The 39 Props

In fact there are more than 39 props in this production of The 39 Steps,  more like double that. I spoke to the man who has had the job of sourcing all those items, Tony Powell.

Many of the props he found in the Progress store, a cellar on the grounds of Calcot golf course. This store is a treasure trove of items that have been used in previous productions or someone thought might be useful one day. There are old sofas, cash registers, shields and even a bus stop. Over the last couple of years Tony has taken on the job of bringing order to this eclectic mix of things. He has tidied it up, put similar items together and thrown out things that are not worth storing. He is planning to catalogue everything but that is a big job.

This production is set just before the second world war and with an eye for detail Tony has even managed to find some period milk bottles, he spotted them in an old farm yard. The beautiful old milk holder he bought from Fanny’s Antiques in Reading and they have kindly agreed to buy it back if it survives the show unscathed.

Some items Tony has ended up making either because he couldn't find what he wanted or they were too expensive. He has made an old lamp-post, an aeroplane and some haddock. He searched everywhere for suitable plastic fish but ended up making his own from foam polystyrene.

A collection of period hats & props with stage manager Laura Mills reflected in the mirror.

Another major source of props has been his own house. His reputation as an extraordinary props finder started when he was working on Much Ado About Nothing which was set in the aftermath of the Falklands war. He 'happened to come across' at home a copy of the Sunday Times from the 1980s with a report on the Falklands. I did ask if he was a hoarder and after a long pause he said 'yes I probably am!'

The 39 Steps has been chosen as a 'Third Thursday' event by local arts group Jelly. You can buy a ticket for the first night (17th November) from Jelly, they cost £10 (no booking fee) including a free drink, a talk from the directors and a chance to meet the artist exhibiting in the foyer. See the Jelly website for more details.

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Coming up -

The 39 Steps by John Buchan, adapted by Patrick Barlow 17th-26th Nov 2011

6th Annual WriteFest 8th - 10th December 2011

See Progress Theatre website for details of all our productions and auditions.