Settling In

Hey everyone!

I like to think I’m settling into the role of Stage Manager quite nicely. Having experience with the role in Shakespeare, one thing I was particular in requesting was weekly production meetings. I think this is an efficient way of ensuring that everyone in the company is aware of what they need to do and when. I also think it is extremely important for all company members to be aware of what is going on within the company, even if they do not have a production role e.g. director, dramaturg, choreographer. This is a beneficial way of guaranteeing that everyone is on the same page. I have been inspired by the Lincoln Drill Hall for this concept, they are a local theatre venue who ensure that all members of the venue are aware of everything at the Drill Hall. This is so that if any customer comes in and is curious about something any one of the staff will be able to give an answer! Although, this reasoning doesn’t directly link to why I would like to enforce this method, Larry Fazio states that “it is important and beneficial that all technical and artistic departments come together organising and getting everyone working in the same direction and time frame”. (Fazio, 2017, 143). This has been the basis for my reasoning of having all company members at weekly production meetings.

Hayley, our producer, and I have agreed that during our weekly production meetings we will split the responsibility. I am “in charge” of the tech side of the production meetings such as lighting, sound, set and costume & props whereas Hayley is “in charge” of the admin side of the company such marketing, fundraising etc. The reason I use quotation marks for “in charge” is because I don’t think that Hayley or myself dictate how everyone fulfils their role. I think we are sort of in a leadership position, we are the people that the company comes to when they have questions about their role if they are unsure, we are the people who ensure everyone’s voice gets heard, we are the people who set weekly targets for individual company members to meet in order to ensure both the company and the show develops at the speed we need it to.

I am extremely excited to be working on this project with Sherbet Lemon Theatre and look forward to creating something sweet and a little sour.

C.M.

Fazio, L. (2017) Stage Manager: The Professional Experience – refreshed. Oxford: Taylor and Francis.

Sherbet Lemon Theatre (2018) Sherbet Lemon Theatre’s first production meeting [image]. Available from:  https://www.instagram.com/p/Be8eKYCgsfJ/?taken-by=sherbetlemontheatre [accessed 10 February 2018].