The Big Read-Through

Deciding What On Earth We’re Doing Next

There’s something strangely dramatic about a circle of chairs and a pile of scripts.

No costumes. No stage lights. No applause. Just six or seven of us staring at each other thinking, “Right then… what are we putting ourselves through next?”

This week was Script Night — which is basically where we attempt to decide our next production without falling out, getting too ambitious, or choosing something that requires a cast of 47 and a rotating castle.

We took turns reading parts, occasionally in accents that weren’t entirely planned. There were moments of genuine laughter, moments of thoughtful nodding, and at least one line delivered so flat it nearly needed CPR.

Some scripts had promise.
Some had “potential”.
And one had us quietly thinking, “Aye… but who’s building that set?”

Choosing a show isn’t just about whether it’s funny (although that helps). We have to think about the cast, the hall, the props, the tech — and whether we can realistically manage it without someone having to nip to B&Q three times a week.

There’s always a lovely moment, though, when someone reads a line just right and the whole room lifts. You can see it — the scene, the characters, the audience laughing. That’s when you know you might be onto something.

Of course, no final decision was made without proper discussion. And by “discussion”, we mean polite debate with the occasional “Well I quite liked the first one, actually.”

By the end of the evening we were a little closer to choosing. Or at least we’d ruled out the one involving sword fights and complicated choreography.

Whatever we decide, it’ll involve laughter, teamwork, and at least one rehearsal where someone says, “I’m sure that wasn’t my line.”

Watch this space — the next adventure is brewing.

And if you fancy having a say in what madness we attempt next, pull up a chair. We’re always happy to add another voice to the circle.