A quick squizzoo to the Barn Theatre in Southwick to work alongside Martin Oakley designing lights for Wick Theatre’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf. I also supported Publicity Lead Emily Dennett with some publicity things (as she was also playing the lead in the play!) including press: it was good to be back writing copy for the Herald again! Article here.
I love my desk
Loads of tech difficulties with the lighting which would have tried the patience of a saint – and with one thing and another, after Martin had set the lights everywhere they should be and he and I had checked them all, I ended up designing the lighting states on my own – which was SUPER, I do love that. My favourite was the end scene, with a grey dawn breaking through the window. Photo below courtesy Miles Davies.
I continued my Lighting Design training with the brilliant Martin Oakley for Wick Theatre’s Pygmalion in January. It was brilliant to be able to use my maths and logical brain for the computer part, and my artistic brain for the actual lighting design, including creating a wonderful sky colourscape for big scenes set in a conservatory: I loved every bit of it!
I also ran lights during the show and was able to amend and add things that needed it on the fly, during a show, which was amazing.
Plus – never one to shirk a challenge, I did the Deputy Stage Manager: DSM role. At Wick Theatre, and some others I’ve worked with, the DSM runs the show: following the script with a detailed eye and calling all the cues: lights, sound, projections, haze, actors to the stage and anything else that’s going on. This did give me sleepless nights as so much was depending on me but I also loved every second. I benefitted from training from Julian Batstone who has been part of every Wick production since he joined, and is our most experienced DSM. I couldn’t have done it without his support.
It was really cold in the Lighting Box, by the end of the week I had brought in scarves and hats and blankets and so had the very lovely Doffey who was running sound – also for the first time! We had a great time in the box. A lovely friend had just made me fingerless gloves and I wore them throughout!
I also organised the publicity campaign of course! But it was amazing to learn 2 brand new roles in theatre. You’re never too old to learn new things or develop your skillset.
