One Day [show] More!

So I'm pretty tired at the moment. Thankfully, today has been a day off in between Loughborough and Huddersfield but still, that one day affair in York really got me. And then yesterday in Loughborough. It's really taken its toll.

Let me explain a one day-er to you. The get in starts at the usual time of 9.00 but right from the off things are just different. I suppose it's the expectation of a show and a get out happening on that same day that changes things. It means that lunch and tea breaks are regularly shortened or worse forgotten about as we strive to get the set up and dressed, the lights focused and the costumes washed, dried and ironed. This normally has to be all done by 5 at which point the actors are free to walk the set and take note of their entrances and exits (these differ depending on the theatre.) Then the show goes up and if I'm lucky I get a window of about ten minutes for a quick power nap and a ready meal before various curtains must be opened and certain actors must be humoured. The show happens and then we're faced with the get out. Which is always mental. Zac gets in his get out mood where words seem to escape him; I'll ask him what he wants packed onto the truck next and he'll say:

'I'd like all the... er... long.... you know the flat... everything that can be packed into... all the...'

'Brooms and small bits?' I'll say.

'Yes, those.'

I call it 'get-out alzheimers'. It couldn't come at a worse time. The two one day-ers we've had so far have gone quite smoothly, however, and I think this is mainly down to the wonderful crews we have had on these days. Both in York and Loughborough the technicians could not have been more friendly and helpful and as you can imagine it makes a huge difference. Communication is crucial when getting a set in and out and so being comfortable with one and other is important and makes a massive difference to how things pan out.

I am currently chez Zachary Holton whilst the rest of the company bar Victoria, Daragh and Paul have gone for a day of relaxation at a spa somewhere. Meg seemed excited about this last night- I've never seen her in such a good mood for a get out. I got up at midday today. It felt gooooddd.