Love's Labour's Lost ...And Won, First Night Nerves

This year's open air Shakespeare Love's Labour's Lost... And Won opened last Wednesday at Caversham Court Gardens. I was helping on the box-office that night so got a good view of the first night nerves - I'm talking about the production crew, I'm sure the actors were all fine.

Getting ready for the audience (photo Richard Brown)

For the first time this year we are able to take payment by card on the night. It is a mobile phone based app rather than the usual card machine so box office manager Heather was slightly anxious about using it for the first time. She was very relieved that the first customers were friends of hers and willing to act as card using guinea pigs.

There is a 'Bard's Bar' available for audience to buy drinks before the show or during the interval and bar managers Helen and Tony were busy trying to attach bunting advertising the availability of Pimms.

There are seven front of house stewards needed every night, in addition to the box office and bar volunteers. The steward slots are filled by a mixture of Progress members and Friends of Caversham Court Gardens. The job of training them all every night falls to front of house manager Stuart. He has to ensure that they are aware of all the safety procedures and are happy with selling programmes, hiring chairs and guiding the audience in the dark.

I don't know if site manager Laura had first night nerves as she was too busy rushing about ensuring everything was running smoothly for me to ask. I did hear the handheld radio's go off several times with the inevitable question "is Laura there?"

Love's Labour's Lost... And Won runs until next Saturday 26th July and has been getting good revues like this one from Get Reading here. You can enjoy the evening safe in the knowledge that you can buy your ticket by card, get a Pimms and hire a chair - everything is under control.

If you are interested in what goes on at Progress Theatre then sign up to this blog. Enter your email in the box under ‘about us’ and click on subscribe. New postings are made weekly so you won’t be swamped with emails. 

Reading Open Air Love's Labour's Lost... And Won by William Shakespeare Wednesday 16th July – Saturday 26th July 2014 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.

Shakespeare in the carpark

There are two Progress productions starting in mid-July. Next week I will find out what is happening with Progress Youth Theatre's The Rose's of Eyam but this week I caught up with the open air Love's Labour's Lost ... And Won.

I had been told they were rehearsing at the theatre but when I arrived the cast and crew were all in the car park. There was more to this than the fact it was a nice sunny day. As the performance will be in the open air it is important the actors get as much experience as possible performing outside. It is much harder to be heard without walls to bounce the sound off and they need to get a feel for this. They have been holding rehearsals outside since mid-May and so far have only been driven inside once by heavy rain.

Director Dan Clarke consulting with assistant director Alex McCubbin

From Saturday they will be rehearsing in the beautiful Caversham Court Gardens so keep an eye out if you are down by the Thames. As well as rehearsing the play the cast will be practising setting up and taking down all the backstage tents that are needed during the performance. Being an actor isn't all glamour!

I don't normally take photos of people's backs but this was a good opportunity to show off the Love's Labour's Lost ...And Won polo shirt.

Producing shirts for each Shakespeare production has become a tradition at Progress. Those involved keep them as a memento and it is a good promotional tool. You usually see a range going back several years at set building sessions. I've still got my favourite pink one from a Midsummer Nights Dream in 2007


If you are interested in what goes on at Progress Theatre then sign up to this blog. Enter your email in the box under ‘about us’ and click on subscribe. New postings are made weekly so you won’t be swamped with emails. 

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 by William Shakespeare Wednesday 16th July – Saturday 26th July 2014 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.