Hi everyone - I hope you're all having a relaxing weekend before the real madness begins...
Yesterday when Lucy asked if anyone wanted to say anything, I very much did but was too broken and fragile at the time, so I thought I'd do it here.
Firstly, I hope that my bad personal space in the run didn't affect anyone else, and I'm sorry if it did. When I got home I realised just how exhausted I was and that was a large part of what fuelled my mini-breakdown.
Secondly, I want to make a plea - not just for the benefit of myself and Costume, but for all departments, all performers and every individual involved. That plea is for a bit of good old-fashioned empathy.
What upset me most yesterday was not just specific incidents, but that I felt that many people were behaving inconsiderately and simply weren't thinking of others before speaking. Again, exhaustion, illness and stress is provoking certain modes of behaviour in everyone, but please just think how you would feel in someone's else's situation before making comments - my personal situation is that I haven't had an evening or a weekend or a lunch break away from costume for the last month, and even when I'm not working on costume I'm constantly thinking, worrying, and literally dreaming about it every night.
So for someone to make a negative comment about a costume in earshot of me but not to my face; for people to heighten our stress by asking a million questions at once (many of them completely unnecessary) and then shout in my colleague's face when all we're trying to do is get things done - it really hurts me, as I've been putting everyone else's costume, comfort and happiness before my own, while some people seem to be thinking only of themselves.
I also know that Set & Props have been having similar issues, with people demanding things from them immediately, expecting it to be done just like that, so I'm not on a 'poor Costume' rant. I just really want everyone to be considerate and thoughtful of each other, particularly now we are going into the theatre - I can imagine how potentially hellish it will be next week for many departments and particularly for Rachel, so please let's all be more respectful of each other.
Anyway, lots of love and let's make this final week of our wonderful degree an experience to treasure.
Gudrun
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Dear all,
ReplyDeleteFirstly thank you Gudrun for speaking out. I hope you are feeling better now...and for what its worth let me add my two penny worth.
Everyone has worked incredibly hard on this production. I almost can't believe how hard! Particularly impressive has been the way you have worked on production roles. I have never had to worry about anything not being done and I have hardly had to speak to anyone about what they are doing and that is the way it should be but hardly ever is on student productions. And I am very grateful for that. Every department has done a fabulous (to quote Zoe) job under very stressful conditions.
I know that there has been a cost for you as individuals and many of you have been frustrated by this.
Sound for example have had to be in every rehearsal to do sound and often act and then have to rush over to the sound desk and then rush back when it is their next entrance. I know that they have worried that this means their performances are not as good as they can be.
Marketing have been working until late at night on computers and been dealing with ineffcient box offices etc.
Costume have literally worked their fingets to the bone. I think costume is a particualrly difficult thing because it is so closely related to the actors. Of course, actors want to look good and can be very harsh or insensitve to the people who are making costume. It is of course always inappropriate to criticise your costume or to be difficult about it and working out a way to get the costume you want without being offensive is a skill you all need to learn if you are to go on and perform. But ultimately costume design is not your job as an actor. Wardrobe people also however have to be sensitve (and I know you have tired to be) to the needs of the actor.
Make up and hair have been thoughtful and practiced stuff and it is still possible I might not like some of it so that in itself is stressful.
Lighting has been frustrated by not being able to do enough in terms of design because of the lack of time when we are not in the space and have had to spend a lot of time making notes and then trying to communicate them to me, and now just when they want to be getting ready to perform they have to rig lights!
Production team have had to deal with some uncomfortable group dynamics and a director who (because of running a course and a research centre as well) is giving them jobs to do here and there and everywhere and who texts them late at night and at the week ends to give them more and more jobs.
Set have had to put up with me changing my ideas all the time and never making decisions and health and saftey issues getting in our way.
You all however have very high standards and have not scrimped at all on the work you have done. I think the incident which caused the mini breakdowns ironically was probably started because there was a clash between two people wanting to get their jobs done as well as possible. If it helps I want you to know that I think you are doing your jobs extremely well and you can afford to give yourselves a little slack.
It is very important that your exhaustion and hard work does not get in the way of the wonderful work you have done in the rehearsal room. The most important thing is that there is never good reason to shout at anyone else, to bitch about something with other members of the cast, to put anyone elses work down, or to refuse to do things for the good of the production. Any of these things are unprofessional. It is also unprofessional to allow things like costume , makeup, etc to become more important than the most important thing which is your performance. I really meant it when I said I would rather do it in jeans than for people to become distracted and angry about these things.
However we will be doing this show in the most marvellous costumes and makeup, on the best set, with wonderful lights and sound and to full houses and the acting and movement will be spectacular. I really do think it is a very good show.
So please those of you that are in a state move on from this state. Sleep tommorrow all day. Then concentrate on enjoying yourself, enjoying each other and not being stressed.
In fact there will be a prize - of a small mansion - for the person who is least stressed and who actively brings about the most good will at Oval House. Try and win it! I will be !
Its going to be really hard work next week but I hope the most exciting week of your lives....so ENJOY IT!!
I'll be blogging notes tommorrow night so please do check it then.
I love you all!
Lucy
hello beautiful people :)
ReplyDeleteim really sorry that everyones feeling stressed etc and that there are uncomfortable situations/bitching going on,if i personally upset anyone or if anyone has got bad vibes off me i would like 2 apologise :)
i think we all need to remember that above all this we are all good mates and shouldnt let the stress bring us down or mess up friendships!!
Im sorry i cant be there tomorrow for the get in and rigging etc, i hope i dont miss too much...and please people, i know you all will miss me terribly but at least try and have a good day without me...if thats possible...
and heres a very positive note...I HAVE MY VOICE BACK! so dont worry Lucy, u wont have to read in for me on wednesday night :)
stay happy people
Ally x
Thanks for the positive comments Lucy. I hope we all go in feeling better tomorrow, although I have been sick all weekend again so I'll try my hardest to be happy and positive!!
ReplyDeleteI hope I haven't upset anyone at all in the cast?? If I did I am sorry and I really didn't mean it. I think in times of high stress people dont always think abot what they say at the time.
We've all worked so hard and we should be proud of ourselves.
Now lets kick some ass next week, put on a great show and remember to enjoy it!!
Lots a love xx
Lets stick together this week cos next week this time it will all be over ;( We will all be "stars of the show". Remember: ze cart (in this case the piano) will make ze show! See you all in the morning lovers mwah!!!
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