For my next allocation of the year, I would once again be taking on the role of an Assistant Stage Manager – a role I had previously worked on ‘Chess’ last year. This time, however, I would be working on the two A2 Shakespeare shows performing in the Chandler – ‘Julius Caesar’ and ‘Twelfth Night’ – and, due to the nature of these productions and the fact that the rehearsal process would be almost complete by the time I began working on the shows, myself and my fellow ASM would mainly be focussed on running the shows in the venue, with two ‘Rehearsal ASMs’ appointed for the initial propping and sourcing. As an ASM, my role would involve supporting the Stage Manager however they required me to do so, performing cues during the performance, and ensuring the day-to-day smooth running of the show.
Being Shakespeare, each play had a rather complex and convoluted plot that did not fully become clear until the third or fourth time of watching it.
Julius Caesar Plot
Twelfth Night Plot
Unlike previous years, both plays had different designers and, coupled with such a tight turnaround period between the plays, each provided its own set of production challenges. ‘Caesar’s set consisted of a central dias – constructed from 4 x (8’x4’) and a (4’4) deck sections – which had tiled sacrificial sheeting screwed to its top and polystyrene rubble surrounding its base. The play would also use two kabuki drops, each firing independently, as well as confetti drops both from a bag rigged amongst the LX bars and thrown by cast members. ‘Twelfth Night’s stage would be covered in ladders, some of which would be climbed on, swung from, and hung on by actors. There would be a band – including piano – situated USL on a raised platform, the dock doors would open several times – with different settings behind them each time – and the CS mirror ball would have to fly in and out, being hidden in a black box each time it wasn’t being used. The performance area would also be surrounded by hanging ‘tokens’ – flying on invisible line and attached by magnets – which the performers could detach and use as part of the action as the play progressed. These were the main Stage challenges of each play, though additions like LED tape and consumable party food for the audiences would also pose their fair share of challenges for all departments; resulting in a pair of challenging plays to produce.