Stage manager.

A new role?

Beth L as director, has asked that I take on the roles of a stage manager, as well as performer, such as booking rooms for rehearsals, exploring the use of props, lighting and sound. As well as assisting her as a director, in terms of supporting the decisions she makes, as well as offer assistance in the rehearsals in terms of the direction of the piece. Additionally in terms of the final piece, I will need to consider the health of safety of the performance, such as for example, the staging. Additionally I will responsible for making sure that the live performance runs smoothly in that all props are placed in the correct place, as well as the lighting and sound running smoothly. I have never been a stage manager before, but it has always been something that I wanted to explore, so I think it will be a case of learning as I go along, which I am looking forward to. 

"A stage manager must have the temperament and ability to get along with people in both the artistic and technical sides of theatre, and to understand what they do. It is part of the attraction of the work that each new job will introduce new and different challenges. Stage managers should be good planners and organisers, with a knack for multi-tasking, prioritising and keeping calm under pressure and in a crisis. Oh yes, and being fairly technically minded is a help! However many famous people stage managers might work with, the work itself is not glamorous, often involving long hours and fairly boring, repetitive tasks as well as being physically demanding."1

1.  What is Stage Management? | The Stage Management Association. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.stagemanagementassociation.co.uk/about/what-is-stage-management. [Accessed 29 September 2014].