You see the actors on the stage, but our wonderful Backstage Crew are not just behind the scenes but in many cases just behind the curtains!
Assisting Director Morag Mouat has been Stage Manager Cheryl Cluness, Assistant Stage Manager Val Hall and Production Assistant Doreen Gray. All are involved from the very first rehearsal.
Val notes all the moves, significant pauses, lighting and sound clues, in fact any of the changes that might be made over the weeks of rehearsal and so during the run her "book" is the definitive version enabling her to make all the calls (bringing cast down and calling all the cues as they are required). She stands in the corner stage left all the way through the production and never takes her eyes off the book!
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Doreen is in the wings, normally stage right being the eyes on that side of the stage. She checks everything before the performance and has an incredible eye for the detail of the play.
At the last dress rehearsal the Director hands over the show to the Stage Manager and from this point the Stage Manager is in charge of the production. It is a big step to get to this point and is a poignant one for the Director.
Also under the Stage Manager and in the box behind the audience are the Technicians. We were very grateful to Ewan Moncrieff of Shetland Arts for again designing the lighting for the play.
Shannon Williamson took on the role of co-ordinating the role of sound, sourcing the sound effects and being the sound technician for the performances. She had not done this before but did a fantastic job. Well done Shannon!
The view from the box as the audience gather in the auditorium.
The whole team keep in touch via a set of digital headphones which the group invested in a couple of years ago. A must have with everyone dotted around the stage.
Also in the wings for this production was Morag our Director as she was the voice of the Ratcatcher. She decided at the beginning of the play she wanted the words to be a live performance and not recorded, so she "performed" each night through a mike in the wings.
Although the set build was complete Robin Atkinson was on hand every night just in case anything was needed.
Cheryl's final job is to organise the "get out". Always a sad moment but everyone pitches in whether they be backstage, actors or wardrobe. It really is a team effort!
Crew List
Stage Manager : Cheryl Cluness
Stage Manager : Val Hall
Prodction Assistant : Doreen Gray
Lighting Design : Shetland Arts
Sound Co-ordinator : Shannon Williamson