SYNOPSIS OF MAKING IT! AND KEY THEMES
Short synopsis of Making It! (200 words)
A one-woman, one-hour comedy drama about making it as an actress with a cast of five! The play follows Jess who wants to be a bright new force on the London stage. But for now the only boards she treads are at the cafe where she works. Pilar wants to act in a supermarket. And Bronwyn’s gone viral on YouTube. The play is written and performed by Davina Leonard who jumps effortlessly between characters as we follow Jess on her comic journey through the dark heart of the drama industry via thankless crowd scenes on TV soaps, questionable auditions and pearls of wisdom from a pantomime horse. We see Jess taken in by the unscrupulous, let down by her so-called friends, and ultimately pick herself back up and place herself in a position where she feels she is on the verge of a breakthrough. Or is she? The play has a consciously ambiguous ending, that leaves the audience questioning whether the protagonist is about to be exploited yet again. This is comedy theatre about the pitfalls that befall anyone trying to make it in the world.
A one-woman, one-hour comedy drama about making it as an actress with a cast of five! The play follows Jess who wants to be a bright new force on the London stage. But for now the only boards she treads are at the cafe where she works. Pilar wants to act in a supermarket. And Bronwyn’s gone viral on YouTube. The play is written and performed by Davina Leonard who jumps effortlessly between characters as we follow Jess on her comic journey through the dark heart of the drama industry via thankless crowd scenes on TV soaps, questionable auditions and pearls of wisdom from a pantomime horse. We see Jess taken in by the unscrupulous, let down by her so-called friends, and ultimately pick herself back up and place herself in a position where she feels she is on the verge of a breakthrough. Or is she? The play has a consciously ambiguous ending, that leaves the audience questioning whether the protagonist is about to be exploited yet again. This is comedy theatre about the pitfalls that befall anyone trying to make it in the world.
Key themes of Making It! (100 words)
The production tackles a number of universal themes such as sexism, competition amongst so-called friends, self-esteem and self-belief, and the burden of parents with low aspirations for their children. Fundamentally, though, Making It! is a universal tale of inequality and exploitation, as relevant today as ever, exposed through humour and theatricality. It is heartfelt and bitter-sweet, and is intended to make the audience reflect on their own journeys.
The production tackles a number of universal themes such as sexism, competition amongst so-called friends, self-esteem and self-belief, and the burden of parents with low aspirations for their children. Fundamentally, though, Making It! is a universal tale of inequality and exploitation, as relevant today as ever, exposed through humour and theatricality. It is heartfelt and bitter-sweet, and is intended to make the audience reflect on their own journeys.
Visual style of your production (100 words)
Making It! has five characters, with distinct mannerisms making them visually quirky, who vary in age, gender, class and costume. The five different characters - all played by one actress, talk, debate and even dance with one another. The play is performed on a simple stage, with a set consisting of a chair and table, and limited props including a mobile phone and an Oscar statuette. Through the action of the play the audience is transported to a number of locations including: a cafe, an Academy Awards ceremony, a dance class and the catering area of a film set.
Making It! has five characters, with distinct mannerisms making them visually quirky, who vary in age, gender, class and costume. The five different characters - all played by one actress, talk, debate and even dance with one another. The play is performed on a simple stage, with a set consisting of a chair and table, and limited props including a mobile phone and an Oscar statuette. Through the action of the play the audience is transported to a number of locations including: a cafe, an Academy Awards ceremony, a dance class and the catering area of a film set.
Origins of Making It!
The play was written by Davina Leonard, based on her own experiences of auditioning, and the weird characters who inhabit the worlds of CastingCall Pro, Spotlight and Starnow. Davina was raised in Kenya where, before moving to London, she appeared regularly in the country’s theatres, playing Isabel in Fugard’s My Children! My Africa! and Beverly in Abigail’s Party. Making It! is her writing debut. She has co-written a second play, DVD of Me, which is being produced by Significant Others. More info on Davina at www.davinaleonard.com
The play was written by Davina Leonard, based on her own experiences of auditioning, and the weird characters who inhabit the worlds of CastingCall Pro, Spotlight and Starnow. Davina was raised in Kenya where, before moving to London, she appeared regularly in the country’s theatres, playing Isabel in Fugard’s My Children! My Africa! and Beverly in Abigail’s Party. Making It! is her writing debut. She has co-written a second play, DVD of Me, which is being produced by Significant Others. More info on Davina at www.davinaleonard.com