I Was a Westend Stage Manager - Ask Me Anything

[TheatreJunkie84]

Title says it all really!

Did the rounds of a few big Westend musicals as well as working for the Royal Ballet at the Royal Opera House for a time. Worked with some big names too....gave it all up a couple years ago to start my family.

Anyone wants to know the ins and outs of working in theatre....ask me anything!

Hi, another DSM here, I was once asked by the cast of quite a quiet, serious play to put out an interval front of house call to ask the audience to stop unwrapping sweets as it was getting so distracting. (I did very little in the West End but lots of opera and mid scale regional touring, and after a lot of years out for parenting am now back in the business, albeit on a smaller scale more local level.)

@gostiwooz thankfully - never! I did have an actor nearly set his cloak on fire on stage....it was outdoor theatre, he was playing a sorcerer and standing a bit too close to one of the flaming braziers. Luckily he managed to pat it out discreetly. I was mildly panicking from the wings though

@FionaJT yikes! Yeah I've had a few studio shows like that, hearing every single unwrap and rustle! They're the worst, especially when you're out front with the lighting desk.

I'd love to go back to it eventually. Luckily I don't live too far from London, and I try to stay in the loop as best I can.

More questions....can you transfer your skills to other areas such as tv? Is it generally a younger person s job or are there all ages working at the top level? Did you ever consider working abroad or on a cruise ship?

@5LeafClover skills are extremely transferable! I've worked in arts admin, Film and television more recently on a bookings and hire team. Stage management means a lot of multi tasking and team playing, so the skills are very easily transferred to other sectors.

Definitely not a young persons game. As much you get the 'lifers', starting at uni and ending in their 60's, I've also one friend who didn't decide she wanted to be stage manager well into her 40's. Luckily she had some amateur experience and a friend who worked crew on a westend show....she got a job doing that and worked her way up the ranks. She's now approaching mid 50's and DSM on a long running westend show.

I've got friends who works the cruise circuit but it's definitely not for me. Long hours, no pay, no escape from people if you don't happen to get on with them and then you're stuck on a boat! Plus having seen videos of shows that friends have been in, I think the quality and standard of performances on board can vary greatly. Each to their own though! I know my friends all love it.

I know most theatre stages are raked, but I had no idea just how steep that rake is in some theatres until I went backstage at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane (cast member friend).

Are there any steeper than that?

How do the set-builders allow for it when touring, and how in the wide world do dancers cope with dancing on a slope?!

Ohhhhh Theatre Royal is nothing compared to some!

Below is a picture some-one uploaded to Instagram of Southend Palace - reportedly the steepest in the country, though I think it's contested with York Theatre Royal. The rake is 1:18...though I still don't understand entirely what that means.

For theatres with a very steep rake, there are exercises and stretches that actors can do before each performance.....but after a while you honestly get used to it.

Previous post is response to @gostiwooz

This is such an interesting thread! I was thinking it must be so rewarding to have a job that just brings pure and simple joy to people - does it feel like that OP, or do you just get absorbed in the day to day tasks (like any other job)?

@PrivateSpidey sorry - I totally didn't see this question!

I consider myself lucky every single day to be able to do what I do! Yes....every job gets monotonous and you get yourself into a routine, but soon as that overture starts and the curtain goes up....I remember how lucky I am!