Waiting for Taxis...or How Theatre Can Change the World

It is hard to believe we are already coming to the end of week one. Yerang arrived today, to take over the Korean translation, having just finished her doctorate thesis in time. She has lived in Birmingham for many years, and she leaps into the process, giving some extra momentum to this crucial role....

Today was pencilled in as 'monsters' day, and also contains the second school visit, to Reaside in Frankley - the other group who will be shadowing the project throughout.

Before setting off there is time for another quick creative team meeting, at which the design idea is fleshed out further. On Saturday we will break our synopsis into sections, and then Yeon will propose a stage picture for each of these separate sections. The objects needed for each will be chosen, with different combinations used for each section, and they will all be needed together for the final climb up the crane.

Yeon has once again been in and changed what is in the space, removing much of the stuff, and leaving three areas, also covering them with clear plastic sheeting. The actors improvise in this new space, looking a little as if they are now beginning to feel the effects of a very full-on week, and energy is low... But once they are up and running, their exploration of their character's personal 'monsters' is strong - particularly when the plastic sheeting becomes some kind of snake of creeping smoke, whcih threatens to envelope them. The three of them are working together extremely well, and the level of inventiveness is constantly impressive.

For the workshop in Reaside, we prepare a rough plan, which involves improvising the beginnings of the play to elicit responses, and then raising a question of 'monsters' without using that word. What are the characters afraid of?

The group at Reaside consists of a dozen Year Six pupils, who have been chosen to take part. Once again the welcome at the school is impressive, and today, by arrangement, we are all there in time for school dinners - another part of the cultural experience for the Japanese and Korean members of the company.

The introduction to the children is encouraging. They are older than the Chandos group, and have already had some contact with the Rep. 'We did a project on how theatre can change the world,' says one girl. 'That's great...that is what we are doing with Looking for Yoghurt'. It seems an appropriate beginning - let us set our sights high together.

Perhaps because of their age, the children are more practical and realistic than the younger group, less imaginative, but there is once again a great width to their responses, and the session is short but valuable. We collect some more clapping games ['my boyfriend gave me an apple...'] and some good ideas for 'monsters', as well as a strong sense from the way the improvisation is watched that even in this early form, our story and characters are of real interest to our intended audience.

Outside the school, it is sunny but cool, with the first leaves of the year beginning to change colour. Sending enough taxis to retrieve our big party from Frankley proves a challenge for the taxi firm, but the spirit in the camp is buoyant.

Back in the rehearsal room we have a wonderful session looking at the character scrapbooks that the actors have been compiling - which reinforces how clear and well-defined they are, and also how likeable. There is a real sense that everyone knows them already, and we all care about them too, across their manifest differences. The books are a testiment to the way the week has gone. The final acts of that rehearsal room week are a first run at the final sequences of the play, with the children climbing the crane.

Yudai's total lack of fear makes this a difficult exercise to watch, as he drags a less keen Young Ju up towards the ceiling on a wobbly ladder - but the impact of the sight of the three children together so high, looking out across the city, is very striking. It is a strong finish.

In the evening the company is invited over to Judy's house for a meal and a party. Rachel has arrived back in Birmingham and will join us in the morning for our big writers meeting. The exzchange of games spills from the rehearsal room into the party, with some very impressive clappy games demonstrated by Young Ju and Mijeong. On our way back from the party, my son Jim says, 'I think I know why you like hanging out with Koreans so much...they are all big children like you are'........