MEET THE ESSEX AUDIO THEATRE

The rather busy scene in our studio during the recording of one of our drama productions. These are the members of the ESSEX AUDIO THEATRE. Over the years since our inception this group of talented actors have provided most of our material. Their collective talent is such that apart from their acting skills, we can also call on them to act as producers and cast directors. And as if that wasn't enough, this band of Ham Dram folk based in North Essex around Braintree and Dunmow even number four drama authors. It's true to say that without their hard work and theatrial skills we could not continue without them.

The picture on the right may seem like a group of people meeting in a park, but look closer and you'll see that its a number of actors, plus director and recordist all hard at work laying down a scene for one of our future dramas on location.
For this scene we wanted a park like ambience complete with wind though trees and ducks in water, oh yes and a distant church bell.
Pity we had to stop every few minutes because of the amount of air traffic into London Airport. The dam aircraft stack up over our local town and circle a bit before its their turn to land.
Such is the fun of recording on location.
From a technical standpoint we have come a long way since our first venture onto the audio stage. Once it was all down to recording direct to tape and hours spent with short lengths all over the floor during the editing stage. Often a complex mix of artors in the studio and various sound effects might require up to six tape or cassette machines all working atthe same time and a scene might have taken all of a day to get right.
Now of course its all done on the dreaded computer. On the left Dennis Rookard is looking somewhat pensive as he checks out a replay of a scene recently laid down. Though the glass in the studio our actors also listen in and wonder if the boy wonder is going to demand a retake. Note Rookard always follows the traid and trusted audio engineering creed, thats it's never his fault a recording is useless, it's is always the actors. But don't let on will you !
Director Angela Neville (on left) with her actors rehearsing part of a scene. Before bringing her actors into the studio they will have spend time with their scrips at any number of read thoughs and rehearsals. But often scripts may have to be changed at the last moment or actors might be required to move around the studio - the speaking whilst enter a room segment for example. Or remembering to stand back from the microphone if shouting a line. This is also the time for Angela to check out any 'props' she might neeed in the studio that provide those live sound effects. Once she is happy, Angela will spend her time script to hand alongside the engineer in the control room, acting as the final say in the acceptance of a scene for the play under production.