• The Plays are chosen for the Season

   In conjunction with potential Directors, the Director of Productions (DoP) chooses Plays for future presentation. At an Executive Committee meeting, the DoP will present the programme for ratification. There are many factors to consider in order to achieve a balance which is viable in terms of actor appeal, audience appeal, seasonal requirements, numbers of men/women required, to name but a few. For many reasons it is necessary to plan ahead, and typically the Talisman works up to 2 years in advance.

• Advance Planning

   A number of activities are carried out long before a Production even starts rehearsal. These include Casting, both for the acting and the backstage teams and publicity, including designing and printing leaflets, posters, programmes and tickets. Directors and the set designers start detailed work on the production.

• Production Period

   We normally produce 10 main house productions in a year, and there are always at least two productions in progress at any one time. The rehearsal period is normally 7 weeks and rehearsal nights are Sun, Mon, Wed and Fri. During the earliest stages of rehearsal there will be a Production Meeting at which all departments are brought together by the Production Secretary. The Set model will be available and the Director will explain the Play and their interpretation. At this meeting an overall budget is decided and the individual departments are allocated their own spend. Bringing together all departments at this meeting means that there is a common understanding of the Production, and very often there will be a cross-fertilisation of ideas.

• Rehearsals

   The Director will run rehearsals, sometimes including workshops and it is at these that the Production starts to take shape. Lines and Moves are learned, and the actors are directed to perform these in accordance with the interpretation of the Director. For the first approx. 4 weeks rehearsals take place in the Studio, whilst downstairs the preceding Production is on Stage. Minimal Props and Costumes are available. The Stage Manager will attend during these 4 weeks, along with Props, Wardrobe, Lighting and Sound, in order to get a feel for the requirements of the piece. During all of these rehearsals, a Prompt will be available to assist the actors in 'putting down their books'.

   As soon as the previous show has finished the 'run' week in the main house, rehearsals move down onto the stage. Set construction takes place on the non-rehearsal nights. Before the final week prior to opening night approaches, the Lighting and Sound crew will set up their equipment (known as rigging) so that they are ready for a Technical Rehearsal. This usually takes place on the Tuesday of the final week and it is during this that the Lighting and Sound Cues will be decided and entered into the stage Manager's script (the Prompt Copy). It is essentially a rehearsal without actors at which the Technical side of the show is finalised. This means that there will be 3 rehearsals with all of the elements of the show in place. For more complex shows, this activity may well take place earlier in the schedule. The final Friday rehearsal is usually a Dress rehearsal, in full costune, and the Sunday Rehearsal is known as a Final Dress Rehearsal. From that point on the responsibility for running the show passes to the Stage Manager.

• Show Week

   On the opening night, many other activities suddenly take place. Front of House there will be a House Manager to take charge of everything in front of the House Curtains. There will be staff in the Box Office, the Bar and the Coffee Bar.

   Backstage the Stage Manager will ensure that the Props, Wardrobe, Lights, Sound and any Stage Crew are present. He or she will ensure that everything is co-ordinated for a prompt start, laising with the House Manager as required. Once the show has started, the Stage Manager gives the Cues for the Lighting, Sound and any Scenery changes required. Hopefully all of the preparation has paid off and everything will run smoothly. The Prompt is the one person who turns up every night ... and hopes that they won't have a job to do !

   At the end of the day, the entire Production is a real Team Activity and the audience is the final judge. We are fortunate to have many highly talented and committed members, in all departments, who constantly strive to stretch themselves.

dik thacker