Networks Blog Stories Nº. 45: Marta García Andres

This week's blogger is Marta García Andres. Marta first appeared in the original production of Welcome to Sweetville in 2002 right through to Odysseus in October 2008. Six years of learning English by having fun! Along the way she played a native indian, an evil businesswoman, a vampire and a peasant to name a few roles! She is currently in her second year studying translation in Alicante. Thanks for your blog Marta!

1. What’s your name?
Marta García.

2. Did you have a Networks name?
Yes, of course! It was Kate.

3. How many shows have you appeared in?
In 7!

4. Name them!
Welcome To Sweetville, Dracula, Peter Pan, Scrooge (2005), Ocean Blue, Robin Hood 2 and Odysseus

POSTER FOR WELCOME TO SWEETVILLE - JUNE 2002

5. What was your first show?
Welcome to Sweetville. I remember it with a smile, It introduced me to a magical experience!

MARTA AS THE PERFUME SALES GIRL IN DRACULA - JUNE 2004

6 What are your earliest memories of the shows?
I can still remember when I first came to a Welcome To Sweetville rehearsal. Pedro Murcia was explaining to me how everything worked. I was kind of scared a bit, I wondered: What have I joined to?

MARTA (RIGHT) IN OCEAN BLUE - JUNE 2006

7. A) What is your earliest memory of Nick?
I remember him on top of two benches, teaching us how to dance.

IMAGE FROM ROBIN HOOD II - THE PRINCE STRIKES BACK - MARCH 2007

B) What is your favourite memory of Nick?
Lots of funny moments!! The rehearsals were (and I'm sure, are) really funny, Nick just made lots of funny jokes!

Poster for Peter Pan - December 2004

C) What is your scariest memory of Nick?
I remember all of us waiting to go on stage in the tiny "small room", and Nick shouting from the outside: COULD YOU PLEASE SHUT UP!?

ED: WE CAN'T CONFIRM KATE'S STORY THAT NICK SAID PLEASE?

THE CAST OF PETER PAN - DECEMBER 2004 - MARTA IS CENTRE OF THE THIRD LINE.

8. What has been your favourite show to date?
My favourite show to date was Odysseus. We performed it at the Teatro Circo, an unforgettable experience.

MARTA (LEFT) IN ODYSSEUS - 2008.

9. Do you have a favourite moment in a show or memorable moment in rehearsal?
I really enjoyed all the rehearsals of Robin Hood, because all songs were fantastic, the costumes were incredibly funny and the cast was excellent.

POSTER FOR ODYSSEUS - NETWORKS THEATRE MARCH 2008 & TEATRO CIRCO OCTOBER 2008

10. What is your favourite photograph of any production?
My favourite photograph would be one from Odysseus at the Teatro Circo.

ODYSSEUS IN TEATRO CIRCO, ORIHUELA - OCTOBER 2008

11. Are there any ideas you’d like to give Nick when he’s planning productions. Stories or subjects
When I was a kid I used to like a book called The Witches by Roald Dahl. I would love to see it on the Networks stage.

12. Finally can you sum up Networks Theatre in one word?
Amazing.

Networks Blog Stories Nº. 44: Dennis Carpenter

The Blog is back after the summer break! And back with a long-awaited contribution from designer, actor, costume maker, prop-maker and problem solver Dennis Carpenter. His creative skill is stamped on every single Networks production. As an actor he's played villain and Dame, as a designer he's painted Rainforests and Palaces, as a costume maker he's made Ball Gowns and Togas, as a Prop Maker he's made icebergs and scrolls. I could go on and on and but let him tell you more...

1. What’s your name?

Dennis Carpenter

2. Did/Do you have a Networks name?

No

IMAGE FROM THE FIRST PRODUCTION OF UGLY, DENNIS PLAYED DRAKE - MAY 2004

3. How many shows have you appeared in?

14 but have worked on 53

STAGE DESIGN FROM DRACULA - JUNE 2004

4. Name them!

As an actor: Two Princesses in Waiting, Cinderella (Buttons), Last Panto in Little Grimley, Painting Memories, Aladdin (Abanazar), Ugly, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (Muddles), Prince and The Pauper, Beauty and the Beast, Cinderella (Ugly Sister), Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, (Wicked Queen), Dick Whittington, A Christmas Carol and Aladdin (Widow Twankey.)

IMAGE FROM ALADDIN - NOVEMBER 2003

5. What was your first show?

The Two Princesses, I played a messenger. I entered to give the Two Princesses a message and had a heart attack and died.

ED: Two Princesses in March 2002 was Dennis' first acting role. As a designer or prop maker we need to go back as far as December 1999 when he made a model of Titanic and an Iceberg.

DENNIS HAND MAKES APPROXIMATELY 100 COSTUMES A YEAR.

6. What are your earliest memories of the shows?

My earliest memories are of watching the younger kids shows in December and June, and thinking how wonderful it was that these little kids have the opportunity to take part in something like this.

7. A) What is your earliest memory of Nick?

It is seeing someone who is passionate about theatre and the possibilities doing theatre can give you, personally giving you more confidence and socially to be more extrovert.

STAGE DESIGN FROM THE FIRST FAIRY TALE MIX PRODUCTION - DECEMBER 2003

B) What is your favourite memory of Nick?

When he wore the short blue wig playing the part of dame in Dick Whittington, during the dress rehearsal I couldn't stop laughing.

"THAT" BLUE WIG FROM DICK WHITTINGTON - NOVEMBER 2008

C) What is your scariest memory of Nick?

The scariest memory of Nick has to be when he was dressed in the very bright 1960s style costume from one of the pantos, it was awful but fantastic at the same time.

DENNIS ARE YOU LAUGHING? IMAGE FROM DICK WHITTINGTON - NOVEMBER 2008

8. What has been your favourite show to date?

It has to be Last Panto in Little Grimley.

COSTUME DESIGN FROM PSYCHEDELIC COOL - MARCH 2010

9. Do you have a favourite moment in a show or memorable moment in rehearsal?

There are just too many to choose from, but one does stand out more than any other. It was during a performance of The Prince and the Pauper May 2005, and a scene between Cristina (sorry to remind you of this) and myself. Well, Cristina was due to enter and then we would say our lines and job done, but as she entered she missed the step onto the stage and fell over, disaster, what do we do? Luckily she got up and we managed to get through the scene.

Also very quickly, I remember playing the Wicked Queen in Snow White and after a costume change and a bit of a long break between scenes, I sat in the office and had taken off the high heeled shoes and put my more comfortable trainers on, yes you can guess what happened next, I entered on stage with the correct costume on, but wearing my trainers.

10. What is your favourite photograph of any production?

This was a fun show - Beauty and the Beast. It's always fun to play the baddie!

Image from Beauty and the Beast - November 2005

11. Are there any ideas you’d like to give Nick when he’s planning productions. Stories or subjects that you think might make good shows?

Any shows where I get to put on a fabulous frock has got to be the best idea!

IMAGE FROM ALADDIN - DENNIS AS WIDOW TWANKEY - NOVEMBER 2010

12. Finally: can you sum up Networks Theatre in one word?

Enchanting, infectious.

ED: That's two words but thanks anyway.