Friday: Whilst searching for one of our Stage Managers today, the wonderfully named Titch MacLeod, I wandered into a back room at Pentabus HQ & there hanging on a clothes rail amongst assorted old costumes was a battered old tunic I’d worn in a Pentabus show 14 years ago. It was a strangely emotional moment, I suppose because it made me reflect on how life has changed over the last 10 years, having got married, had kids & like our protagonist Brian Viner, moved to the country. Which brings me back to Tales of the Country. I love this book & if our production can be as funny & engaging as the book I’ll be a happy man. At the end of week 2 there seems to be a general air of quiet confidence in the rehearsal space. We know we have a great script thanks to the wonderful Nick Warburton. We’ve also roughly blocked the play from start to finish & even managed a decent run on Thursday as opposed to the stagger through we anticipated. Now all we have to do is get off book over the weekend. Not an easy thing to do with 3 kids to help look after & the concluding 6 Nations matches to watch!

Monday: Even in the theatre you can get the Monday morning blues but it was smiles all round in the rehearsal room this morning. Possibly because our writer Nick had returned to the fold after a 2 week absence or perhaps it was due to Sarah Stanley’s happy news. ‘Stan’ as she is now known, turned up wearing a gorgeous antique diamond ring & announced her engagement (the lucky chap is called Ju by the way so congratulations to them both). The happy bug stayed with us as we enjoyed another productive day, with everyone off book & that evening had dinner at the King’s Head in Docklow (once again in the name of research!). Brian Viner joined us & presented Nick with a bottle of red wine with a picture of W.G. Grace on the label (Nick is a big cricket fan). Following Stan’s engagement, Brian & the ladies talked weddings while we tucked into some lovely, hearty food served up by the equally lovely Paula. That evening I sat in my room listening to some of the music we’ll be using in the show, composed by the very talented Benet Walsh. I was trying to imagine what the finished play would be like. As Benet’s rich, warm, evocative & slightly mournful music drifted around my room I felt quite uplifted. The music is so important to any production & this music is perfect.

Wednesday: In rehearsals we’re now using the set almost in its entirety & it looks fantastic thanks to our designer James Humphrey. Most of the day was spent working on the technical side of things, the mechanics of the play. We’re very fortunate to have rehearsals led by directors like Orla & Associate Director Kate Budgen. It really is a privilege to be working with them. However this detailed work can be a headache & the week 3 blues seemed to be setting in. It was lovely therefore to join some of the team last night in The Wheatsheaf for a much needed couple of beers.

Thursday: The morning was spent working the magnolia in to the play. This complex & very impressive prop literally takes centre stage in our production & this morning will be remembered as ‘magnoliagate’. However, before lunch we ran the first half of Act 1 & I think it was the best we’ve done it. Perhaps we’ve turned a corner.

I think the reason I got a bit soppy over a piece of old costume last week was because as well as making me think of family & home (both major themes in our story), it also reminded me that Pentabus is a company close to my heart. Over the years I’ve been fortunate to work in Ludlow quite a few times both with Pentabus & the Shakespeare Festival & Ludlow really has become a home from home. It’s good to be back.

Sean Carlson
Owen in ‘Tales of the Country’.