Ed Rapley's blog

When i was 19 i got a job at a factory in Guildford which made steam wallpaper strippers.

My role consisted of taking short aluminium rods from a box on my right, pressing a foot peddle that started a spinning band of sandpaper, then milling a slight bevel on to each end of the rod.

I would then place the rod in another box to my left. I had to complete a certain number of boxes each hour. Despite the presence of a charming, german girl with whom i chatted at lunch, i lasted just 3 days at the job.

What does it all mean?

I've been thinking on my day off about the nature of one-on-one or indeed many-on-one theatre.

I think there is some interesting work and the artists i have spoken to have a clear vision of what their individual shows are trying to communicate. Which is great, because sometimes in theatre ideas get a bit woolly, and there just isn't any room for fluff in a 1-1 show.

I do these two games, in one (The First Thing) i open my eyes and say the first thing that comes into my head about the person sat in front of me, in the other (Your Turn) they have a minute to say whatever they want to me.

It really struck me that the very first thing that comes into my head is often banal, or even offensive, and that somehow they are a simplification or a reduction of the person.

This was re-enforced by people saying amazing things to me in the second game, who if they had come to The First Thing would have probably met with a fairly bland response.

Look Club is to shows as Book Club is to books: You all watch the same show and at some point meet up and discuss it.

Any Residence member can suggest a show to see and a time to discuss it, they are then responsible for telling people about it, turning up, and providing tea & biscuits.

If you want to attend the only thing you need to do is to see the show in question.

*The next Look Club is at 7pm Friday 11th June at The Milk Bar, 11 St Nicholas Street, Bristol. We will be discussing Far Away which is running at the Bristol Old Vic for 3 more nights.*

Here is a brief summary of all the things i saw at B.L.O.P.

If you aren't on the list it means I didn't see you. Sorry about that. Please invite me to your next show and I'll blog about that.

GETINTHEBACKOFTHEVAN an outstanding commitment and feat of endurance, a pain to watch and listen to. Excellent work.

Edi Rogers literally out standing in the cold holding a sign. A sweet and simple idea, it made me smile a number of times.

Tom Marshman offered beguiling memories of lesbian and gay history and ephemeral gestures.