We're delighted to announce that Atching Tan is now being broadcast across East Anglia on BBC local radio stations.
15:15 Mondays - BBC Radio Three Counties
20:00 Wednesdays - BBC Radios Cambridgeshire, Essex, Northampton, and Suffolk (and a repeat on Three Counties, for good measure)
17:45 Sundays - BBC Radio Norfolk
If you missed series one, you can always listen again!
- Daniela
Friday, 23 October 2009
Thursday, 15 October 2009
Actor's eye view
I promised that I'd get some of the actors to tell you about recording Atching Tan. This week, I'm handing over to Rachel Drazek, who plays Solona, a new character in series 2.
I first became involved with The Romany Theatre Company as part of The Origins festival which took place earlier this year. Although I am not from a Romany background, I am interested in the culture, wanting to learn and understand as much as possible, including why so much prejudice exists. With Polish heritage and a love for all things traditional and folk, it seemed somehow appropriate to be cast as Solona – a young Eastern European Romany Gypsy.
I was delighted to be asked to be part of Atching Tan and had great time recording it. After listening to the first series in pretty much one sitting I was keen to see how things would develop in the following episodes and how Solona would fit in. As a young woman, brought to England as part of the sex trafficking racket, it seemed vital that we dealt with her storyline sensitively and appropriately. This was certainly achieved I think, allowing her to exist as a three dimensional character and also giving some insight into similarities and differences of Roma across Europe. As an actress it was a great challenge to play someone from a completely different culture, background and history. It was nice also to use some Romany language in the script, as well as to consider my character’s attitudes and feelings.
For me, part of the interest in the project comes from its wonderfully collaborative nature; it was great to know that some of the episodes had been written by some of the actors and that some of these were first time writers, but moreover that all were Romany. It felt vital to the integrity and honesty of the project. Considering the writing was split among a number of different writers, it surprised me how well this worked; each episode, whilst having its own individual writer’s style and voice, fits into an over-arching picture.
To work in such a rich and varied cast and production team was great for me. Not having done the first series and not being Romany, I was initially a apprehensive about my role and how others would take to me playing Solona. As it turns out the cast were incredibly welcoming and warm. Even if the police weren’t: the readiness of the local Cambridge police to check up on what we were doing was hugely insightful for me. I realised that the attitude towards Travellers in the area was something normal and expected by many of the cast and crew.
Recording on location in trailers was great fun, and hopefully successfully adds to the flavour of the series. The whole recording process for radio was totally new to me, and therefore a huge learning curve, for which I am very grateful. Rehearsing and recording with such a quick turnover was really good practice for my skills as an actress and has given me a taste for the nature of radio work – which I have discovered I really enjoy and want to do more of.
To me it seems the project is now in a very good place to look at how to move forward. I’m excited to hear feedback on this series, and then see how this feeds into whatever may be created for the third stage…hopefully producing a version of Atching Tan which can be aired on a national station.
- Rachel
I first became involved with The Romany Theatre Company as part of The Origins festival which took place earlier this year. Although I am not from a Romany background, I am interested in the culture, wanting to learn and understand as much as possible, including why so much prejudice exists. With Polish heritage and a love for all things traditional and folk, it seemed somehow appropriate to be cast as Solona – a young Eastern European Romany Gypsy.
I was delighted to be asked to be part of Atching Tan and had great time recording it. After listening to the first series in pretty much one sitting I was keen to see how things would develop in the following episodes and how Solona would fit in. As a young woman, brought to England as part of the sex trafficking racket, it seemed vital that we dealt with her storyline sensitively and appropriately. This was certainly achieved I think, allowing her to exist as a three dimensional character and also giving some insight into similarities and differences of Roma across Europe. As an actress it was a great challenge to play someone from a completely different culture, background and history. It was nice also to use some Romany language in the script, as well as to consider my character’s attitudes and feelings.
For me, part of the interest in the project comes from its wonderfully collaborative nature; it was great to know that some of the episodes had been written by some of the actors and that some of these were first time writers, but moreover that all were Romany. It felt vital to the integrity and honesty of the project. Considering the writing was split among a number of different writers, it surprised me how well this worked; each episode, whilst having its own individual writer’s style and voice, fits into an over-arching picture.
To work in such a rich and varied cast and production team was great for me. Not having done the first series and not being Romany, I was initially a apprehensive about my role and how others would take to me playing Solona. As it turns out the cast were incredibly welcoming and warm. Even if the police weren’t: the readiness of the local Cambridge police to check up on what we were doing was hugely insightful for me. I realised that the attitude towards Travellers in the area was something normal and expected by many of the cast and crew.
Recording on location in trailers was great fun, and hopefully successfully adds to the flavour of the series. The whole recording process for radio was totally new to me, and therefore a huge learning curve, for which I am very grateful. Rehearsing and recording with such a quick turnover was really good practice for my skills as an actress and has given me a taste for the nature of radio work – which I have discovered I really enjoy and want to do more of.
To me it seems the project is now in a very good place to look at how to move forward. I’m excited to hear feedback on this series, and then see how this feeds into whatever may be created for the third stage…hopefully producing a version of Atching Tan which can be aired on a national station.
- Rachel
Friday, 9 October 2009
More about Arvon
Back in July, Sinead wrote about the week that she spent on the Arvon writers' retreat. Whilst I've been away on holiday and also out of action owing to injury - such an exciting life I lead - Dean, one of Atching Tan's writers and actors, also penned a piece on his experiences at Arvon. Dean, it's over to you...
This was my second trip to Arvon. It was very different, in many ways, to
last time. For one thing, I knew the tutors and this helped me to get into the work much quicker.
It is a very nice environment and on both occasions I was able to focus on the task that was given us because there are no distractions. As a writer, I found the isolation a great help. I was more disciplined and able to learn, from Nell and Indo, how to keep my mind on track when other thoughts can so easily distract you. The skills they teach are not just for the ideal world of Arvon, but for life at home. I can honestly say that much of what I have learned I have been able to apply at home, even though I have four children and an hectic life schedule.
The house and grounds are wonderful and I found myself walking and exploring everywhere. It is an environment so relaxing and peaceful the only way I can describe it is ‘other worldly’. The people are nice, too, and everyone helps and mucks in at meal times with cooking and setting the table. It is a real family environment and you soon make friends. I loved it there and will go whenever I get the chance. The experience is unique.
Thank you for having me, good people of Arvon, and I hope to see you again.
- Dean
This was my second trip to Arvon. It was very different, in many ways, to
last time. For one thing, I knew the tutors and this helped me to get into the work much quicker.
It is a very nice environment and on both occasions I was able to focus on the task that was given us because there are no distractions. As a writer, I found the isolation a great help. I was more disciplined and able to learn, from Nell and Indo, how to keep my mind on track when other thoughts can so easily distract you. The skills they teach are not just for the ideal world of Arvon, but for life at home. I can honestly say that much of what I have learned I have been able to apply at home, even though I have four children and an hectic life schedule.
The house and grounds are wonderful and I found myself walking and exploring everywhere. It is an environment so relaxing and peaceful the only way I can describe it is ‘other worldly’. The people are nice, too, and everyone helps and mucks in at meal times with cooking and setting the table. It is a real family environment and you soon make friends. I loved it there and will go whenever I get the chance. The experience is unique.
Thank you for having me, good people of Arvon, and I hope to see you again.
- Dean
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