Jill Winternitz Guest Blog: Rehearsal For DARK TOURISM

Us humans have always had a propensity for 'gossip', be it the movements of a neighbouring neanderthal clan, the politics of Louis XIV's court at Versailles, or what Kate Moss got up to on her latest Ibiza holiday. It's a never-ending hunger that has been and always will be present. What's fascinating to me, in 2015, is how the means of sharing and spreading gossip has been irrevocably changed by the internet and all that comes with it. Our world is now a constantly updating multi-verse of information, ideas, and opinions, inspired by a primal desire and exploded by technology. And this seemingly infinite world, as wonderful as it may be, is oft exploited from many angles.

Gossip and media are at the heart of Daniel Dingsdale's debut play DARK TOURISM, and I'm thrilled to be a part of the world premiere production at London's Park Theatre. We've just concluded our first week of rehearsals where we've been dissecting the story, its themes, and what ultimately drives this collection of characters.

It's a rare and joyous thing to be working alongside the playwright, and Daniel, who is also in the cast, has been honing and refining the text in response to what we as individuals are bringing to the piece. It's incredibly rewarding as an actor to have my ideas considered, and even at times appear in the script... little nuances discovered in the room as we bring our characters to life.

It's also a real luxury to have our playwright present to help when we get stuck on something, or to hear about the real-life events or people that have inspired certain aspects of the play. I've never been involved in a project where checking my Twitter feed or reading the Metro on the way to rehearsal is actually research. It's a great feeling to hold 'the mirror up to nature' and tell a story so relevant to the society and culture of our time. Being a satire, the play presents its own set of acting challenges, and our director Adam Lenson is dedicated to finding the truth in each archetype, helping us create fully fleshed out people within the stylised world of the play.

I'm really looking forward to our second week and will be back soon with more juicy gossip. Thanks for reading!

@jillwinternitz

#DarkTourismPlay