The First Few Weeks into SM Lessons

The Beginnning


Having not taken part in any productions (as of yet, Les Miserables the whole of next week, which you should hear a lot about) I do not have much to write about in the context of being backstage or working the lights etc. However, I have taken part in 5 and a half Stage Management ‘lessons’ with the ultimate Mark Shayle.

Upon meeting this new tutor, having heard the odd description from friends within the year above me, who had been with Mark for a whole extra year, he was basically what I expected, a typical laid back, but at the same time pretty full on ‘Tutor’, he definitely gave off the whole “Stage Management” aura. Anyhow, back to the content of these lessons:
The first session was spent going over the basics of the stage. We had the basic outline of a ‘Proscenium Arch’ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proscenium) and were asked to name it, instinctively we all chorused “it’s a stage!” Which was unusual for our normally tired, sleepy Monday morning class. After a few more guesses, hand gestures and clues Mark finally gave in and told us the name of the box-shaped image on the board.

Over the next few weeks we learnt a few more names and tricks of the trade of Stage Management, for example, Typical jobs of SMs, DSMs and ASMs. To watch out not to flick the wrong switch or pull the wrong lever, which would either lead to making a complete idiot of yourself and chatting to a half full auditorium or covering the audience in a couple gallons of water. However, at the moment we are only skimming the surface of what is yet to be learnt about the life of a stage manager, and I am yearning for more.

I never though that there could be so much information packed into one of the many jobs in a theatre, for now I don’t know nearly enough, but in time, I hope I’ll have most of the help I need tucked under my hat so I can set off and work behind the wings of a proper stage, not just the Windmill Theatre.