Mercury Theatre foyer (colour added at home). ©Sue Pownall 2016
Sketch in progress. Yesterday, I managed to get a ticket for a backstage tour of the Mercury Theatre in Colchester. Arriving early, I sketched the foyer as I keep avoiding complex subjects. Before I finished it was time to start the tour, so I added colour at home. The foyer has very clever blue lighting highlighting different planes as well as blue carpet.
We started the tour in the Studio Theatre where audience service manager Carol gave us some background info on the theartre (for example designed by Norman Downie and opened in 1972).
We started the tour in the Studio Theatre where audience service manager Carol gave us some background info on the theartre (for example designed by Norman Downie and opened in 1972).
Pencil in A5 Daler Ebony sketchbook ©Sue Pownall 2016
Next we were taken into the main theatre and up on to the stage, where the understudy was rehearsing End of the Rainbow, which had opened the night before. We were very lucky to have the artistic director, Daniel Buckroyd, tell us about and show us some of the creative things about the show and the stage set (260 lightbulbs in the set, for example).
©Sue Pownall 2016
Exiting stage left, or was it right?, we went through the wings pass the prompter's chair, spotting props - lots of pill bottles for this glimpse of the later life of Judy Garland - and into the workshop.
The workshop was the most interesting area for me, although the paintshop was interesting, and you could spot scenery parts from old pantos and shows, such as a HUGE beanstalk.
On a bench was the White Model, the technical term for the set design model, for the upcoming performance of Clybourne Park, which I hope to see.
The workshop was the most interesting area for me, although the paintshop was interesting, and you could spot scenery parts from old pantos and shows, such as a HUGE beanstalk.
On a bench was the White Model, the technical term for the set design model, for the upcoming performance of Clybourne Park, which I hope to see.
Fe fi fo fum, beanstalk in workshop.
©Sue Pownall 2016
Dodging the rain, we went to the costume department, which was so visually engaging I didn't sketch anything, how ironic is that?
Stunning costume designs and the understudy's costumes.
Dressmaker's work table. We walked back into the main building and pass the actors resting prior to the Saturday matinée, saying hello to actor Gary Wilmot (remember him? - he was on UK tv way-back-when), we couldn't see the dressing rooms as it was so close to curtain up, and then, all too soon, the tour was over.
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