Tech Week and Opening Night

I drop in on a technical rehearsal but things are running late so I have a nosey in the auditorium and take a look at the set. It’s amazing – even better than the model box promised.

The slow, tedious process of all the technical components coming together begins. As I watch the film footage, listen to the music, see the lights I begin to feel dizzy and have to pack up and go home. Even though I’ve made a rapid recovery from the shingles, I now discover that I’ve got a 24hour virus!
Something is telling me to stay away – so I do so until the opening night.

My family and I have a Fred-inspired hotpot and spotted dick in the Octagon restaurant prior to the show. I need a couple of glasses of wine to see me into the auditorium. I tell my kids it feels like the day I got married. A sense of disbelief that this day, so long anticipated, has finally arrived. On the way to our seats, I bump into David Thacker who tells me he’s changed a some things over the last few days. Should he tell me what? No!

And suddenly, after over two years since the conception and a whole year since the original workshop, it’s all happening - the show is up and running in front of a packed auditorium. People are laughing and there’s a sense of inevitability as the performance moves along at a rapid pace. By the time the interval arrives I am ready for another glass of wine. In the second half I managed to stop myself from shouting out when a couple of lines are missed. Before I know it people around me are crying and the show ends with the audience applauding enthusiastically. Some are on their feet and whistling.

I text David when I get home that night to say that I believe it all now!
He replies saying how much he’s enjoyed the journey. So have I - but I don’t want it to end!

Third Week of Rehearsals

A frustrating time for me because I am not able to go along daily to see how the production is progressing.

I am in touch by email, text and phone and all seems to be going fine. In any case, I have to accept that my job is pretty much done and it is time to let go.

By Thursday evening I am well enough to meet with Andy Smith, the sound designer at the Octagon, and we spend an enjoyable hour or so sorting out the music that will accompany the film footage between the scenes.

On Saturday morning I drop-in on a run-through, described by David as ‘an adventure’. It is strange to see the play up and running after a week and a half away from rehearsals. There is a greater depth to a number of the performances and I find myself laughing out loud several times as well as having a lump in my throat in the final scene. Although there is still some work to be done, the play itself seems to be standing up pretty well.