Mindgame running up against a brick wall

Instead of being shown on consecutive nights like other Progress productions, Mindgame is running Thursday - Saturday over two weekends with a break in between. Producer Steph Weller explained a bit about the thinking behind this change. Most productions at Progress run for either six or nine nights. The nine night runs are used for plays that are expected to be very popular and therefore justify the expense of paying the rights for the extra nights. The advantage of a nine night run is that people who come on the first weekend and enjoy it can tell other people, giving time for a buzz to build up about the production encouraging more people to come on the second weekend (weekends being the better selling performances). Six night runs normally start on a Monday, and if the earlier nights don't sell out there is less opportunity for word of mouth to build.
The other advantage of the split performance dates is that cast and crew get a longer break during the run, although the potential downside is that they could forget their lines or just lose a bit of the spark built up during the previous performances. Director Christopher Hoult has therefore decided to have an extra rehearsal for the actors without the lighting and sound on the Tuesday. He will though resist the temptation to make any mid-run changes to the performances!

When I met her on Sunday, Steph also made the slightly bizarre statement that she now detests brick walls. What she meant was she detests having to paint them. The brick wall seen through the window on the right of this photo has been painted in, and because of the window frame in front any deviation from a straight line would be obvious. It therefore had to be painted very carefully with the aid of a long piece of wood and a spirit level. 

Everything is ready for the opening night on Thursday apart from one last effect for which the production crew are awaiting materials. All Steph would say was thank goodness for the bank-holiday!

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Coming up -
Mindgame by Anthony Horowitz 10th-12th May and 17th-19th May 2012, Progress Theatre

Auditions for Calendar Girls, by Tim Firth, Sunday 13th (2:30pm) and Wednesday 16th May (7:30pm), Progress Theatre

Mine by Polly Teale 11th - 16th June 2012, Progress Theatre

Henry IV Part One by William Shakespeare, 12 Jul - 21 Jul 2012, Caversham Court Gardens