How long have I been involved with BMYP: I have been involved with BMYP since 2018 (Elf)
What I do: There is an old saying that goes. ‘Nobody knows what a Stage Manager does…until they don’t do it’
My key responsibilities are to get the show onto the stage by having regular meetings with the director to understand her vision, build the set, organise a stage crew, run the show on the stage once performances start, be responsible for everyone’s health and safety in the theatre, liaise with lighting and sound technicians, liaise with properties manager and chaperone manager to make sure everything and everyone is ready and in the right place, cue lighting and sound, cue actors to go on, to be available to any of the performers should they have any issues or difficulties, be responsible for the audience for the performance starts.
Experience: I have been involved with local theatre through many different clubs (BMYP, BMCC, TDG, CLOC, FDC, BAOS, Theatreworx, Ship & Castle) around Bristol & North Somerset for 20 years. I have been nominated & won various awards in that time for best Stage Management & Set Design.
Every new show is exciting and there are always some that you look back at fondly and think ‘that was great, and I wish I could do that again’. Sometimes you get what you wish for.
My favourite BMYP show : This is difficult as there have be many that have been really good technically, Spongebob was brilliant, 42nd Street epic, We Will Rock You stunning.
Other Roles: One of my favourite roles is as one of the chaperones when the group goes to perform at Disney. It is often exhausting to make sure everyone is in the right place at the right time and to assist the cast backstage on probably the biggest stage they will ever perform on. But it is probably the most rewarding, once they receive that often huge applause and standing ovation.
