Sarah Talbot

“To enter a theatre for a performance is to be inducted into a magical space, to be ushered into the sacred arena of the imagination.” – SIMON CALLOW, (Charles Dickens and the Great Theatre of the World).

It’s always exciting when beginning a new show. It’s exhilarating when you walk into the “Meet and Greet” and see the many familiar faces of people who are almost your second family. You can feel the love as you approach the troupe and are met with many hugs and shouts.

You also see the new comers who are not too sure about how the process is going to pan out. You can see the timidness as they move to the group of similar interests. Not worried, they will get the hang of it in due course; all it takes is time, patience and great enthusiasm.

The production team then calls for us to be seated as they present what is the plan for their respective departments. The management of the theatre and public/media relations give the spiel about good relations and support for the production. The set designer gives a presentation about how the stage could potentially look like come ‘curtain up’, all a working progress of course. Costuming shows us some concept sketches for costumes for main characters, and the staging team (sound, lighting, props, set, etc) gives us an overview of who we need to referring to for certain issues, such a scheduling. Then we get down to Director, Choreography, Music Direction, and Vocal Coach, all of whom we will be working with during rehearsals. A lot of people to get a show off the ground.

So after these presentations, we are introduced to the leads (people in main roles). Although most of us would have sussed this out soon after the audition process was completed, a few more passive people still benefit from knowing.  We also get a chance to meet the people that will be part of each core group, such as a backstage singers (like me) and onstage chorus (divided further by dance troupe and general chorus who are mainly onstage singers). And to get things rolling we played some drama games, might seem juvenile to some, but it abit of frivolity is always a lot of fun, especially when people do something unexpectedly funny. Great way to break the ice and get to know everyone.
Next is ‘The Reading’. An activity that is undertaking by both stage and screen alike, where everyone involved in speaking and/or singing lines gather around a table or sit in a circle, or even find a ‘spot’ on the floor, and read through the script and score. The Director (or stage manager) gives general direction of what characters would be doing on the stage, including entries and exits. A few laughs to be had when the director fills in parts that have yet to be cast, or have people absent. Especially when using voices, accents, or slip of the tongue mistakes. Shows that we’re all human… A director can take a joke is quite reassuring to cast and crew alike. Fun times ahead. 

‘The Reading’ also helps the cast develop their characters and think about their interactions with each other. Backstage singers also work out where their talents maybe required, such as the large dance numbers (which usually have a lot of singing intertwined). 

The first rehearsal begins… All of the chorus and some leads are called to work on the larger numbers. Onstage Chorus and Backstage singers also find out what vocal part they are (soprano, alto, tenor and baritones). Best thing about being a ‘backstager’ is that rehearsals are not as often called for, so time to do additional things (more details about that to come later).

The excitement builds, as the first of the projects for 2016 gets ‘off the ground’. Yes, it does sound quite busy, but for theatre fiends such as myself, it’s almost a lifestyle. 

And so it begins…the beginnings of a new show, the beginning of the process of getting from the page, to the stage.