Networks Blog Stories Nº. 24: David Verdejo

This week's blog entry is from David Verdejo. He was in the first ever shows back in 1999 and has played an enormous part in our success over the years. He is a two time Networks Theatre Award winner. He won the lifetime achievement award in 2008 and also won that year Best Actor for his performance as the Narrator in Odysseus. He continues to be a part of theatre these days even though he is at University, last year he participated in A Christmas Carol and also gave a very memorable performance as Ben in When I was Me.

1. What’s your name?

DAVID VERDEJO MORENO

2. Did/Do you have a Networks name?

DAVID

3. How many shows have you appeared in?

21

4. Name them!

FIRST SHOWS, MILLENNIUM SHOWS, ROBIN HOOD, TREASURE PLANET, A CHRISTMAS CAROL (THE PLAY), WELCOME TO SWEETVILLE, CHRISTMAS AT THE MAJESTIC HOTEL, FLIGHT, ALADDIN, FAIRY TALE MIX, DRACULA, PRINCE AND THE PAUPER, ROMEO & JULIET, ROBIN HOOD AND THE ABBA SILVER DISC, CINDERELLA, ROBIN HOOD THE PRINCE STRIKES BACK, SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS, ODYSSEUS, FRANKENSTEIN, A CHRISTMAS CAROL and WHEN I WAS ME.

5. What was your first show?

FIRST SHOWS, MARCH 1999

6. What are your earliest memories of the shows?

I remember when I entered my first time, I saw Nick giving us stickers for our names and I remember thinking I hope this is not the man who is going to organise our shows.

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

See answer 6.

B) What is your favourite memory of Nick?

During the show Treasure Planet we had quotations from famous people. One of the pictures was of Ghandi and I asked him if that was his father. You should have seen his face!

C) What is your scariest memory of Nick?

A carton of orange juice, I’ll say no more.

8. What has been your favourite show to date?

Robin Hood Part One. There was a great connection between everybody in the cast. We knew were doing one of Nick’s best written shows.

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

There was one moment, and I can’t remember when, when I realised I had lost all of my shyness.

10. What is your favourite photograph of any production?



THIS IS FROM FLIGHT JUNE 2003

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

Nick has already made my dream come true. I suggested to him to do a show with the music of Queen. He wrote Odysseus!

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

Opportunity.

Networks Blog Stories Nº. 23: Nick Moore

1. What’s your name? NICK

2. Do you have a Networks name? I'M SURE I'VE BEEN CALLED MANY.

3. How many shows have you appeared in? ACTED: 16 WRITTEN: 49 DIRECTED: 50

4. Name them!A CHRISTMAS CAROL - THE PANTO, A CHRISTMAS CAROL - THE PLAY, THREE PRINCESSES IN WAITING, THE HAPPY PRINCE, DICK WHITTINGTON, THE SCARECROW GIRL, SNOW WHITE X2, CINDERELLA X2, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, PRINCE AND THE PAUPER, UGLY, ALADDIN, PAINTING MEMORIES, LAST PANTO IN LITTLE GRIMLEY,

5. What was your first show? AS ACTOR, A CHRISTMAS CAROL - THE PLAY, AS WRITER/DIRECTOR THE FIRST SHOWS IN MARCH 1998

6. What are your earliest memories of the shows? LEE'S ENTHUSIASM, LEARNING THE WORD "GANAS." Realising the potential of the students. Knowing that whatever you asked them to do they were capable of doing it.

7. What is your earliest/favourite/scariest memory of Nick? PUBLIC APOLOGY. :-) I'M SORRY IF I'VE EVER SCARED SOMEONE WHEN I DIDN'T MEAN TO. I ONLY MEANT TO DO THAT TO A FEW PEOPLE. (YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE.) THERE IS NO GREATER SATISFACTION THAN CREEPING UP TO THE DOOR OF THE SMALL ROOM WHEN PEOPLE DON'T KNOW I'M THERE. ENDLESSLY AMUSING.

8. What has been your favourite show to date? REALLY DIFFICULT TO NAME ONE...BUT IF ONLY FOR THE FINAL TWO SONGS......MARCH 2008 - SHOW 35 ODYSSEUS.

SEE BOTH SONGS HERE. The Show Must Go On and We are the Champions.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9OEr51Uq0EM

9. Do you have a favourite moment in a show or memorable moment in rehearsal? I HAVE A MILLION OF THESE...HERE ARE A FEW....

THE FIRST TIME WE DID SNOW WHITE AND TEACHING THE YOUNG ACTORS PLAYING THE DWARFS THE SONGS. IT WAS A WONDERFUL MOMENT.

THE OPENING OF FLIGHT...ONE WING DOWN LOW....

SINGING WITH ALBERT IN PRINCE AND THE PAUPER...(HE'S A NATURAL ACTOR BUT DOESN'T REALISE HOW GOOD HE IS)

THE END OF KINDERTRANSPORT WHEN LUIS SAID "GOODNIGHT MAMA,"

THE WHOLE EXPERIENCE OF REMEMBRANCE & DISTANT THUNDER.

THE AWARDS NIGHTS. THE BEST NIGHT OF THE YEAR!!!

RECNAD

DAVID (WE SHARE A BIRTHDAY)AND MARIA.

CHARLIE, ALBERT, BROCKITO AND YERAY. AS TYROL DANCERS AND SCROOGETTES.

LAURA GOMEZ, A NATURAL TALENT.

DENNIS CARPENTER. PROBLEM SOLVED.

WHEN I WAS ME.

CERTAIN SPECIAL STUDENTS YOU GET EXTRA CLOSE TO. I CAN'T NAME NAMES AS THEN SOME OF YOU WILL FEEL LEFT OUT, BUT SOME STUDENTS MAKE MY LIFE AN ABSOLUTE PLEASURE.

AND COUNTLESS OTHER SPECIAL MOMENTS THAT SO MANY OF YOU HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO, TO MAKE MY WORK A JOY.

10. What is your favourite photograph of any production? (Attach it to the email from the show's CDRom and we’ll put it on the blog.) DONE

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? OBVIOUSLY I CAN'T ANSWER THIS QUESTION EXCEPT TO SAY...IT IS MY AMBITION THAT THE BIG PLAN IS THAT THE NETWORKS ACTORS WRITE THE SHOWS AND DIRECT THEM. IT'S YOUR THEATRE.

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





THIS HAS TO BE MY FAVOURITE PHOTO OF ALL TIME. ALL THE STUDENTS TOTALLY IN THE MOMENT.



IT IS SO SATISFYING TO CREATE A MOMENT THEN SEE IT SO BRILLIANTLY PERFORMED.



I HAVE SO MANY PHOTOS OF YOU ALL AS CHILDREN, I THOUGHT IT WAS ONLY FAIR TO PUT UP ONE OF ME. I WAS 14. IT'S NOT A WIG.



ISN'T IT AMAZING. ALL THESE PEOPLE SAID I WANT TO COME TWO NIGHTS A WEEK AND CREATE SOMETHING BRILLIANT!


MY FAVOURITE POSTER THAT I'VE CREATED. IT TOOK DAYS TO CREATE. IT'S MADE UP OF LOTS OF COMPOSITE IMAGES CONNECTED TO THE STORY OF THE LIFE OF THE WRIGHT BROTHERS. MANY ASPECTS OF MY WRITING ARE CONNECTED TO FLIGHT. I BELIEVE YOU CAN FLY!



PART ONE OF A LOOK BACK AT SHOWS AT NETWORKS.



PART TWO OF A LOOK BACK OF SHOWS AT NETWORKS.

Networks Blog Stories Nr. 22: Isabel Verdejo

We're delighted to say that this week's contribution comes from Isabel Verdejo. Isabel last appeared in a show in 2003, but I think she comes and sees every single show! She's a big fan of the theatre and we love to see her! In the photo above Isabel is dancing in the opening song of Aladdin 2003. She played the Slave of the Ring.

1.What’s your name?
ISABEL VERDEJO GARCÍA
2.Did/Do you have a Networks name?
NO, I DON'T. I'M JUST ISABEL
3.How many shows have you appeared in?
I'VE APPEARED IN THREE SHOWS
4.Name them!
MY PERFECT DAY, ALADDIN AND PAINTING MEMORIES
5.What was your first show?
IT WAS "MY PERFECT DAY"
6.What are your earliest memories of the shows?
I THINK THE FIRST ONE IS BEING PART OF THE AUDIENCE, WATCHING ONE OF MY NEPHEW'S FIRST PLAYS.
7.A) What is your earliest memory of Nick?
MY SISTER IN LAW (DAVID'S MOTHER) TALKED TO ME ABOUT HIM (VERY GOOD COMMENTS, BY THE WAY!!!), AND ONE DAY, BEING LEE'S PUPIL, HE TOLD US ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY TO TAKE PART IN AN ADULTS GROUP SHOW. IT WAS REALLY FANTASTIC!
B) What is your favourite memory of Nick?
MY FAVOURITE MEMORY OF NICK IS THE WAY HE TRANSFORMS AN IDEA INTO A GREAT PLAY. FOR EXAMPLE, IN OUR FIRST ADULTS SHOW, "MY PERFECT DAY" WE JUST TALKED TO HIM ABOUT A SPECIAL DAY IN OUR LIFE AND THEN HE WROTE A VERY FUNNY MUSICAL ABOUT THEM.
C) What is your scariest memory of Nick?
I CAN'T REMEMBER ANY SCARY MEMORY ABOUT NICK, MAYBE BECAUSE OF MY BAD MEMORY!!! I REMEMBER HE USED TO BE REALLY ANGRY WHEN PEOPLE WERE LATE IN THE REHEARSALS.
8.What has been your favourite show to date?
I HAVE MANY FAVOURITE SHOWS!!!!!!! MAYBE THE NUMBER ONE IS ROBIN HOOD.
9.Do you have a favourite moment in a show or memorable moment in rehearsal?
EVERY TIME THE LIGHTS GETS DOWN AT NETWORKS THEATRE AND A NEW SHOW STARTS, IS A FAVOURITE MOMENT FOR ME!!!!!!
10.What is your favourite photograph of any production?
MY FAVOURITE PHOTOGRAPH IS ANY IN WHICH MY NEPHEWS' APPEAR (JA, JA, AUNTIE'S LOVE!!!!)

(THIS IS A PHOTO OF FERNANDO AND DAVID, HER NEPHEWS, FROM WHEN I WAS ME, MAY 2010)
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?
I THINK NICK HAS VERY GOOD IDEAS ON HIS OWN!!!
12.Finally: can you sum up Networks Theatre in one word?
SUPERB!!!!!!!

Networks Blog Stories Nr. 21: Irene Melgarejo

Here is Irene Melgarejo's blog. Irene has appeared in several shows and is about to start rehearsal for our next pantomime Aladdin.

WHAT IS YOUR NAME?
1. Irene Melgarejo

DO YOU HAVE A SCHOOL NAME?
2. Yes, I have, Karen.

HOW MANY SHOWS HAVE YOU APPEARED IN?
3. I've appeared in 6 shows I think.

NAME THEM
4. Peter Pan, Romeo and Juliet, Bananas the musical, Frankenstein, Three Princesses in Waiting and Psychedelic Cool.

WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST SHOW?
5. My first show was Peter Pan.

WHAT'S YOUR EARLIEST MEMORY OF THE SHOWS?
6. My earliest memory of the shows in general is a panto where Pedro (director in Frankenstein) had long hair and was the beast of "Beauty and the Beast".

WHAT'S YOUR EARLIEST/FAVOURITE/SCARIEST MEMORIES OF NICK?
7. A) My earliest memory of Nick is when we played "Simon says" in the class, and "One apple, two apples, three apples..."
B) I remember once my parents went to collect me at the academy and Nick exit and I ran to hug him. I was 6 years old I think.
C) Maybe when I was a child and I was late.

WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR FAVOURITE SHOW?
8. My favourite show to date is Psychedelic Cool, because there were a lot of nice people doing it.

DO YOU HAVE A FAVOURITE MOMENT IN A SHOW?
9. In Psychedelic cool I loved the loo scene, when Danny sing to Kurt.

WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE PHOTO FROM A SHOW?
10. This one.


ANY IDEAS FOR NICK, FOR NEW SHOWS.
11. Mmm... I don't know.

CAN YOU SUM UP NETWORKS THEATRE IN ONE WORD.
12. Great.


(If you were expecting Cristina Guirao's blog that was posted last year.)

Networks Blog Stories Nr. 20: Sara Ballesta

Networks Blog Story Nr. 20 is about Sara Ballesta! She has participated in an amazing 19 shows, not only as an actress but also as the "sound-and-lights-girl", and as such she has played an essential part in Networks Theatre. Right now Sara is rehearsing for one of the main parts in the next Networks show When I Was Me. So where will it end...? ;)

1. What’s your name? Sara

2. Do you have a Networks name? Sarah

3. How many shows have you appeared in? 19 (including the ones in which I've done the lights)

4. Name them! Peter Pan, Romeo and Juliet, Scrooge.com, Robin Hood and the Abba Silver Disc, Ocean Blue, Cinderella, Make a Wish, Robin Hood the Prince Strikes Back, My School Musical, Snow White, Odysseus, The Scarecrow Girl, Remembrance, Dick Whittington, Frankenstein, The Three Princesses in Waiting, Distant Thunder, A Christmas Carol, Psychedelic Cool.

5. What was your first show? Peter Pan

6. What are your earliest memories of the shows? I remember in the first rehearsal of Peter Pan you asked us our telephone numbers; I got very nervous and I started to think of the numbers in English, but when I had learnt them all by heart, you jumped me and asked my sister... shit!

7. What is your earliest/favourite/scariest memory of Nick? My scariest memory of Nick was last year in Dick Whittington, in the dress rehearsal of Tuesday (with audience). I was doing the lights and I had to use a new CD that Nick had recorded with new tracks. When we were about to finish the show I realized the new CD didn’t have the final tracks, luckily I could easily solve the mistake by changing the CD for another that had all the tracks; apparently, the audience didn’t realize, but (of course) Nick did, and after the audience had left he started shouting "I told you to check the CD!!!" I wanted to explain to him that I didn’t have time to check the whole disc, but he carried on "well, it’s not my fault, it’s not my problem" (I hate it when he says that) I was feeling too bad to say a word so I just went home as soon as I could. But anyway, I know he also felt bad, after all, because the following day he was too nice to me.

8. What has been your favourite show to date? Robin Hood (both)

9. Do you have a favourite moment in a show or memorable moment in rehearsal? There are loads; but, well, I remember when we were doing Odysseus at Teatro Circo; at the end of the last show, Nick came up to the stage saying, with tears in his eyes, "I’m very proud of you". That’s a nice memory.

10. What is your favourite photograph of any production? The best ones have already been sent and if I now have to start to look for a photo I will never choose one. N.B. Thanks! That means I had to choose them! ;) So there´s Sara doing the sound and lights and Sara in Snow White.

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? Not to use the "show inside a show" plot for a few years!

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

Networks Blog Stories Nr. 19: Reyna Sánchez

Time for Blog Story Number 19, filled with the theatre memories of Reyna Sánchez. She is no longer active as an actress but Networks Theatre clearly means a lot to her!

1. What’s your name? Reyna Sánchez

2. Did/Do you have a Networks name? Amy

3. How many shows have you appeared in? 6

4. Name them! Flight, Dracula, Peter Pan, Romeo & Juliet, Robin Hood II: The Prince Strikes Back, Snow White and the 7 Dwarfs.

5. What was your first show? Flight

6. What are your earliest memories of the shows? I felt very important when Nick suggested to me to do Flight, because I thought that taking part in a show was an honour for a student, but I was also a bit sad because of my shyness.

7. A) What is your earliest memory of Nick? I was used to his shouts, because he was my teacher, but in rehearsals he shouted even more (if possible). Sometimes he went home with his face red, but the next day, he returned happy again.

B) What is your favourite memory of Nick? He had a lot of patience with me, and he always said to the cast how sorry he was about his anger.

C) What is your scariest memory of Nick? I cannot choose just one :S... but I think once, when I was speaking in the small room and another when I was a dancer and he told me to smile while dancing, but I couldn't so he started shouting, and he kept shouting at me a whole week, until I managed to do what he wanted, and he congratulated me.

8. What has been your favourite show to date? Snow White and the 7 Dwarfs, because my shyness had disappeared.

9. Do you have a favourite moment in a show or memorable moment in rehearsal? After the last show, (my favourite one) I even cried, because it was my birthday and the dancers had invented a special song for me. I knew it was going to be my last show, and I was sad, but I also felt that I had never been so happy and free on stage.

10. What is your favourite photograph of any production? I like almost all of them, but I really like the photo of the dancers in Snow White.

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? I think 'Pride and Prejudice' would be amazing if Nick directed it. Any film or show turns out incredible in Nick's hands!!!

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

Networks Blog Stories Nr. 18: Alba Ballesta

Alba Ballesta is the subject of Networks Blog Stories Number 18! Having done more or less 14 shows (who´s counting these things anyway?! ;) we can safely call her a Networks Theatre veteran. Alba performed many memorable parts, but we will perhaps especially remember her as The Scarecrow Girl...


1. What’s your name? Alba Ballesta.

2. Do you have a Networks name? Hannah. There’s a little story about my Networks name. On my first day at Networks, when I entered the class, Nick told me I had to choose an English name. He gave me a piece of paper with plenty of names I had never heard of. I looked at him and pointed at the first one I saw, Laura. There was another Laura in the class, so he made me pick a different one. I was a bag of nerves when I came into class and now it was getting worse. So I waited for Nick to answer. “Hannah is a nice name” he said. I smiled and mumbled “ok”.

3. How many shows have you appeared in? 14? Numbers is not my strong point. N.B Well, we´ll just have to assume you´re right then! ;)

4. Name them! Flight, Dracula, Peter Pan, Romeo and Juliet, The Prince and the Pauper, Beauty and the Beast, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Kindertransport, Robin Hood and the ABBA Silver Disk, Robin Hood: The Prince Strikes Back, Cinderella, Odysseus, Remembrance and The Scarecrow Girl.

5. What was your first show? Flight.

6. What are your earliest memories of the shows? I remember me trying to remember where I should go when I finished my lines, whether it was the office or the small room. And if it was the small room I wondered how I was going to manage to find a place there with twenty more children.

7. What is your earliest/favourite/scariest memory of Nick? I love the image of Nick on stage holding a bunch of flowers with a big smile and almost crying in “Kindertransport”.

8. What has been your favourite show to date? I couldn’t choose one. I keep a special memory from each one, each show is meaningful. It’s like being asked which of my children I love most; I just don’t know what to say (in the second case it’s because, obviously, I’m not a mother, and in the first one I’ve already explained it).

9. Do you have a favourite moment in a show or memorable moment in rehearsal? I love the butterflies in your stomach when you are waiting to go on stage.

10. What is your favourite photograph of any production? Any group photo. N.B. I´ve attached the group photo of The Scarecrow Girl (of course :)

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? I could suggest making a certain show, but.. each to his own. Nick knows what the perfect ingredients of a show are.

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