400 giant books will provide the actors various platforms upon which they can act. Set Designer Stephane Laime explained to us how actors will fly in and objects will fall from above!
Something that stood out very early on for me was Walter’s collaborative model of working. Throughout the rehearsal period the composer and costume designer were present so actors could play with ideas and develop new ones for their characters. The read through suggested Walter’s clear vision but it also proved how eager he was to involve ideas from the actors too. Walter liked to play with accents and the different approaches to the delivery of lines at this stage. Not worried about projection, Walter encouraged subtlety of delivery to ignite that wonderful feeling you get when you embark upon reading a good book. The sense of curiosity, the sense of adventure…
Before getting the show on its feet in the rehearsal room Walter worked on the objectives of the scenes and characters, perfecting the delivery first. I was fascinated by just how many different ways Walter managed to explore each scene. There were a number of logistical challenges in the play including fire-eating, traps, flying fairies, supernatural forces, and international travel. Bringing Tinkerbell to life was one of those challenges. I suggested an idea and they’re using it!
One of my favourite lines form the play is…“An odd thing happens: the book starts collecting your memories, they stick to it like flypaper.” I will certainly leave with many great memories from the rehearsals. There are so many magical moments from the visual effects and circus moments to the sheer comedy genius of bad guys Basta and Flatnose. At the centre of this big adventure is a strong story with a huge emotional heart that has made me laugh and cry. Walter’s ambition has been inspiring and there are so many things I will take away from this experience. I’ve been given an insight into how a book is adapted to the stage, I’ve learned how to push a scene from every possible angle, and I now know I want to be like Walter – a master at what he does.
From an insider’s perspective with an outside eye, I think Inkheart has all the components of a wonderfully charming, funny, sometimes dark, family show for children and adults alike. It may quite possibly be the BMW of Christmas shows this year!
Inkheart runs until Sat 9 Jan. Book tickets and find out more here.