Many students are involved in this year鈥檚 exciting production of ‘Carousel.’ The whole school is aware of our talented cast getting ready to perform. Yet with the show getting closer to performance, our backstage crews are also preparing intensely. Student Journalist Finn Kerby-Pinguet reports.
It鈥檚 within the nature of a backstage crew itself to go largely unnoticed, but it鈥檚 time their contributions in preparing and rehearsing ‘Carousel’ receive some recognition. From set painting at lunchtimes, helping to make props, volunteering to join the hair and makeup crew, to the operating of lights and sound equipment, Nayland students are working incredibly hard to ensure the production goes smoothly.
To show their efforts, we spoke to Stage Manager and NayCol teacher, Carl Sheehan.
Mr. Sheehan is the official ‘Carousel’ Stage Manager, so he鈥檚 responsible for everything to do with the show in the Theatre Royal.
鈥淚鈥檝e been involved with shows before, having volunteered at a theatre for 5 years. I鈥檝e done shows such as Mamma Mia, The Wizard of Oz, Grease in different roles like Stage Manager or in the crew, sound, and lighting teams. My work in theatre begun as a way to spend some time with my wife, who is a singer and musical director.鈥�
鈥淭his is my first time working with the Nayland crew, and it鈥檚 looking really good. For the crew up to now it鈥檚 been about learning the show and getting to know the cast, so they鈥檙e prepared to run what they need to run. This year I’ve also been running the set painting as well, which has been open to anyone interested. The biggest difference they鈥檝e found between set painting and just classroom painting is that it鈥檚 all about creating the illusion of where ‘Carousel’ takes place. Painting doesn鈥檛 always have to be detailed but the purpose is to create a sense of place. To me, there鈥檚 nothing worse in a show than seeing something where there鈥檚 something that shouldn鈥檛 be in the time period it鈥檚 showing.鈥�
鈥淚 think the most challenging thing about moving into the theatre will be the number of cast members. When we go to the theatre our crew will be doing their jobs in the dark or blue light. I encourage students that want to get involved with backstage crew at Nayland, it鈥檚 a nice way to get involved without having the spotlight on you. There is a lot of knowledge and technology involved, and a lot of things to learn in that area. Opportunities in backstage and technology are quite good, I have a friend in London doing shows on Broadway, and careers often involve touring the world, for example; Cirque du Soleil.鈥�
鈥淭here鈥檚 a good quote about backstage crews, which is: 鈥榠f we are doing our jobs well you should not know we鈥檙e doing our jobs鈥�.鈥�
Thank you to Mr. Sheehan for talking with us.
While technology, backstage crew and set painting are crucial to the show, there is a side of the preparations that can also go unnoticed: costumes. The costumes themselves are displayed prominently on the actors, but the making of them is an effort many people do not even think of. To show the work of the NayCol community we interviewed Mr. Bentley, in charge of costumes.
鈥淐ostuming ‘Carousel’ has been an enormous job, as we have such a large cast. We have got our materials from many different sources this year, from sewing from scratch, repurposing op shop clothes, transforming duvet covers and even adapting sheets to our purpose. At one point we used some old doilys for trim. We鈥檝e had a fantastic team of parents doing sewing and alterations. Of course, with ‘Carousel’ we have the dancers representing the literal carousel, so making horse masks has been quite the challenge. The horse masks actually resulted in a lot of burns with hot glue for me, which wasn鈥檛 good.鈥�
鈥淐ostumes this year has been particularly difficult, as we have a very large number of actors and dancers involved. To those who haven鈥檛 bought tickets yet, I say do so quickly, buy before they sell out. There鈥檒l be fantastic costumes, and also maybe some good acting!”
Thank you Mr. Bentley.
There are a number of teachers and parents who have done much for the show this year, but working literally (and figuratively) 鈥榖ehind the scenes鈥� are the following students:
ASM/Flys: Kahu Sanson-Burnett
Lighting Crew: Bob Foy, Grant Bell (spotlight), Hamish Creagh (spotlight)
Sound Crew: Caleb Thompson, Ra Edmonds, Hailey Potts
Stage Crew: Flo Bailey, Dylan Briggs-Gray, Ruth Buckland, Lachie Clarke, Evie Dodson, Matthew Fitzgerald, Caitlyn Greeff, Mia Harnetty, Kahu James-Young, Meg Stephenson, Riley Stoddart, Molly Sussex
Props: Kimberly Fitzgerald, Tahlia Coulston, Sophie Whiteside
Set Painting: Flo Bailey, Tia Cranefield, Ra Edmonds, Sophie Edwards, Kimberly Fitzgerald, Caitlyn Greeff, Isabel Lyttle, Meg Stephenson, Sophie Whiteside
Hair and Make-up: Alisha Benn, Zoe Jameson, Caitlyn Greef, Meg Stephenson
‘Carousel’ is shaping up to be an outstanding performance; so come and support the cast, chorus and crew at the Theatre Royal. The efforts of students and staff will come to fruition from 19 – 22 May in what is sure to be a production to remember.
If for nothing else, buy tickets simply to justify Mr. Bentley鈥檚 glue gun burnt fingers!
By Student Journalist Finn Kerby-Pinguet
