Production Meetings

No one asked for it, but here it is. Released without flourish or fanfare, just for the folk who subscribe, follow us on social media or stumble across it. Right, I really need to sit down and figure out how to do a Muggle CV now... Thanks for listening and stay safe everyone Parish Notices: You can keep up with our news on our Facebook page, on Instagram, or indeed our Website. Shayley, SIGNING OFF. Support the show

Jason Culverwell, Technical Director for National Theatre Productions at the RNT, brings wealth knowledge and humour to our final season 1 episode. We talk about coming into the industry as a career changer, touring the world with productions like STOMP and Warhorse, plus fast cars and hasty getaways with stand-up comedians. Tash does an impression. Parish Notices This might be the last "official" episode for Season 1, but stay tuned for the outtakes episode "Curtain Call - The Bloopers", and one-off specials later in the year. You can keep up with our news on our Facebook page, on Instagram, or indeed our Website. Support the show

Georgia Bird joins us to sprinkle some of her magic Stage Management dust over us all. Her enviable career has seen her go back and forth between London and Broadway on a number of landmark productions. She talks to us about being one of the first SM's to work on a high profile Zoom production, reflections on working in the States, theatre in times of COVID, lessons from college, and getting married in Las Vegas. It's a bit of a laugh... Support the show

Ali Wade is someone who will be very familiar to backstage folk. The renowned West End CSM and current Chair of the UK Stage Management Association joins us to talk, Tea Breaks, ghosts at the Wyndham's, the madness of Glengarry Glen Ross, and Christmas dinners for goldfish. Oh, and there is some great advice for people looking to break into the West End. Ali Mentions that she is raising money for the Air Ambulance charity she volunteers for. If you can, please consider adding to her Just Giving page for this very worthy organisation. Parish Notices We love feedback and reviews. If you are enjoying the podcast please do share on your social media. Drop us a line if you have stories to tell too! Support the show

This week someone that Tash and Shayley both know, and who we think you will love. The director of the last show we ever did Philip Franks joins us over Zoom. Folk of a certain generation will remember Philip ( Pip to his friends) for his roles in The Darling Buds of May and Heartbeat. More than a few of us will have seen him in his basque and fishnets as The Narrator in The Rocky Horror Show that toured a few years back. Parish Notices: Unbelievably we have made it into double figures as we reach the milestone of 10 shows! If you are enjoying Production Meetings we would really be grateful if you could give us a short review if you podcast platform allows it ( Apple does for instance). If you are Social Media savvy we have a Facebook page and as Tash is a whiz at these things and Instagram account ( apparently that's easy for you to find....) Do feel free to link to us, and leave comments. We are especially to keen to hear from you if you have guest suggestions, or ideas as to topics you would like us to natter about. Support the show

Lee Dennison, Business Development Manager at White Light, and lovely chap keeps us thoroughly entertained switching between some grown-up topics, but mostly just giggling. We talk about brand building and networking; The skills of sound, the joy of splicing tape and we reminisce about clunky light stops on Revox's. Throw in a "Miss Saigon" story and we have an extended episode with one of the nicest fellas in show business. https://www.whitelight.ltd.uk/meet-the-team/lee-dennison/ See Lee in action using the fabulous Smart Stage Technology, hosting a great Career advice session: https://www.whitelight.ltd.uk/white-light-careers-advice-session/ ( For the uber-geeky fan of our podcast you might like to check out our Production Meetings Page on Facebook, where we will post the full uncut roasting Shayley gets from Lee about the state of his beard.....) Support the show

Head of Productions for Rose Bruford College Anthony Sammut joins us this week. Before moving into the education sector, he was a "lifestyle" touring Company Manager. He still keeps his hand in each year as Company Managing his beloved pantos. Anthony is great fun, passionate about training, almost as much as he is about doughnuts. ( Donuts seems to be becoming a theme for Production Meetings...). "The Rest is History" Support the show

Holly meet Mark meet Jason meet Tash meet Holly, oh wait you already know Tash. Lighting Designers Holly Ellis and Jason Addison join us for our normal mixture of inquisition and silliness. We talk about becoming an LD, "emerging", working, and Dirty Donuts. Hull gets an unfair bashing. www.hollyellislighting.com www.jasonaddison.com Support the show

Think of a West End DSM. You've thought of Sharon Hobden, right? Sharon is one of those people with a hugely impressive backstage CV, well respected and always in demand. In her charming, self deprecating style she spends some time with us talking about her experiences and thoughts on the craft. We natter and giggle on subjects ranging from Creatives with a small "c", beauty parades for Show Callers, and shooting arrows at the ground plan. Support the show

Felicity Duncan and Jon Osbaldeston join us backstage on our little podcast for a chit chat about why they didn't opt for a Stage Management career and instead went into Acting. We hear their tales including thoughts on Post Shows, working on the other side of the pond and costume fittings gone a tad pear-shaped. Social Links: Across Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @westenders5678 Jon also has a brand new YouTube channel with selected episodes of the web series "Doctor Theatre!" (Yes the exclamation mark is deliberate!) Support the show

A treat this week; The legends that are Sam Hunter and Julia Whittle join us in our zoom room. We talk teams, masterclasses, show disasters and wow-factor chats about show calling opening and closing Olympic ceremonies. Sam and Ju share anecdotes (Guildhall alumni's prepare!), lots of name dropping, and many, many laughs. In between Jigjaw puzzle masterminding, we are delighted that the infamous Orange Jackets were able to give up their time to chat and delight us. Check them out at https://www.orangejackets.uk/ ....and for a gorgeous bit of "slow TV": Jigjaw. Support the show

Giving up family time on the Memorial weekend, from his kitchen in NYC, we are delighted to be joined by Broadway Stage Manager, Matthew Stern. Matt has an impressive career working on some of the biggest shows on Broadway. Many of us know him as the guy who set up and runs the annual Broadway Stage Management Symposium, (this year's symposium is online this weekend), or will have been one of the hundreds who have attended his SM Tec Fridays. There's also a good chance you have read his blog post Ten Changes for Stage Managers & Life Backstage in a COVID World. We talk about his time working on in New York, corporate gigs, The Symposium, and his knack for closing shows. It's not too late to book your place online at this year's Symposium. "An investment in knowledge pays the best interest" - Benjamin Franklin" Support the show

Simon Gooding is one of the UK's busiest Production Managers. We persuaded him to come off his allotment and talk about not going to the theatre, boats, and not going to run-throughs in the rehearsal room. Oh, and how he almost had a very different career... Despite the fact that Simon has a very squeaky office chair, figets, clicks his pen all the way thru the recording, and failed on all things audio, the content, like Simon, is joyful. Support the show

General Manager of the Playhouse Theatre, Weston-super-Mare, Producer and globe-trotting impresario, Mark joined us for our first-ever podcast. Armed with brand new headphones that he couldn't plug into his mac, over a shaky Zoom connection we covered topics including: "All over the walls are posters of memories that never happened..." For more about Mark and his production company; mt-productions.co.uk Support the show

Tash and Mark have second thoughts about doing a podcast, and then get excited about the (potential) Guestlist. Support the show