Directing Hunt

I imagine directing any show has its loves and hardships, however I for one had never directed anything. So you can imagine my suprise when I suddenly recieved the immense urge to give Directing a try.

'Hunt' by Fionnuala Kennedy is a play that centers on a group of teenagers in Belfast, Ireland who engage in an adventurous twist on hide and seek. In their version, the game involves stealing unusual and often hard-to-get items from their neighbors' backyards and depositing them at a designated spot, all while avoiding detection by either the official pursuers or the vigilant neighbors. The more outrageous the object and the more challenging it is to obtain, the higher the score.

The amazing thing about this script is it's characters, Jo, the soon to be moving away teenage girl, is determined to impress James, a new boy from her school who comes from a different part of town. Their budding relationship symbolizes a bridge across social divides. Reluctantly, the group reunites for one final game.

There are many thilling points in the script, a "Man in the Van" is said to he terrorising the children around the neighbourhood, and the notoriously dangerous "Mad" Danielle, a unknowingly innocent girl who was blamed for a tragic accident involving a kitten has returned to the neighborhood with intent to rejoin the group. 

This is a brief synopsis of the play as a whole but Directing such a piece I knew wasn't going to be easy.

Taking on the task of directing was both a challenging and rewarding experience. The journey began with a clear vision to bring this compelling story of the Belfast teenagers to life, while also navigating the logistical hurdles that come with organizing a theatrical production within a college setting.

From the outset, scheduling was a critical component of our process. Understanding that everyone had different times and commitments, we created a comprehensive timetable to ensure that all cast and crew members could participate in rehearsals. We held a series of meetings to determine everyone’s availability, and after numerous discussions and adjustments, we finalized a schedule that included rehearsals every Thursday morning, as well as using our enrichment time on Monday evening.

We utilized shared calendars to keep everyone informed and sent weekly updates to remind the team of upcoming rehearsals and any changes to the schedule in our teams chat.

Despite our best efforts, we faced several setbacks along the way. Unexpected conflicts with other college events and the introduction of new shows meant that our rehearsal spaces were often double-booked. This forced us to be flexible and creative, sometimes rehearsing in alternative locations or adjusting our rehearsal times to accommodate everyone’s schedules. As our year progressed, it became evident that we would have to push the performance date back. We initially aimed for the 30th of April but due to continued scheduling conflicts and some unforeseen delays, we eventually had to postpone it indefinitely.

Given the circumstances, we reached a point where it became clear that we could no longer stage the performance within our original timeline. Rather than letting the project fall by the wayside, I decided to take a different approach. I saw this as an opportunity to pass the baton to the incoming second-year students.

The Year 2 students involved in the show had shown remarkable dedication and enthusiasm during their time rehearsing within the production. They had gained valuable insights into the play’s themes and the nuances of the characters. Im very confident in their abilities, and will choose a suitable Year 2 to continue the production. I will pass over my directors script as well as all the notes I have made and given in the time Directing.

While it’s bittersweet to step back from the directorial role, I am excited to see how they will make the production their own.

Directing Hunt has been an incredible learning experience. It has taught me the importance of flexibility, the power of teamwork, and the need to adapt in the face of challenges. I believe that these lessons will serve the new directors well and that their rendition of Hunt will be a memorable and impactful performance.