Show week

Most of the Society’s show weeks follow the same structure:

All the important rules for how to behave during the show week are covered in the bye laws, specifically articles 6-12.

Technical rehearsal

Monday evening

Whilst most of the cast have been rehearsing for months, the technical team have exactly one night to practice, and this is it.
Technical rehearsals can be lengthy and can feel slow, but they’re a crucial part of making sure everything is working as it should.
You might be asked to stop and start scenes, go back and repeat sections several times, or simply to wait whilst something is being worked out.
Technical rehearsals can be incredibly stressful, particularly for the Stage Manager, crew and technical team. Please do your best to be patient.
The Stage Manager will let you know the call time for the technical rehearsal.

Tuesday evening

The dress rehearsal is run exactly as a full performance with a paying audience would be, at the same time of day, and with all restrictions on coming front of house.
You should wear full stage makeup and costume, and give the same effort as you would for any other performance.
After the final dress the Director will ceremonially hand responsibility for the production to the Stage Manager, who will give any final safety briefings and a reminder of the bye laws.

Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday

You should aim to be at the venue no less than 45 minutes before the curtain time. This gives you time to get into makeup and costume if necessary, and to focus on the upcoming performance.
Expect a vocal warmup around 15 minutes before the curtain time.
The call of “Act 1 beginners”, given by the Stage Manager, means that the performance will begin in two minutes. You should get into position for the beginning of the show and be ready to break a leg¹.
During a production you should expect things to be quite intense backstage. People will be moving around to get into position for cues and costume changes.
On a Saturday with a matinee performance there may not be a lot of time between performances. You should make sure you have something to eat, but remember you must not have an alcoholic drink.

Once the final performance is over the Society will traditionally hold an after party in the venue, in which the success of the show is celebrated.
Whilst many people in the Society enjoy a drink you are not required to attend the party, and you are not expected to drink alcohol if you don’t want to.

Once the after-party at the venue is over (usually due to the license running out) people may be invited back to a cast member’s house to continue the party.

“Break a leg” is the traditional wish of good luck for the upcoming performance. ↩