Perrie is Assistant Stage Manager for Up On The Roof:
I'm just sitting in the Stage Management office after devouring my dinner of chicken and mushroom risotto, and having a nice sit down after over an hours worth of ironing costumes for the Up On The Roof company. Monday's my biggest day for ironing - since we have two shows on a Saturday with no time inbetween for costume washing, and then a day off on Sunday, the cast put most of their costumes in to be washed on a Saturday night, and then I have to make sure every last bit is presentable on Monday! It means my call is an hour and a half earlier than anybody else today so it could all be done and my first costume check finished by half five, and then an hour for tea. We are all quite civilised around here, you see!
Today was also the day that Karen, our wigs lady, came in to wash and maintain our eight wigs - the wigs that Gemma (Ange) wears are a bit fussy and need their curls resetting each week so that they're in tip top condition for the shows. They're real hair, too, so each one gets its own salon wash and blow dry once a week. Even I don't get that!
Wardrobe's all a bit new to me, to be honest - usually as ASM I'm mostly concerned with the upkeep of the props on the show rather than the costumes, but we don't have any actual wardrobe staff on the show, so I'm it! It means I have a lot more on my plate but it also mean I'm learning loads and there's always Jonno and Tracey to lend a hand if I feel overwhelmed. I'm still very much involved with the props when the show goes up, though, and here's hoping we can improve on our interval change times. We did the first one in eight and a half minutes on Saturday, and since the first time we did them it took twenty minutes I think we're doing rather brilliantly. It's a little bit nerve wracking the first time, having the whole audience watch you pick up props and put everything out just right, but I've got well used to it now, and all I can think about during the intervals is whether I've forgotten something or accidentally put it out wrong - no mistakes so far, but there's always frequent checking of my list when I'm in the wings to make absolutely sure.
Time's ticking down, the actors are warming up onstage and dinner's almost over - time for a second wardrobe check to make absolutely sure that everything's in its right place - we have to be really on the ball with this - and then it'll be time to get into my blacks and get the show started. Here's to another week of a successful (and smoothly run) Up On The Roof!