Most people who know and work with Vamos know that I am administrator for the company. I tuck myself away in the corner of the office along with the office team and administrate to my heart’s content. I find it rewarding and engaging, even if I do occasionally lose my desk under mounds of paper work.
How wonderful I hear you think, she loves her job! I do, but it’s sometimes creatively limiting, and let’s face it, sitting at a desk all day hasn’t given me the body of a 10 time marathon winner! So, occasionally I get let out to stretch my legs and dabble in the creative…
The administration and production sides of a tour are two very different worlds, although both co-dependant; they don’t always gel as I found out myself with a foot in both camps this time. One day I’d be booking accommodation for the actors ahead of the tour starting, the next, I’d be making fake carbolic soap by melting down candles in butter tubs on my hob. I was well aware before rehearsals started I would have to be flexible, willing to lend my hand to anything, get the job done and manage the rehearsal room in the process. I didn’t expect to be running Richard to A&E with a broken finger, or ordering dance tights in the largest size possible and explaining they were for a man masquerading as a lady - I got a few funny looks that day I’ll tell you.
I’ve learnt that producing a show IS a marathon:
The Training – Days, weeks, years of researching, developing and script writing, meetings, designing, taking the bare bone of an idea and putting some muscle on it.
The Warm-up - Rehearsals, scenes run over and over again, preparation and prop making, note taking and giving, re-writing, re-rehearsing, costume fittings and tech runs. Pushing ourselves, being the best we can be ahead of the starting gun being fired.
It’s all part of The Race. It’s on-going: the show is now out on tour, we are running the marathon. With rehearsals finished, I’m now back with the team in the office. It doesn’t end for us though, we are the supporters, the metaphorical water girls and I couldn’t be prouder!
Kathryn
Rachael - All part of the marathon!
Surranne - Thanks so much for taking the time to read the blog. It’s a hard slog of a process, but creativity flows and the end product always makes it so worth while! Hope you get to see the show! Kathryn
ReplyInteresting blog. You dont often think about everything that goes into making a show - it always looks so effortless - so it is good to be reminded that there are many people working behind the scenes - and they are all as important. Thanks.
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