Saturday, 8 May 2010
Never put your daughter on the stage...
Friday, 7 May 2010
Hung
With about 70 seats still to declare the new parliament looks well hung with several unruly members ejected and a few new ones about to enter the house.
We could end up doing it all over again in a few months - weeks even. Hopefully the populous will return to something resembling normality now?
Everybody is a full pelt in the office and there is no shortage of additional demand on our time from other aspects of the business. Positive signs emanate from the rehearsal rooms which underpins everything so we have reason to be optimistic. James and I are thinking of some glitzy, interesting people to interview for our occasional podcast series (so watch this space) and the final week of the build is about to begin - mostly frilly-shirt work left now..
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We could end up doing it all over again in a few months - weeks even. Hopefully the populous will return to something resembling normality now?
Everybody is a full pelt in the office and there is no shortage of additional demand on our time from other aspects of the business. Positive signs emanate from the rehearsal rooms which underpins everything so we have reason to be optimistic. James and I are thinking of some glitzy, interesting people to interview for our occasional podcast series (so watch this space) and the final week of the build is about to begin - mostly frilly-shirt work left now..
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Wednesday, 5 May 2010
Back into it
It never ceases to amaze me how the production of opera refuses to permit you a smooth passage to opening night; one of our Carmens has strained her back which means physio and osteopathy but with three or more weeks to go should hopefully present nothing more than a painful few days for her and inconvenience for the rehearsal schedule. And now the volcanic ash is making a threatening comeback...
Of course we also have the election to contend with tomorrow. Elections always send the nation into a kind of dormant state as though we expect some huge post-poll eruption that has to be gotten over before moving on (note the volcanic references). If you believe the pollsters there may well be some continuing rumblings after this one but we shall have to wait and see. General opinion has it that whoever wins, the arts might come in for some stick. For us, whatever the outcome tomorrow, we have a theatre to build and six operas to produce.
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Of course we also have the election to contend with tomorrow. Elections always send the nation into a kind of dormant state as though we expect some huge post-poll eruption that has to be gotten over before moving on (note the volcanic references). If you believe the pollsters there may well be some continuing rumblings after this one but we shall have to wait and see. General opinion has it that whoever wins, the arts might come in for some stick. For us, whatever the outcome tomorrow, we have a theatre to build and six operas to produce.
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Tuesday, 4 May 2010
Plugging away
A productive day ended with Chelsea winning the FA Youth Cup which is something I couldn't let pass without remark. Orchestra pit installations, lighting and electrical fit ups and fancy new concertina shutters on the bars and whizzy new surtitle monitors are one thing but the new generation of Chelsea stars is quite another.
Large pieces of set have begun to appear on site - some early technical rehearsals take place on Saturday - so within days we become a working theatre which will be nice. The process of this build has been very illuminating and I cannot begin to list the alternative solutions I now have firmly in mind but that is for the autumn; right now we are on course for an exciting season and the general build up in the public mind is gathering steam.
Julia is grafting away on the season magazine which is a complex beast, juggling with our first night invitation list and a multitude of other tasks. She seems able to manage without my constant presence and only being here for a few months appears not to be relevant. That tends to be the way of things at OHP - vertical learning curves. Soon an intern from Harvard university arrives for a few weeks and she too will be flung into the fray!
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Large pieces of set have begun to appear on site - some early technical rehearsals take place on Saturday - so within days we become a working theatre which will be nice. The process of this build has been very illuminating and I cannot begin to list the alternative solutions I now have firmly in mind but that is for the autumn; right now we are on course for an exciting season and the general build up in the public mind is gathering steam.
Julia is grafting away on the season magazine which is a complex beast, juggling with our first night invitation list and a multitude of other tasks. She seems able to manage without my constant presence and only being here for a few months appears not to be relevant. That tends to be the way of things at OHP - vertical learning curves. Soon an intern from Harvard university arrives for a few weeks and she too will be flung into the fray!
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Monday, 3 May 2010
OK, enough already
We have reached the point where we just want every contractor finished and off site so we can beautify the place. True to say this final technical piece of the jigsaw is the stuff that actually makes us a theatrical space - it will also contribute to the beautification. Anyway even the weekend deluge couldn't dampen spirits although a few carpets were..
Getting back onto the other part of the business will be good too with lots to look forwards to. Planning radio and press slots for the first two shows and starting to get a picture of the productions as they develop in the rooms is always exciting. The way shows grow and emerge from the rehearsal room is endlessly fascinating; so too is seeing the cast begin to realise what it is they are a part of. Sometimes they can't really tell until they are on-stage, with sets and lights and the real space and then it dawns. It is a wonderful process and productions come vividly to life - sometimes most extravagantly only when performed to an audience. Good noises are coming from both the Pelleas and Carmen rooms so here's hoping.
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Getting back onto the other part of the business will be good too with lots to look forwards to. Planning radio and press slots for the first two shows and starting to get a picture of the productions as they develop in the rooms is always exciting. The way shows grow and emerge from the rehearsal room is endlessly fascinating; so too is seeing the cast begin to realise what it is they are a part of. Sometimes they can't really tell until they are on-stage, with sets and lights and the real space and then it dawns. It is a wonderful process and productions come vividly to life - sometimes most extravagantly only when performed to an audience. Good noises are coming from both the Pelleas and Carmen rooms so here's hoping.
Sent using BlackBerry® from Orange
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