Getting Ready in the Dressing Room
At the stage door, I am greeted by the chaperones, kind adults who take care of us whenever we come to rehearsals and performances. I make my way to my dressing room and almost instantly, I get changed and put on various layers which actors must wear. (undergarments.) There are several kind women who style the microphone through my hair, (to ensure it isn’t visible) to make sure I know what costumes to wear and do my hair and makeup. Everyone is really lovely and it helps to relieve any nerves I may have!
Fun fact: I wear two pairs of tights at once for the first scene!
It’s Showtime!
Once I’m ready, we listen out for our call to stage and make our way to the wings. (backstage areas.) I always make sure to bring my water bottle: hydration is key! We all stand back from the stage crew who move the set and walls (which looks like very hard work) and there are often tape marks blocking us from standing in certain places. I can hear the orchestra and everything that is happening on stage and prior to making my way on, a Stage director will cue me. They hold all the music in a folder and follow it along before whispering ‘Standby, Holly… On you go!’ I close my eyes and merge into my character, Flora. The butterflies in my tummy disappear as I come on. I can barely see anyone. Just silhouettes in the distance and bright lights pointing at me. It’s thrilling.
Backstage and Onstage
A lot goes on offstage. I wear 4 different costumes throughout the whole opera and for certain scenes I have to change costumes, tights and sometimes even my hair. At one point I had 30 seconds to do this! This is called a ‘quick change’ and it is done in small pods offstage with curtains. There are many people from the costume department who help with this in order to ensure it is done smoothly. Someone will stand outside with a timer and let us know how long we have left. I can certainly say we definitely didn’t always do it in time in rehearsals but we made changes and it all worked well.
Props and Tricks
Throughout the production I use a lot of props including a wooden pram, an old fashioned toy pig (on wheels) and whip, a deck of cards, a ball of wool and string and a life sized mechanical doll. Using these handmade props can take a lot of practice, especially the toy pig as it is attached to a rope. Just about everyone knocked it over when we would run around with it on stage in rehearsals. I also picked up many interesting skills, for example, cat’s cradle, an old game involving two people making complicated patterns with string. The mechanical doll was probably the most difficult prop to use in the beginning. The doll has a built-in handle on its back, enabling it to walk with the support of a person. The technique was hard to grasp in the beginning. I also had to perform a few physical tricks. At the end of the first Act I climb up a ladder behind the stage and stand on a podium to look out of an open window. I also stand up on a bed frame with bare feet and grips to hold on to. Originally I was a bit nervous to do this but it is one of my favourite parts now.
There are so many more things I’d like to tell you. The opera has been such an incredible experience and I will always remember how amazing it was to have been part of this production at the English National Opera.
Holly H, Year 9
