Networks Blog Stories Nº. 39: Teresa Gonzalez Zapata

Cast your mind back 12 years and one memorable actress that comes to mind is Teresa Gonzalez...better known to many of us as Robin. Now living and teaching in Paris, she took time to add to our collective memory and do the blog! Teresa was there from the start, she participated in the first ever shows in 1999. She was always entrusted with one of the bigger parts in each show due to her great level of English. Teresa we miss you! Her blog....

1. What’s your name?
Teresa

2. Did you have a Networks name?
Of course! I chose to be Robin when my teacher was Denis Malone

3. How many shows have you appeared in?
I don't really remember the number. I still kept every script but I don't have them with me right now to count them.

ED: IT'S EIGHT.

4. Name them!
First Shows (The Selfish Giant), Millennium Shows, Treasure Planet, Welcome to Sweetville, Robin Hood, Aladdin, Bamboo Princess, Christmas at the Majestic Hotel and Ugly...

ED: TERESA MADE A SPECIAL APPEARANCE AT THE START OF EVERY PERFORMANCE ON MAJESTIC HOTEL. SHE PLAYED THE PART OF A MODEL WHO WAS WEARING THE DIAMONDS THAT WERE LATER TO BE STOLEN.


IMAGE FROM CHRISTMAS AT THE MAJESTIC HOTEL - DECEMBER 2002

5. What was your first show?
I think the name was Millennium, but I don't remember exactly... it was Nick's first show in Networks as well!

ED: IT WAS FIRST SHOWS IN MARCH 1999...TWELVE YEARS AGO..YOU'RE ALLOWED TO FORGET!

6 What are your earliest memories of the shows?
I'd always remember the games we played before starting to rehearse the first show. The were really funny and I met a lot of new people, some of them became my best friends and still are!


IMAGE FROM THE BAMBOO PRINCESS - DECEMBER 2001

7. A) What is your earliest memory of Nick?
I can perfectly remember the first time I read his name on a poster at Network's announcing that a real actor from London was going to teach us theatre. I was excited!!
B) What is your favourite memory of Nick?
There are so many!! But it always makes me smile the memory of Nick in the rehearsals of the first show making me repeat over and over the word "treasure" until I pronounced it properly "TRE- SURE", "TRE-SURE".
C) What is your scariest memory of Nick?
He got mad at me because I didn't want to wear those stupid goggles for Treasure Planet. In those days I still had sense of ridiculous.

ED: THEY WERE SPECIAL GOGGLES THAT ALL THE FOUR MAIN CHARACTERS WERE WEARING. THEY WERE TO PROTECT YOUR EYES AS YOU LEFT THE ATMOSPHERE AND WENT INTO HYPERSPACE.


IMAGE FROM TREASURE PLANET - JUNE 2001

8. What has been your favourite show to date?
The first one, and, probably Robin Hood, we really had fun there!

9. Do you have a favourite moment in a show or memorable moment in rehearsal?
Everyone feeling nervous before a show or inside the "small room", trying to keep silent.
Another great moment was when I was Aladdin and I had to sing!! I'm a terrible singer) I managed to perform a decent version of Bryan Adam's classic "I do it for you", and I was really proud of it!

10. What is your favourite photograph of any production?
The final picture of the first show probably, I also love the one in which all the cats were holding Alberto in Ugly.


IMAGE FROM UGLY - MAY 2004

11. Are there any ideas you’d like to give Nick when he’s planning productions. Stories or subjects
Nick and Dennis were my inspiration when I directed a Disney Musical three years ago with a university theatre group. When I had to choose the fabric for the dancers' costumes in "under the sea" I thought: "what would Dennis have chosen?" and I also have to mention I shouted: "ENERGY!!"! in the most pure Nick's style all the time. So, I don't really know how can I contribute... I definitely propose to do more theatre games to avoid show final date stress!

12. Finally can you sum up Networks Theatre in one word?
No, I can't.
But I can in 8 words: energy, passion, dedication, work, feelings, friends, inspiration, emotions, effort...
I don't know what else to say... I almost grew up in networks! Thanks again to everyone that made all of that possible (for me it's kind of a distant past): Lee, Nick, Dennis, the Pilares, Cristina, Paqui and Laura!!


IMAGE - POSTER AND SONG LYRICS FROM WELCOME TO SWEETVILLE - JUNE 2002

Networks Blog Stories Nº. 38: Alberto Ruiz

Ladies and Gentleman. Royalty is in the building. A true Networks veteran. Alberto Ruiz Cases, known to many as Tony. He played many, many important parts in the early shows at Networks Theatre. Not only did he participate in the early theatre courses but he holds the distinction of being amongst the first students to participate in the theatre group shows, namely Painting Memories and The Secret Garden. We're so happy to be able to say....here is his blog.

1. What’s your name?
Alberto Ruiz Cases.

2. Did you have a Networks name?
Tony

3. How many shows have you appeared in?
10

ED: IT’S ACTUALLY ELEVEN SHOWS!

4. Name them!
I don't have to name the shows, do I?

ED: NO BUT I WILL. Millennium Show, Robin Hood 2000, Treasure Planet, The Bamboo Princess, The Secret Garden, Welcome To Sweetville, Christmas at the Majestic Hotel, Painting Memories, Flight, Ugly and Kindertransport.

5. What was your first show?
Millennium show


IMAGE FROM THE BAMBOO PRINCESS - DECEMBER 2001

6. What are your earliest memories of the shows?
It was a long time ago. I really enjoyed the rehearsals, because everyone was just great


IMAGE FROM PAINTING MEMORIES - MAY 2003

7. A) What is your earliest memory of Nick?
Going to the Trebol to buy a coffee.
B) What is your favourite memory of Nick?
His house.

ED: FROM WHAT WE RECALL...ALBERTO AND IRENE CAME TO NICK’S HOUSE AFTER A PERFORMANCE OF THE SECRET GARDEN.

C) What is your scariest memory of Nick?
pasapalabra

ED: SPANISH!!! NO STICKER!!!


IMAGE FROM FLIGHT - JUNE 2003

8. What has been your favourite show to date?
I think it is Cinderella. I love the endless sock!!

9. Do you have a favourite moment in a show or memorable moment in rehearsal?
In the Millennium Show, in the moment that the small child aimed a gun at the audience and said bang, a really emotional moment.


IMAGE FROM MILLENNIUM SHOWS - DECEMBER 1999

ED: TONY...YOU WERE THE SMALL CHILD...

10. What is your favourite photograph of any production?
I don’t know, possibly a group picture in my first show.

ED: HERE IT IS

IMAGE FROM THE MILLENNIUM SHOWS - DECEMBER 1999


IMAGE FROM KINDERTRANSPORT - APRIL 2006

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?
It's difficult. I recently thought of a show inspired by Monty Python's Life of Brian, it can be fun.

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


IMAGE FROM THE MILLENNIUM SHOWS - DECEMBER 1999

Networks Blog Stories Nº. 37: Marisa Almarcha

Marisa Almarcha, a true Networks Theatre veteran is this week's blogger. She first participated in a show in 2002. Due to her height she rarely stood at the front of the stage but she made a considerable contribution to the theatre during her time at Networks. She appeared in 16 shows read more about her Networks experience here.

1. What's your name?
MARISA ALMARCHA

2. Did you have a Networks name?
LINDA


IMAGE FROM DRACULA JUNE 2004

3. How many shows have you appeared in?
16

4. Name them!
Welcome to Sweetville, Christmas at the Majestic Hotel, Flight, The Fairy Tale Mix, Dracula, Peter Pan, The Prince and the Pauper, Romeo and Juliet, Beauty and the Beast, Kindertransport, Robin Hood and the Abba Silver Disc, Snow White and the seven Dwarfs, Robbin Hood the Prince strikes back, Odysseus and Frankenstein.

5. What was your first show?
Welcome to Sweetville (2002).

6. What are your earliest memories of the shows?
I remember that I went to see a show with my class and I liked it so much. When I came back home I told my mother that I wanted to be there too.

When I started I was all day singing the songs in front of the mirror and I also forced my mother to learn them. We always tried to sing and to dance like the older students and I remember that to me was very rewarding acting in English while my family was there looking at me.


7. A) What is your earliest memory of Nick?
My first memories of Nick are very funny and I remember that he was always making jokes. He also was very strict and we never thought of breaking the rules. There are 3 sentences I will never forget: ‘’Be on time’’, ‘’The gum in the bin’’ and ‘’You’ve got 5 minutes to go to Paquita’’.

ED: NICK WAS SO LENIENT THEN. NOW YOU CAN'T GO TO PAQUITA.

B) What is your favourite memory of Nick?
There are many fantastic memories of Nick but possibly the best was in Kindertransport at the end of the last show when we gave him a bouquet of flowers. Nick was very excited and we could see how proud he was of us.
And for us this is the greatest reward of a great director like Nick.


IMAGE FROM KINDERTRANSPORT APRIL 2006

C) What is your scariest memory of Nick?
I remember many and all are due to speaking too much. But probably the worst was during a rehearsal of Odysseus (I think) when I was talking with Diana(Too much, I admit it) and he started to shout like never before…
But we have always understood him when he has shouted because without rules WE HAD NEVER finished rehearsing a show.


IMAGE FROM ROBIN HOOD - THE PRINCE STRIKES BACK MARCH 2007

8. What has been your favourite show to date?
It’s difficult to say only one, but I’ll definitely choose ‘’Kindertransport’’. Maybe is because it's the most different show in which I participated, but I think that this show was magical in many aspects.

ED: ACCORDING TO RUMOUR KINDERTRANSPORT WILL RETURN IN 2012.

9. Do you have a favourite moment in a show or memorable moment in rehearsal?
‘’The show must go on’’ in Odysseus. I think that everyone who sang that song felt full of strength. I love it.

Enjoy.

10. What is your favourite photograph of any production?
A photo of Frankenstein, in the last song. To me is very special because this was the last time I was on the stage, but also we could see the public in the photo and they always have an important part in the shows that we couldn’t forget.


IMAGE FROM FRANKENSTEIN APRIL 2009

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 have no talent for this. Nick has always surprised me with is work so I know he will continue doing this.

12. Finally can you sum up Networks Theatre in one word?
(Do it with)PASSION


IMAGE FROM ROBIN HOOD AND THE ABBA SILVER DISC - JUNE 2006

Networks Blog Stories Nº. 36: Julio Toboso

This week's blogger is Julio Toboso. He's been appearing in shows at Networks since 2005 when he first trod the boards in ROMEO AND JULIET. He is still part of the theatre and is currently appearing in the revival of WHEN I WAS ME which is touring to schools in February and he's also rehearsing THE ABBATASTIC ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD.

1. What’s your name?
Julio Antonio Toboso García

2. Did/Do you have a Networks name?
Daniel, Mr Toboso

3. How many shows have you appeared in?
Seven

4. Name them!
Romeo & Juliet, Odysseus, The Scarecrow Girl, Frankenstein, Distant Thunder Psychedelic Cool When I was Me.


IMAGE FROM PSYCHEDELIC COOL - MARCH 2010

5. What was your first show?
Romeo and Juliet

6. What are your earliest memories of the shows?

I was Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet and I was killed. Also the song "Who are you?...Where does your family come from?..."

7. A) What is your earliest memory of Nick?
The first day in the academy.

ED: THIS WAS MONDAY 1ST OCTOBER, 2001

8. What has been your favourite show to date?
Distant Thunder/ When I was me

9. Do you have a favourite moment in a show or memorable moment in rehearsal?
The final scene of The Scarecrow Girl, and also the end of Distant Thunder. And any moment in the small room.


IMAGE FROM DISTANT THUNDER NOVEMBER 2009

10. What is your favourite photograph of any production?
Brock's verdict... (Frankenstein)


IMAGE FROM FRANKENSTEIN - APRIL 2009

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 that a show about the environment and the protection of planet earth can be a good idea.

ED: WE DID OCEAN BLUE! WHERE WERE YOU?

12. Finally: can you sum up Networks Theatre in one word?
"Great-Experience" or "Thanks"

ED: GREAT EXPERIENCE IS TWO WORDS!


IMAGE FROM WHEN I WAS ME - MAY 2010

Networks Blog Stories Nº. 35: Claudia Jofré

The blog is back! Happy New Year to everyone if it's not too late to say it! Blog 34 was Jose Manuel Marcos and now number 35 is his cousin, Claudia Jofré. She's been participating in the shows at Networks since 2004 and is still part of it! She's currently rehearsing THE ABBATASTIC ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD playing the part of Damn Poor. Enjoy!

1. What’s your name?
Claudia Jofré Montijano

2. Did you have a Networks name?
I used to be Phoebe, but a little time ago Nick decided that was very ridiculous (I agree) and now I'm just Claudia :)

3. How many shows have you appeared in?
Five

4. Name them!
Dracula, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (2004,) Peter Pan, Romeo and Juliet and Psychedelic Cool


IMAGE FROM PSYCHEDELIC COOL MARCH 2010

5. What was your first show?
Dracula

ED: THIS ONE?


IMAGE FROM DRACULA JUNE 2004

6. What are your earliest memories of the shows?
I remember I tried to understand as much as I could...and that I was very embarrassed.


IMAGE FROM SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS, NOVEMBER 2004 (Claudia is front right. Embarrassed now?)

7. A) What is your earliest memory of Nick?
I think that my first memory is when I used to see my cousin in the plays; my sister and me sometimes were with him after the shows and I remember Nick speaking with him. I couldn't understand a single word.

ED: DON'T WORRY, NEITHER COULD JOSE.

B) What is your favourite memory of Nick?
Actually is not from the theatre. Once, in class, he was reading an exercise of filling in gaps. One word and a "boomp" made a strange combination and he started to laugh. He couldn't stop! And then we couldn't stop either! We were like 5 minutes laughing and in the end we relaxed. It was so funny!

C) What is your scariest memory of Nick?
Of course, in theatre (and especially when I was younger), when he shouts to make us shut up or things like that... As everyone else, I suppose xD

8. What has been your favourite show to date?
Psychedelic Cool. I hadn't done a theatre for years and when I did it I enjoyed it(and laughed) so much and I meet lots of special people that I want to be in every show I can.

9. Do you have a favourite moment in a show or memorable moment in rehearsal?
I think every moment, every laugh (and yes, every joke) is memorable ;)

10. What is your favourite photograph of any production?
Hair was my favourite song of Psychedelic Cool. I enjoyed a lot singing and dancing it.


IMAGE FROM PSYCHEDELIC COOL MARCH 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 that he writes great comedies, but also amazing dramas, as we saw with When I Was Me. Maybe it would be a good idea to do some more shows like that.

ED: GET THE HANKIES OUT. IT MIGHT JUST HAPPEN!

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

Networks Blog Stories Nº. 34: Jose Manuel Marcos

Now here's a blogger with some history at Networks Theatre. Joseph, Jose Manuel Marcos Montadito de Lomo. Sadly no longer with us in Orihuela but now making a new life for himself in Madrid. Even though he's disetiquetted himself in Tuenti from any pictures where he has curly hair, we haven't forgotten his past and have included some of those pictures here. Jose played so many important parts. Amongst them, the Prince in the Prince and the Pauper, Odysseus and Dick Whittington. In fact he almost cornered the market in eponymous heroes! What's that? Oh no, he wasn't Ugly. But now you mention it...

1. What’s your name?
Jose Manuel Marcos Montijano

2. Did you have a Networks name?
Joseph or Markitosh!

3. How many shows have you appeared in?
Seventeen

4. Name them!
Welcome to Sweetville, Christmas at the Majestic Hotel, Flight, Aladdin, The Fairy Tale Mix, Ugly!, Peter Pan, The Prince and the Pauper, Romeo and Juliet, Scrooge.com, Kindertransport, Robin Hood and the Abba Silver Disc, Cinderella, Odysseus, Dick Whittington, Frankenstein and Psychedelic Cool .



IMAGE FROM UGLY, MAY 2004. JOSE IS SECOND FROM THE LEFT.

5. What was your first show?
Welcome to Sweetville (2002).

6. What are your earliest memories of the shows?
I remember that in my first show I didn't know anyone and I was very, very shy. All I had to say in the play was: “I’m a mechanic” and “So do I” but you can’t imagine how complicated it was to say those two sentences.

7. A) What is your earliest memory of Nick?
Nick before the theatre was my Networks teacher. Nick has always been the same. Yes, sometimes we were afraid of him because of his shouting but most of the time he was and he is terrific and a very funny person.



IMAGE FROM DICK WHITTINGTON, NOVEMBER 2008. JOSE PLAYED DICK.

B) What is your favourite memory of Nick?
I remember that in those classes he made us learn things by singing and dancing songs. Every song that was in the “Join In”* book was danced by the whole class. It was awesome!
*JOIN IN was written by Herbert Puchta (I’ll never forget that). That name was so funny for a boy of nine years. It still is nowadays. =)

ED: GROW UP!

C) What is your scariest memory of Nick?
I couldn’t go to the Final Dress Rehearsal before the performances of “Frankenstein”, because I had to go to Madrid. I’ll always be grateful to María Gómez who suggested we could change the rehearsal to the afternoon so I could be on time to take part. Imagine how Nick was… I’ll just say that “Revenge is a dish best served cold” and until the final moment Nick told me I had to appear on stage with some tight leather trousers with zips everywhere. I was really afraid…

8. What has been your favourite show to date?
It’s difficult to say only one, but I’ll definitely choose “Psychedelic Cool”. I think it’s the perfect show to close a phase that maybe opens someday.

9. Do you have a favourite moment in a show or memorable moment in rehearsal?
I will never forget the first rehearsal of “Kindertransport”. It was amazing how Nick introduced the entire cast to the story. Every actor with its character was involved. It was magical.

10. What is your favourite photograph of any production?
When I remember “Prince and the Pauper” it always appears a smile on my face. I think the photograph was of a final rehearsal. We had a lot of fun!



IMAGE FROM THE PRINCE AND THE PAUPER, MAY 2005. JOSE IS FRONT LEFT.

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’ve always talked to Nick about this and I think he could do some Tennessee Williams plays like “Cat on a hot tin roof” or “A streetcar named Desire”. Or it will be amazing to see “Rebel without a cause” at Networks but, as Nick always says, “No cars on stage!”

12. Finally can you sum up Networks Theatre in one word?
Everyone has done this while he was in the theatre, playing a character, introducing yourself into another's life, feeling that connection with the audience. The word is: ACT.



IMAGE FROM FLIGHT, JUNE 2003. JOSE IS SECOND ON THE LEFT.

Networks Blog Stories Nº. 33: Miriam Garcia

IMAGE FROM THE FAIRY TALE MIX, DECEMBER 2003. MIRIAM GARCIA AS CINDERELLA.

This Christmas as Networks Theatre revisits an old friend THE FAIRY TALE MIX, our theatre blogger is Miriam Garcia. Back in 2003 when we first did the show Miriam played Cinderella! She has taken part in seven shows altogether, mainly in the theatre courses but also on two occasions with the theatre group. Miriam, thank you.

1. What’s your name?
MIRIAM GARCÍA LÓPEZ

2. Did you have a Networks name?
CLAIRE

3. How many shows have you appeared in?
Seven

4. Name them!
ROBIN HOOD, BAMBOO PRINCESS, CHRISTMAS AT THE MAJESTIC HOTEL, FAIRY TALE MIX, DRACULA, PRINCE AND THE PAUPER, KINDER TRANSPORT.

5. What was your first show?
ROBIN HOOD (December, 2000)

6. What are your earliest memories of the shows?
I was really scared but I really wanted to be there, when Anne asked me: 'Claire do you want to be in the next theatre?' Of course yes! Since then I love it!

7. A) What is your earliest memory of Nick?
I remember him like a serious man and very responsible, I thought that in his classes we couldn't speak at all!!!

B) What is your favourite memory of Nick?
When in Peter Pan he taught me the scene of: Who's is?? It's me?? I couldn't stop laughing. Nick, Mr Smith was fantastic!!!


IMAGE FROM PETER PAN - DECEMBER 2004. (Miriam is in the centre.)

C) What is your scariest memory of Nick?
DON'T BE LATE, guys that's what Nick really hates, if some of us arrived late, we were dead!

8. What has been your favourite show to date?
Kinder Transport, it was your best production Nick, and I hope you will write something similar again! Really incredible and beautiful.



IMAGE FROM KINDERTRANSPORT - APRIL 2006 - MIRIAM IS ON THE RIGHT.

ED: NICK FELT THAT "WHEN I WAS ME" WAS VERY SIMILAR TO KINDER TRANSPORT AND IT RETURNS FOR A VERY LIMITED RUN IN FEBRUARY 2011.

9. Do you have a favourite moment in a show or memorable moment in rehearsal?
I can't choose one moment, but I really like the ends of each show, when Nick is watching it with a smile on his face, really proud of the work, his work.

10. What is your favourite photograph of any production?


IMAGE FROM KINDERTRANSPORT - APRIL 2006. MIRIAM IS FRONT ROW ON THE LEFT.

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?
Every work of Nick's is fantastic! I think you could do some like kinder transport, something like the real life like you did that time.

12. Finally can you sum up Networks Theatre in one sentence?
Networks Theatre is a big family, an illusion, it's FANTASTIC!