Week Five!

Week Five completed and as I sit here, it’s almost time to be heading home.  Just the last week to go now but before that, I better update you on what has been happening this week.

Actually, it’s a little hard to create new and imaginative things as in all fairness, my job role hasn’t changed and I have still very much been involved with fulfilling the tasks that would normally be undertaken by Jessica, as Production Assistant.  Once again this week, my main duties and responsibilities have been to deal with any logistical problems arising with travel and accommodation arrangements for any of the touring companies.  This is what has taken up the bulk of my days and I have still been extremely busy re-scheduling journeys, due to the ash cloud.   A huge amount of my time has also been spent applying for refunds for the flights that were cancelled and booking extra baggage for the new flights.  When you have two large touring companies, that’s a lot of flights to be applying for and many extra luggage allowances needed!

I have also this week, been dealing with Michael Ball and his assistant, Andrew Ross.  Michael has a car to take him from the theatre to his hotel and return each day. Knowing Micheal’s requirements for a Mercedes, it was my responsibility to find and contract a suitable car company for him whilst the show is in Southampton.  I encountered a problem with Michael this week, when he arrived in Southampton, only to declare his hotel suite wasn’t big enough.  Therefore, we had to move him ASAP and endeavoured to quickly find somewhere else where he would be happy.  In the end, a marina apartment was decided upon.

Another problem arising this week, was that of Aliana’s visa.  Aliana is one of the dancers on the Strictly tour and she encountered difficulty when trying to leave England and fly to Dublin.  She was then required to stay in England longer than expected and pay an additional visit to the Embassy before she was able to re-join the tour.  For me, this meant having to deal with and organise further hotel accommodation and flight details for her.

On Friday, J returned to the office from her very enjoyable break.  I handled everything back over to her and brought her up-to-speed on all that happened and to matters to which she may need to pay attention.  She seemed happy and pleased with everything I had undertaken and the work I had carried out.

I have had the opportunity of seeing three shows this week: War Horse, Jersey Boys and Legally Blonde.  I have thoroughly enjoyed all of them, although I think Legally Blonde was probably my favourite.  War Horse was an exception production that has transferred from the National Theatre.  Very moving and the spectacle of the puppets was just brilliant.  Jersey Boys was brilliant and I left the theatre huming many a tune.  I didn’t realise Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons had so many recognisable hits!  Legally Blonde was such a feel good show with Sheridan Smith being sensational.  You must go and see this one.  Wonderfully camp!

My week ends on rather a high as I had a job offer yesterday to join Paul Holman Associates as their Production and Marketing Assistant, till October at least, probably longer.  They are a pantomime production company with 13 venues this coming season, so I am completely thrilled!

Week Four!

With Monday being the Bank Holiday, this week has been pleasantly short.  Although saying that, I have been exceptionally busy.

With J being off for a two-week holiday to Hong Kong, I have been given the opportunity of taking over the majority of her job role.  She briefed me on the tasks I would need to undertake prior to her leaving at the end of last week and I was fully up-to-speed due to shadowing her also.

My main responsibilities include dealing with the touring companies of Hairspray and Strictly Come Dancing Pro’s.   I am currently the primary contact for all travel and accommodation issues.  I am dealing with both touring and company managers requests for any changes to that which is already scheduled as well as dealing direct with the travel management agency and hotels.  New requests are also to be acted on and I find myself consistently actioning requests for additional accommodation and travel arrangements.  I am updating the spreadsheets and sending new rooming lists through to hotels, several times a day.  The disruption caused by the Volcanic ash cloud, has also caused me to have to make a huge number of re-arrangements and deal with the booking of new and alternative flights for the ‘Strictly’ company, as their scheduled flights to Dublin were disrupted.  Michael Ball too was arranged with alternative transport, should he not make his transfer to London when the Hairspray Tour ended its run in Glasgow.

I have really enjoyed this week and I really feel like I am playing a part within the company.  Its great to actually have a job role.  I feel like I am really able to show what I am capable of and portray some of my qualities, putting my own stamp on the work I do instead of it being in someone else’s shadow.  I am definitely enjoying being able to get on with work and being busy, instead of waiting for tasks to be handed to me.  It’s good too, to be doing work that involves me dealing direct with people.

My weekend has been spent catching up with an old friend, Andrew McBean (West End director of Aspects of Love and Sunset Boulevard) who I haven’t seen for about 10 years.  We were such good friends all those years ago and it was truly great to see him and catch up.  I hope it won’t be as long again, Andrew!

A picture of the Production area of the office and my desk:

Week Three!

Well, here we are… half way through and still greatly enjoying myself!  I have moved upstairs this week and I’m now spending my remaining time in Production.  Up here I will work under the supervision of Production Assistant, Jessica Chu and assist on the day-to-day running of the touring productions.

I spent the beginning to my week however, assisting with West End production ‘Sister Act’ and the preparations that were happening for the workshop at the Dominion Theatre, Tottenham Court Road. Work included making sure everyone had everything they required for the rehearsals, the sorting out of internet access, water supplies and to make sure that all electrical equipment had been PAC tested.  The American creative team for the production arrived in the UK in order to re-work the beginning section of the show, in time for its Broadway transfer.  It has been decided, amongst others bits, that the opening needs a little re-writing.  I was able to meet certain members of the show’s production team and I even delivered a parcel to Alan Menken, the composer of Sister Act, as well as many hit Disney films including The Little Mermaid, Beauty & the Beast and Aladdin.

One of my main tasks this week, has been to organise the opening night gifts for ‘Strictly Come Dancing – The Professionals’, which opened in Brighton on Thursday evening.  It was my responsibility to arrange the flowers for the dancers and choreographer.  I liaised with a florist in Brighton and between us, we came up with a bespoke design of purple and white (the show colours) with an added glazed glitter effect.  They looked great when they arrived, and much more expensive then the budget of £25 per person I’d been given!  I also undertook the wrapping of the embroidered dressing gowns which all involved in the production received as a thank you gift.

Thursday was the opening night of ‘Strictly’ and I was lucky enough to be invited to the opening night.  I made my way to Brighton and checked into my hotel.  The show, which was at the Brighton Centre, was fantastic and certainly exceeded my expectations.  I never expected the production values to be so high.  The dancers were great, the band fantastic and the costumes beautiful.  A definite see if it comes anywhere near you.  Have a look at the tour list!  After the show, it was great too to be a guest at the after show party where I was able to enjoy a drink with the dancers and even a spot of karaoke in a late night bar with director and choreographer, Karen Bruce.  Friday was therefore as shorter day in the office due to us traveling back to London during the morning.

Today has however, seen me take part in the ‘Nun Run’ in aid of Barnardos.  It was a 4mile run across London, starting near London Bridge.  Due to agreeing to help with the set-up, I arrived on site at 7am! Yes, painfully early and if that wasn’t bad enough, the weather was dreadful! We struggled in the wind and rain to blow-up and place Sister Act publicity balloons and banners in the vicinity.  There was no sign of the weather getting any better and so I completed the run in the torrential rain alongside Meg, a colleague from AKA, Sister Act’s marketing agency.  Other colleagues from Stage Entertainment that participated were Lewis, Fiona and Kirsty.  Although, I was supposed to be heading out with friends for a drink this evening (it’s the Bank Holiday!), I am feeling the pain and after the very early morning, I’m just too tired so ... night all!! x