Robin Hood: After performance

During the performances of Robin Hood, I was backstage crew and stage manager.
Before the performance starts, I would set up the prop table and make sure every thing's in place. I also check the stage set and see if there were any wrecks, especially on the second performance because it might have been wrecks on the first night.
I also gave warm-ups to the actors (while they were not doing their make-up or hair etc). I used the warm-up Mr. Evans normally gives his actors in his productions, such as Tina. We got into a circle and passed on a line from the play. It seemed to work and the kids got energetic, since most seemed to enjoy it.

When the audience started to arrive, I would make sure every actor stayed in the backstage area, double check the props, and also check if the actors had their props that they initially need, including personal prop. Also, when there is 3 minutes left till the play starts, I gave all the actors the warning, then I signaled the lighting/sound crew.
]
During the performance, I mainly checked if actors were at the places they needed to be and tried to keep them quiet. I had help from a few teachers, which was helpful. On the first night, Sara was there as well to help. The main problem was not noise but the curtains. Many actors still had a habit of flicking the curtain instead of smoothly entering, and I had to make sure that the curtain was not opened most of the time. Again, I had help from the teachers and Sara, and I was grateful for that. Bernie, the other backstage crew was in charge of the other entrance through the castle, and that allowed me to focus on the rest of backstage.

When the interval finished, I also had to do the same process as before and give everybody a 3 minute warning. I also had to call in the audience as we could not start without them.

I was amazed at the performance the elementary students gave. Many, or rather almost all raised their voices and pronounced their words (I could hear them from backstage clearly as well). Although there were some slips, and people forgot their lines, the others covered them well and collaborated nicely.

The second performance I believe was as equally as good but the audience had much more small children and made more noise so the actors had to speak up more.


I enjoyed being part of this play and playing a role like an assistant stage manager was a new experience to me. I found that if I had less activities, (because I had activities like field hockey) then I could have attended more rehearsals and thus learning more about being an assistant stage manager. I thought that other bits such as props could have been done quicker so that the performance week wouldn't have been that hectic.



This is a picture of most of the cast in their costumes. As you can see, both costuming and make-up were done well. Although I was not part of the costuming and the make-up, I thought it might be an interesting role I could take on in another project or production.