Richard Abbey
Lighting, Sound & AV
Sound Projects...
....
Buddy Holly and the Cricketers
at Pitlochry Festival Theatre
Lighting Design By Richard Abbey
Richard's Latest Projects include Sound Designing for the Production of Perfect Days at Pitlochry Festival Theatre, also designing the Sound effects and soundscapes for the new musical of 'Whisky Kisses'.
Macbeth 2012
Pistachio Choice
Drayton Arms Theatre
Venue: Drayton Arms Theatre
Description:
The Tragedy of Macbeth (commonly called Macbeth) is a play by William Shakespeare about a regicide and its aftermath. It is Shakespeare's shortest tragedy and is believed to have been written sometime between 1603 and 1607. The earliest account of a performance of what was probably Shakespeare's play is April 1611, when Simon Forman recorded seeing such a play at the Globe Theatre. It was first published in the Folio of 1623, possibly from a prompt book.
Shakespeare's source for the tragedy are the accounts of King Macbeth of Scotland, Macduff, and Duncan in Holinshed's Chronicles (1587), a history of England, Scotland and Ireland familiar to Shakespeare and his contemporaries. However, the story of Macbeth as told by Shakespeare bears little relation to real events in Scottish history, as Macbeth was an admired and able monarch.
In the backstage world of theatre, some believe that the play is cursed, and will not mention its title aloud, referring to it instead as "the Scottish play". Over the course of many centuries, the play has attracted some of the greatest actors in the roles of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth
'If you like your Shakespeare gripping and atmospheric, keep an evening free to go and see this, you will not be disappointed'.
Ellie Dawes
See More about the review at
http://www.remotegoat.co.uk/review_view.php?uid=8102
Sound Description
The Music composed and the sound effects created for this version of Macbeth had a symbolic element. Which bought out the emotions and feelings throughout the play.
Creative Team:
Directed By Jeffrey Kurtz
Produced By Tim Wyatt
Lighting Design By Amy Riddell and Richard Abbey
Sound Design by Richard Abbey
Sandholm
ALRA & Company of Angels
Venue: ALRA Theatre
ALRA and Company of Angels Production of Sandholm, Based in Denmark.
A young woman calling herself Job arrives at the gates of Sandholm, an asylum centre near Copenhagen. She wont say where she is from, but claims to be able to speak to God. Soon people start turning to Job for salvation. Then Jobs past catches up with her and all is revealed.
Witty, moving and intensely thought-provoking.
Sound Description
The sound was created with the story's indication of another character. Richard and Gareth Nicholls worked closely together to create the character. The sound played a key role in the production with the character Job, which increased to a powerful and dramatic climax to the production. To your left on the black ipod is some of the material used.
Creative Team:
Directed By Gareth Nicholls
Set Design By Fausto Izzi
Lighting Design By Agnieszka Solska
Sound Design by Richard Abbey
Pump House Project
ALRA Theatre & The People Show
Venue: Battersea Park & Battersea Park Pump House
The People Show,ALRA and Roehampton University come together for the Wandworth Arts Festival to create The Pump House Project.
An old pump house in Battersea Park returns to work for a production of its past and history of the surronding park. There were ghosts, drones, and a beautiful staged walk through the park.
Sound Description
Live Feeds throughout the Pump house building created a spooky mood on two of the floors.
Drones and mechanical noises made up the sounds of this building creating a nervous atmosphere for vistors of the park and audience.
Press
'Congratulations to ALRA and University of Roehampton for what I thought was a very amusing and enjoyable performance.'
[Paul McCue, Deputy Director of Leisure and Amenity Services, Wandsworth Council]
The People Show
Academy of Live and Recorded Arts
Roehampton University
Sunday Morning At The Center Of The World
Tooting Tram & Social Club
Written by Louis De Berniere in 2001, the play is based upon his experiences of the lives and diverse cultures he observed while living in Garratt Lane, Tooting, London. Sean will be working alongside producer; Andrew David, and set designer Tony Draper in collaboration with Antic Ltd. The play draws influences from the infamous; Under Milkwood written by Dylan Thomas.
Sound Description
Richard bought the music concrete of Tooting indoors to the Tooting Tram and Social Club.
Creative Team:
Directed By Shawn Turner
Set Design By Tone Draper
Lighting Design By Rob Foskett and Richard Abbey
Sound Design by Richard Abbey
Text.
Entertaining Strangers
ALRA Theatre
Venue: ALRA THEATRE
Description:
When the Reverend Henry Moule and his family arrive in their new parish of Fordington, near Dorchester, they are shocked by the lack of solemnity and religiosity in his reluctant congregation.
The preachers stony approach sits uneasily with the community, especially Sarah Eldridge, beer-brewer and aspiring businesswoman.
But when the spectre of disease looms over the town, each person is forced into a reassessment of their values, and through punishing experience, a wary understanding grows between these pillars of the community.
Entertaining Strangers was originally written as a community play for the people of Dorchester, with a cast of 180. Edgar set up a team of researchers to delve into local history, and wove the results into the play we see today. Its these roots that bring the sense of pageantry, and a terrific strength and energy to this ensemble piece.
Sound Description
The sound was built with a coverage of full surrond sound.The production was staged in traverse which meant surrond sound was going to be easily achieved. Richard took advantage of the staging and built the sound effects for this particular space.
People commented on the horse race sound effect saying it sounded as though there was a horse race in the theatre. The soundscape of the cliff edge sounded as though sea came in one end of the theatre.
Text.
Cloudstreet
Alra TheatreAdd Details here
A magical, panoramic epic, sprawling over 20 years in the lives of two families- the Pickles and the Lambs - who are thrown together by fortune in the shuddering house at NO.1 Cloudstreet.
Sound Description
This was a mixture of old American classics to Folk numbers of the present day made up the musical compliation for the show. A number of atmospherical Sound scapes were used to set the scene in Australia, which brought the heat to the production.
Creative Team:
Directed By Titania Krimpas
Set Design and Costume By Anna Toumanova
Lighting Design By Mark Dymock
Sound Design by Richard Abbey
The Tempest
Sandwell College
Venue: S.C Theatre
Description:
This drama is one of the great comedy plays by William Shakespeare. The themes illustrated in the play are freedom, friendship , repentance and forgiveness and feature different temperaments illustrating temperance and intemperance. The plot starts when King Alonso of Naples and his entourage sail home for Italy after attending his daughter's wedding in Tunis, Africa. They encounter a violent storm, or Tempest. Everyone jumps overboard and are washed ashore on a strange island inhabited by the magician Prospero who has deliberately conjured up the storm. Prospero and Miranda live in a cave on the island which is also inhabited by Ariel, a sprite who carries out the bidding of Prospero, and the ugly, half human Caliban. Various plots against the main characters fail thanks to the magic of Prospero. The play ends with all the plotters repenting the Tempest is calmed.
http://www.globe-theatre.org.uk
Sound Description
This is one of a sound designers favourite purely because of the opening scenes of the storm.
A storm builds at sea and hits their ship, with impact to create the atmosphere of the play.
Creative Team: Directed By Emily Chell Set Design and Costume By Richard Abbey Lighting Design By Richard Abbey Sound Design by Richard Abbey
Blackout
Sandwell College
Venue: Sandwell College Theatre, The Theatre Royal Bath and T.I.E Tour
Originally commissioned by the National Theatre as part of their 'New Connections 2009' series of powerful, contemporary plays written specifically for young people to perform. Blackout promises to widen your views of teenagers within our society as well as challenge your experience of conventional theatre.
Sound Description
The sounds of a fight in school to a very grusome horror film were just a number of Soundscapes and sound effects created for a such a powerful piece.
Creative Team: Directed By Emily Chell Set Design and Costume By Richard Abbey Lighting Design By Richard Abbey Sound Design by Richard Abbey