Well at least “Humph” was happy!

5 August 2011

It was the hottest day of the year so far, warm enough for even Nelly, my assistant, to take her jacket off (she is a hot house plant). The only one coping was Humph. Whilst having a quick break during the “fit up” (the term used for putting a new show into the theatre) of Radio Times, we formed a puddle as we had a cup of tea, looking longingly at those enjoying a Sunday by the river or having a cool pint at the local pub.

“Do you mind if we take a quick look inside” is a regular request during the fit up weekends and, as long as it’s safe, we’re quite happy to show people around. “It’s just we used to live near here but moved away some years ago”, and then I’m normally regaled with some great stories from the past of shows they have seen, or even, on one occasion, tales of the working mill.

It was the parting aside that hurt and caused several mouthfuls of tea to be spat out, “We must let you get on. It looks like you have lots to do before you finish”. Looking inside the theatre, I could understand what they meant. There was an empty stage with mismatched floor planks, paint marks and bits of pvc tape that marked where furniture is placed, the back wall of the stage with door to the dressing rooms, and the gold and slightly grubby proscenium arch with the red house tabs. It was all as this couple had remembered it and they went away happy. Then again, so did I. It was worth all the sweat. The team had done a brilliant job yet again because a few hours before none of it was there. It all looks so real – what a clever yet sweaty bunch we have here. That is except for Humph who’s quite at home in this heat and is somewhat upstaging the cast of Radio Times.

Lawrence T Doyle – Production Manager