It’s about time I should blog about ‘The Caucasian Chalk Circle’ which played to about 400 people between Wednesday 13th and Thursday 14th May 2009 at The Tower Street Theatre in Belfast Metropolitan College. For me blogging is good therapy, so let the therapy session begin.

At the start most of us (including me) were disappointed about the news of a large cast of 27 people, made up of students from the National Diploma and Higher National Diploma 2nd years to create a Final Major Project production which ended up being Frank McGinness version of ‘The Caucasian Chalk Circle’.

The reason I think most of us were precious about the FMP is because of each of our classes. For us we have been through so much hell for a long amount of time. It’s fair to say it feels like were survivors from an awful horror movie and that experience has made us a close group. It took time but our two groups united without too much trouble going on once scenes were finally learnt and blocked.

About the show, it features post-war arguments from rival factions of civilians; a romance of a servant girl and a soldier; cleaver uses of bamboo sticks from creating a bridge, carrying a deceased governor, making a terrifying drumbeat, forming a river that I never got exactly correct; fantastic masks that define characters personalities and some pretty nifty tunes you can’t get out of your head once you hear them.

It was an Ensemble piece and you’re given a fair amount of characters, lines and movements to create, perform and define in your opinion of Brecht’s style. At times you could grumble at the amount you were given, but it’s up to you as an actor to stand out from the crowd. It’s up to the audience to judge if myself or the rest of the cast achieve this goal who attended the four performances, but I hope we did a fantastic job.

For everyone ‘The Caucasian Chalk Circle’ was a once in a lifetime chance to work with a huge cast. A couple of us might be lucky enough to work for The Royal Shakespeare Company, National Theatre or whenever the new Lyric Theatre decides to open its gates again to experience the chance of a huge cast again. Who knows if any of us will work with each other in another performance after this but as Northern Ireland is still a small industry, the chance is pretty high.

I’m proud of our cast and being a member of this production. We all have bright futures whatever paths we decide to follow and it would be an honour to work with anyone of this talented bunch. If I’m ever given the chance to make that happen one day, I know several actors you can trust with any production whether it’s theatre, film or TV. But right now it’s just a dream destined to be reality.

For the show after parties, we went to the Limelight on Thursday and the Student Union on Friday. Everyone had a good time (from what I remember) and the experience of those nights is a story in itself. Didn’t realize it was a school disco night at the Limelight but I haven’t been much of a fan since Halloween when the bouncers weren’t the nicest people in the world and got scared off.

When you think about it that’s pretty stupid to not go to a place because of people thinking their God and can do whatever they want. But the school disco was pretty fun even if I wasn’t in costume. By pretty fun what i really mean is ‘fun in dizzy town’. Keeping balance several times, forgetting who turn up later on that night and drinking plenty of water. A bit curious to see what the pictures that were took that night look like, but I regret nothing and I had a good time

We all had to take down the set, fix the curtains, paint the theatre floor, tidy up the dressing rooms, clean costumes and return props the next morning and I believe I did pretty alright with what I needed to complete. After making a bit of a complaint in town which I hope gets sorted soon, it was on to Friday night or what shall be called ‘After Party

Brian Swann is a dedicated and keen performer since a young age. He started off as a songwriter with guidance from Ryan Tedder, before he became famous with his band One Republic. After building up a large song collection, his interests turn to acting when he acted in a friend’s short film. He then joined the National Diploma of Performing Arts course at Northern Regional College, where he was apart of ‘Three Hours That Change Your Life’ an educational DVD, commission by the Police Service of Northern Ireland and won the role of Mr Basford in ‘Teechers’, where he receive great acclaim. This led to him being showcase as an upcoming actor in the Northern Constitution. He then took part in ‘Millennium Forum’s Summer School’ taught by professional actor Richard Huw of London based ‘dramalab’. This led to the showcase production ‘Five Fantastic Days’. Through friends he met here, he joined ‘The Grove Theatre Group’, founded by the late Tony O’ Donnell and ran by John Quigley where he performed in pantomimes ‘Beauty and the Beast’, ‘Sleeping Beauty’, ‘Robin Hood’ and musical ‘The Wizard of Oz’. He also took part in two Musical in a Weekend projects run by Musical Theatre 4 Youth and Queens University short film ‘If I Were Jack’. Through his time at HND in Performing Arts at BMC, his career ambitions have widened though hopeful to continue acting professionally. Brian hopes to complete his final year in a degree programme in England.

I know there are many people who know me or know me but not that well, can agree i don't share quite alot of information about myself. Can't blame anyone for thinking whatever they want about me and think that's the truth. I'm aiming to be more confident and not be in my own world all the time as being honest is my main goal in 2009 and this blog will help.
It features 25 random things, facts, habits and goals about myself. The only thing i ask from people that read this is that they leave a comment as if you know me well or know me but not that well, you can understand how tough someone like me would find talking about what makes me who i am. so here we are.

1. I Thank God I’m alive when I can, not as often as I should but he knows.
2. I’m a massive Sooty fan, always have been and always will be. I don’t care how old I am or how sad this statement makes me sound, I love that show from my childhood and throughout all the good times and hard times I’ve been through, he’s always been there and a good friend to me. If you had to grow up like i have, you would be just the same. I even bought three puppets that were actually used in the tv show at an puppet auction a few years ago.
3. Currently reading Barack Obama’s book ‘The Audacity of Hope’ and I highly recommend it. Fantastic to know it’s a happy ending beyond the book and can’t get the Chris Moyles tune out of my head.
4. Recently got complaining down to an art form with the lack of hot water in the showers before 9am at Elms Village, where I live when in Belfast. It’s working now but still find it hard to believe it took over three weeks of daily complaining before it finally got fixed.
5. I’m in the Oak 7 Building on the 2nd floor and really get on with everyone on my floor. Was in Oak 7 last year for a term and haven’t been in too much contact with the people I was living with sadly. Before that I lived in the Holy Lands (Jerusalem Street) for several months with a bunch of Australians.
6. Enjoyed his mini TV marathon of catching up on episodes of Friday Night Lights, Chuck and Scrubs.
7. Been trying to be a regular visitor to the gym every Monday or Friday whenever I can, but I’m always so tired after finishing at BMC for the day, that I never get the chance to go regularly.
8. The actual Jimmy Carr is following me on twitter. Please join and follow me too http://www.twitter.com/bs10064
9. Met Ryan Tedder from the band One Republic when he came over to Coleraine, Northern Ireland in 1999. One very cool person who gave me the inspiration to become a songwriter which soon led me to discover wanting to become an actor. He said he would be successful one day and we never had any doubt and he's prove if you have belief in your dream, it will happen one day. just send us free tickets to the next concert whenever possible.
10. Could never be a Vegetarian, as at any mealtime he would always choose to eat meat.
11. Does anyone agree with me that Wikipedia is basically those ‘Choose Your Own Adventure’ type books. Forget how I went from reading Macbeth for Classical Acting and ended up on Sonic The Hedgehog.
12. Got beat to a place in the pre-tv judges round when i auditioned for Pop Idol 2 by the show's winner Michelle McManus. Not something i like to admit out loud, but here we are.
13. Wants to take Voice Coach classes soon to improve his voice to improve his chances of acting jobs in the near future. I was told if I worked on it I could make a small fortune, so there’s hope.
14. Wishes there were more chances for actors in Northern Ireland instead of moving across to England. One day in my lifetime, hopefully there will be.
15. Is a fan of Katy Perry… for two reasons.
16. Is trying to see as much theatre as he can within his budget.
17. Can’t be the only person who thinks of The BFG when you abbreviate the now renamed The Brian Friel Theatre (the theatre formerly known as QFT) as The BFT by accident.
18. Not too good at