SM WORKSHOP WEEK NUMBER ONE: Monday & Tuesday

02Mar10

oh hullo,

Yesterday we had a stage management class with Helen Gorton around the theme of ‘Opera’. This was quite interesting as I have not really worked on opera in much depth, so I feel like it was helpful to hear her knowledge and experiences. It even made me reconsider working in opera; previously, I did not even entertain the thought as I felt that I would never be skilled enough to cue people off of a score. However, over the last couple of days, I have started to feel like I am finally starting to improve my score reading skills. Hopefully I’ll be able to make it to a full session sometime this week. So sick of being late.

Things wot I learnt:

• Opera has even more ridiculous jargon than theatre. Think it’s just so everyone can feel really special and elite tho.
• The Music Staff work their arses off… Just like us! Ruins my Martyr Complex slightly but I can deal, I suppose.
• Even simple paperwork can be very strictly regimented, eg. listing people on schedules etc.

So yes, big love to the stage management teams in opera companies up and down the country. You are total Dudes.

TODAY, I was very busy. More score reading with Kristina, who took us through the little opera (operetta?), Stravinsky’s Mavra. I missed nearly everything, save the last scene, so I was a little bummed out, natch. However, it was quite a good challenge for me to run in through the door, score in hand and try and figure out myself where we were in the score. It made me feel pretty great to find a pickup point and rattle through it, stressed as I was. After this class, I went to a Voice Workshop for first year actors. I’ll be honest, I was feeling some reservations about this class. I kind of knew what I had in store, having watched actors do the typical warm-up many times over the past two years, but it was very interesting to concentrate on the process and watch people do it who weren’t totally ‘up’ on the process, either. It was always obvious that a lot of trust was needed in this exercise as it is very personal, and both partners need to be completely relaxed to do it properly, but what wasn’t quite so clear to me before was how much it benefitted the performers to take time to go through the warm-up. It nurtured performances from them that hadn’t been possible before and it was evident in their postures that it gave them the body-mind confidence to take control and command the studio. The class also reminded me the importance of making sure there is always time for warm-ups before shows and rehearsals. All in all, this was a worthwhile session.

Next up we had a talk from a guy called Harry, who worked in theatre many years ago, but was not working in film as a first AD. I won’t go too much about this one, as to be honest, working in film and TV isn’t something that really interests me much. Hours in theatre may be just as long, but at least I know I’ll (nearly always) be inside and work during the daytime, rather than at 5am in a rainstorm in Cambodia. Harry made it seem very exciting, and although I probably wouldn’t turn down working on a shoot if I were offered, I think it’s probably too much exictement for me!

Finally, we had a chat with Martin Mallorie about the role of the Designer and their links with Stage Management. I was looking forward to this one, as I feel it is a very delicate and very important relationship, that is often ruined due to a lack of professionalism. It was good to hear from Martin about his plans to make the SM and Design departments understand each other, but I felt that some of the stuff he said was either too idealistic or too vague. The session was interesting and helpful, but i think the only real way to understand the subject is to go out and work with the designer!

So, that was today. It makes me feel like I was at a real uni with lectures and stuff. Feeling sorry for all the BA English Lit kids, I swear sitting still for all this time is turning my brain to mush.

Laura

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