The busy cluttered dressing room will be familiar to any reader who has performed at Progress (or any other theatre I'm sure). While there will be a tidy up session before the performance, with nineteen actors sharing the limited backstage space a certain amount of chaos is inevitable. Performers have to be very disciplined about hanging up costumes and putting vital props somewhere safe. This can be difficult with quick changes and there will probably be several moments of panic during any show while an actor frantically searches for a missing shoe or cloak (and I'm not just talking about youth theatre productions!)
When putting on a show with anyone under sixteen there are legal restrictions on the number of rehearsals and performances. This meant that the Sunday had to be kept as a rest day before the first performance on Monday so there were two dress rehearsals planned for the Saturday.
During the first rehearsal the director noticed that the bottom of the large trunk recycled from God of Carnage still needed painting (it is going from cream to black). While there were willing hands to do the painting it was quickly realised that there wouldn't be time for it to dry before the second rehearsal. Luckily there are no laws about the number of hours adults spend at the theatre so no problem with them staying late to paint after the second rehearsal.
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Progress Youth Theatre The Roses of Eyam by Don Taylor Monday 14th July - Saturday 19th July.
Reading Open Air Love's Labour's Lost... And Won – at Caversham Court Gardens
Auditions for Noises Off by Michael Frayn Sunday 27th July 2.30pm or Monday 28th July 7.30pm
Full details about out theatre and all our activities can be found on our website.
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