Tag: theatre

What makes the best….? (Part 2)

Stage Managers are so vital to the success of a show. As many of you dear readers know, we have a little phrase we use to honour our regular Stage Manager, “No Joe, No Show!” And that literally came from the fact that without our talented and organized and discpilined SM, we wouldn’t have a show. But how do you know if you’ve got a good one or not? Or if the show you are watching had a good one? That can be tough, actually.

SMmustbeGod

It’s tough because if the show has a really good SM, then it’s likely you wouldn’t give the job another thought. Many young actors shy away from the responsibility of SM, some for their knowledge of what the job entails, but many for their lack of knowledge of the importance of the role. If anyone ever wishes to direct, then I say, they must first Stage Manage.

A good SM is disciplined, organized and creative. They know how to put their bible of the show together and how to keep track of all the minutia of details that can make or break a rehearsal. An exceptional SM has their binder ready before first rehearsal with media release forms, health and safety forms, extra copies of first rehearsal schedules, contact lists and whatever else might be necessary to answer questions and keep everyone on track.

A good SM can keep the cast AND the crew in line – this includes the Director. So, and exceptional SM has the respect and admiration of the director. They can work well together and the SM knows that if they call a halt to rehearsal for whatever reason, the Director will understand that it was for the good of the show and not meant as a slight to anyone involved. An exceptional SM will be that moderator, note-taker and interpreter of the Director’s vision. Often Directors and Actors (and other creators as a matter of fact) will get caught up in their creation and what they are trying to say or do – so caught up in fact that they may need a translator. If your SM is really good and has been really paying attention, then they already know what you are trying to say even before you say it. And they help make it happen.

In the end, the show belongs to the Stage Manager. It won’t happen without them. No calls are given, no audience is admitted and no curtain goes up without them. You hand over the keys and they control the destiny of the show, so find a good one, nuture them – and while you’re at it… find another one, because the really good ones get snapped up fast!!!

Do you want that kind of responsibility and knowledge of a show??? Then get out there and join a production to learn what it takes to be a Stage Manager!

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The Stages of Theatre – Part 2

So, auditions are complete and rehearsals are beginning. All that trepidation, all those questions that pile up at every rehearsal, “what’s my character?” “what will the set be like?” “when will we be learning this number/blocking that scene?” “who’s looking after this?!?!” It never ends and it never ceases to amaze.

By a few weeks in to rehearsals, hopefully, you are hitting your stride. As a cast or crew member, you’ve found your place in the production, there’s a vibe going through the rehearsals and things are humming along. It really is one of the best parts, isn’t it? The process – the creation… hopefully one of the main reasons you’ve taken on the project. Otherwise why not go make something else, right?

We are still in the beginning of our theatre year – the “Dark Monday” of our theatrical run and a pile of great shows are just, or almost about to, burst onto the London scene. It’s impossible to fit them all in to your schedule, (even though some with Beat Magazing and the Brickendens give it a good go!), but it sure is exciting to be part of the whole creative potpourri.

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The stages of Theatre – Part 1

Working in Theatre, in any form, is so rewarding.  But often people who don’t do theatre will ask exactly why I will put in so many hours on something that is, generally, volunteer. They don’t see that a 2 hour performance with some applause or tears is worth all the effort. And they are quite correct. It is far more than that. The hours of effort along the way are, in fact, the real reward.

As we are heading into “award season”, the metaphorical end of our entertainment year, I happen to be starting two productions and be in development for another. I’m not sure these events have lined up exactly this way before now. It is interesting to think about the beginning and the end simultaneously. Whilst in auditions for OKTC’s Little Mermaid and LCP’s Sullivan and Gilbert, I’m thinking about how much I like this stage. All the promise and potential. All the new discoveries just waiting around the corner. I’m anticipating all the questions we’ll have and the answers we will struggle to find. I’m anticipating the laughter and yes, probably even a few tears – mostly of joy, (we hope).

Next week are the Beat DISH Awards and one week later the Brickenden’s – London’s official end to the theatrical season. And while it’s great to look back and celebrate, I find I’m excited to ask folks – “So, what’s your next project?”

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Theatre Etiquette for Parents

This time of year there are lots of concerts, recitals and fun events to attend with your family and with that, plenty of chances to show your young ones the best way to behave as members of the audience. It’s a chance to dress up a bit, see something special and enjoy time together, but lets not leave our etiquette at home. Here’s a few tips….

If this is a first visit to a theatre, or if your visits are rare, tell your little ones a bit of what they can expect. The theatre will be dark, lots and lots of people will be there, we have seats waiting for us and we must look for those seats, exciting things will happen on the stage and such. Explain that it isn’t the same as television or DVDs – the people on the stage can actually hear you and they can be distracted by the audience, so we need to show some respect for their hard work. These people are more real (well, they are really right here in front of you), and you might even know some of them, so be sure to pay attention so you can see your friends on that stage!

As much as your little one might need a nibble every hour or so, the theatre (live theatre at least) is not a place for snacks. We might take popcorn into the movies, but generally live theatres leave the food outside. There are lots of reasons for this. Some are to limit distractions of people chewing beside you (generally, there’s no THX sound in a live show to drown out your munching), but many are to limit the mess left in the theatre. Consider that in many theatres the Front of House staff is staffed by volunteers. They are there to help you to your seats and keep you safe in the event of an emergency, they don’t really want to clean up after your meals in the space.

Memories are great, of course, but capturing them on film, (whether moving or still), during the show is pretty tacky. If you really must have some record of the event, then why not offer to be that parent who films it for everyone – make copies after the fact, or if you aren’t technically savvy, track down and hire someone who knows what they are doing to record it for you. Then, sit in your seat and enjoy the show. If you want a photo to commemorate the event, take it after – WITH your family in the shot. There’s nothing worse than a performance where the audience is as fully active with the flashes of cameras as the light show on the stage. Besides, unless you have a super high tech, low light, zoom lens camera with incredible stabilizing functions, you’ll never get as good a shot as the professional hired by the company. Never. It’s just not worth bothering your neighbours at the show. So, put the camera/cameraphone away.

Above all else, make the event fun. Enjoy the show. Ask your kids what they liked. See if they can tell you why. Help them to become critical audience members, so they enjoy the theatre and begin to develop a taste for it. And maybe next year, take them to more than one thing. Don’t save it up just for Christmas. The theatre is year round.

See you in the audience!

 

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Living Creatively with Critical Thoughts

This week I took my cat to the vet and while I was standing there waiting to pay the bill I was admiring the artwork on the wall. It’s a beautiful illustration or watercolour, and it captures my attention every time I’m there. While I was admiring this piece, that critical voice in my head started to reprimand me for not practicing my drawing last weekend or for several days before that. I started to think that I was quite the failure for letting “other things” get in the way of my creative work. Then I remembered… I didn’t draw anything last weekend because I was in Chicago making Puppets and practicing performing with them. Cut yourself a little slack, eh?

But this happens all the time, doesn’t it? Even though I try to live a life that is perpetually creative, I become more and more jealous of my time to create my work – be it theatre, art, sewing, drawing, music, podcasting – whatever the work, there’s always something mundane that’s going to get in the way.  Bills, laundry, dishes, yardwork, workouts, ordinary dayjobs, illness, … whatever.

It’s easy to understand the workaholic when you are trying to be creative. There’s never enough time to do all the shows you want, or catch all the photos, or write all the plays… so what to do when that Critical Voice starts to get you down about all you’ve not accomplished?

I don’t really know, actually. At least, today I don’t. Because that voice did manage to get me a little down yesterday. On sensible days I have a plan, I have a schedule and I just keep plugging and keep creating. It’s like living Sisyphus’ life – the Greek King condemned to pushing a boulder up a hill to see it roll down again before it reaches the top. I’m constantly rolling my stone up the hill. It’s a “punishment” of my own devising, really, and most days I don’t view it as such, but there certainly is a sense of the never-ending to living creatively. The task will never be done.

How long do you let yourself celebrate after a creative task is complete, before you begin the next? Or does that ever really happen?

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