All change - Colder Than Here take over theatre

It is always sad when a production ends, particularly one as big and colourful as Little Shop of  Horrors. The theatre seems very empty and cold once all the set has been dismantled, the props removed and the walls painted black again. There is no time for looking back though. The cast and crew of a show come in to clear up or 'get out' on the Sunday morning after the last night (sometimes coming straight from the after show party!) and by 2pm the next production can start rehearsing on the stage and building their own set.



Mike Brand marking out the Colder Than Here set in what was, 24 hours earlier, Mushnik's flower shop

One of the props that the Colder Than Here team were able to move to the theatre from the director's living room, where it's been stored for the last few weeks, was the coffin. It is a genuine cardboard coffin ordered from a green funeral company. It arrived through the post flatpacked and with a notice on the outside saying 'Urgent coffin for a funeral enclosed please handle with care'.

The coffin plays a key part in the action of the play and the cast had a chance to get used to it on Sunday. As you can see they managed to find humour in the situation and that is true of the play too, although it covers serious subject matter there are some lighter moments too.

Samantha Bessant tries out the coffin

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Colder Than Here by Laura Wade 20th - 25th May 2013, 7.45 Progress Theatre

Blithe Spirit by Noël Coward Monday 17th June - Saturday 22nd June 2013, 7.45 Progress Theatre

This years outdoor Shakespeare Macbeth Thursday 18th to Saturday 27th July 2013 at 7.45pm, Caversham Court Gardens