Preperations for Performance week and Final Rehearsals

On the 11th and 12th of June I spent two full 14 hour days at the Maltings Theatre in Farnham Surrey helping to organise dressing rooms, props and help build the set then test the lighting plan.

My specific roles started in the morning of Saturday at 9 o'clock raiding the loft space at the Maltings to locate the collections of props, furiture and costume that FAOs store there. Much work was then done transprting props such as bar chairs and benches, veg waggons and costume rails down from the loft through to the main stage hall or the main dressing room. Carpets had to be laid in the green room and taped down then all the necessary props were positioned in there on tables.

The first part of the set to be erected was the painted back screen canvas then the layers of flats stood up and weighted to the stage right and left wings. The flats were all arranged on the floor to begin with and screwed together. Various smaller details were then added like street signs and an bracket for the pub sign which I constructed. Some last minute props had to be made such as a large map of the Whitechapel district and some newspapers.

The next day involved more technicals and dress rehearsals so the actors could get a feel for the stage space and the use of their props and costumes. I was used regularly as a model for the lighting guys to test the levels of various settings while the actors were up in orchestral rehearsals. I had to make a few trips out to town hunting down other props such as jugs and tankards also getting practical things like string safety pins and tape.