Week One!

Well, I’ve just finished my first week with Stage Entertainment UK and what an interesting week it’s been!

I have settled into where I’m living and although I’m experiencing a few language barriers with my flatemate Brunee (she’s Italian!), things with the accommodation itself aren’t too bad. Whilst she is away on a contract, I’m renting my friends room, in her flat near Canary Wharf.  Hannah and myself originally went to dance college together and later appeared in a show together in Dallas, Texas.  Through the powers of Facebook, Hannah knew I was looking for somewhere to stay during my internship and with her going off on a cruise for a few months, it seemed ideal for me to rent from her.  I have my own double en-suite room in a nice two bedroom flat in the Docklands area, just across the water from Greenwich where I am approximately a 45-50 minute commute into work.

I arrived at Stage Entertainment UK on Monday 12 April where I was greeted by my liaison, Jessica Chu (Production Assistant).  J took me on a brief tour of the offices and introduced me to the various departments, the staff and their job roles.  ‘Stage’ is situated in the heart of the London’s Theatreland, just off Oxford Street, in Soho and is made up of the top two floors in a shared building with five other companies.  On the first floor, you will find the main reception, meeting room, kitchen, accounts and marketing departments with a scattering of management personnel; whilst the top floor houses the production and press/PR staff, the big wigs and the very nice roof top terrace over-looking the surrounding skyline.

I was to join the marketing department for my first week and was therefore shown to my desk and introduced to the others in my immediate team: Katie – Marketing Assistant, Kirsty – Marketing Executive and Fiona – Head of Marketing.  Stage Entertainment’s present productions include Sister Act – The Musical (London Palladium); Hairspray (UK Tour) and Strictly Come Dancing – The Professionals (UK Tour) and I was therefore asked to make myself familiar with these productions by reading through their websites and other promotional material.  Some of my main tasks this week have involved the upkeep of the social media sites for these shows as well as adding new Facebook events as the tour dates, casting and venues for Hairspray have been announced.  I have also been heavily involved in the promotion of Stage’s forthcoming event, the Nun Run (a charitable fun run to raise money for Barnardos) both through the use of the social media sites and the distribution of posters.  Plus, I have signed up to run the 4 km event myself on the May 2^nd – so stay posted for that one!  I was also asked to prepare a PowerPoint presentation showing the web statistics and usage of the Sister Act website plus prepare a spreadsheet showing the tickets on hold at each venue of the Strictly tour.  This particular task involved communicating with the various venues, in order to collect information held by the relevant box offices. A highlight to the week, was being able to sit in on the weekly marketing meeting for Sister Act, held with the marketing agency (AKA), where various marketing and ticketing strategies were discussed, plus a presentation given on the forms of digital media that could be incorporated.  I also learnt of some top secret casting, which has yet to be officially announced!

My favourite part to the week has to have been having the opportunity to attend the press night for new West End musical ‘Hair’, which has transferred from Broadway.  Although the cast was fantastic and the production great, I’m not sure if I was a big fan of the actual musical itself though.  A little random in parts and not a huge storyline!  Mind you, the invite to the after show party soon made up for it and I was slightly in awe of seeing my idol, producer Cameron Mackintosh!  Other celebrity figures we spotted included Tim Rice and Toby Anstis.

I also attended Priscilla – Queen of the Desert on Friday evening at the Palace Theatre staring Jason Donovan, which was extremely enjoyable.  A definite see and hugely spectacular!

My first weekend has consisted of exploring my surrounding area and some leisurely shopping at Canary Wharf, as well as seeing a friend for some Sunday lunch and a few drinks in the West End on what was a very beautiful, sunny afternoon.

So all in all … a very enjoyable and educational week!