rehearsals are over, time to perform

Rehearsals are over,

Race to the theatre,

Then calm down,

Time to perform.

 

Rehearsals are over,

Better know your stuff,

Now or never,

Time to perform.

 

Rehearsals are over,

Keith lets us know,

The 30 minute call,

Time to perform.

 

Rehearsals are over,

Mind in the zone,

Dispel the distractions,

Time to perform.

 

Rehearsals are over,

A moment of serenity,

Then game face on,

Time to perform.

 

Rehearsals are over

Shave off the shadow,

Put costume on,

Time to perform.

 

Rehearsals are over,

Head to the stage,

Act One Beginners,

Time to perform.

 

Rehearsals are over,

The orchestra tune up,

Overture is played,

Time to perform.

 

Rehearsals are over,

Time to perform.

 

--------

 

Getting to the theatre for a performance is always a stressful business, I'm usually rushing, often having just cooked a meal for my family and wolfed it down. I have things to remember to take. And, perhaps most importantly, a personal desire to do a good job. The theatre is a busy place, everyone else is preparing to perform, getting hair, make-up, costumes sorted. Last minute technical details are being resolved. A high-pressure environment.

 

I always like to try and take a little moment for myself, a moment to calm down between the stress of getting there and the stress of performance. Switching mode if you like. Getting into character. With this in mind, I felt this was a good opportunity to try and capture the theme of the week - decided before I thought of this idea - of "a moment of serenity." All the while I was working on this shot, I had elements of the poem above rushing around in my head, and I've tried to capture it here.

 

I tried a number of shoots in a number of places throughout the theatre. I must confess, I've never before had my calming moment in the stalls, but actually, it's quite a good location - very quiet and still. Of course, the house opens at around the half hour call - and I'm usually only just rushing into the building.

 

Thanks again to Morven for her assistance during one of my shoots. As I'm doing thanks, I should also take a moment to thank you, my loyal contacts, for the huge and very gratifying response to last week's shot. I was genuinely surprised at the colossal response it received. I still rather think it's just lanky old me looking too big for the chair. But I'm glad you liked it.

Done