An Evening with Brian Blessed

More musings about my fab new job at the theatre. This was from back in September...

It was a pleasure having the cast of Handbagged around over the last few weeks of September. In the final week of the production and it was been getting great reviews – not only from people who’ve been in to see it and told us – but also from the press. I’ve had customers on the phone who say that they’ve rung up for tickets because The Guardian review was so great. Plus, another who came in to get more tickets – so he could see it again himself and bring his mother-in-law this time!

 It will be sad to see the massive gold crown over the stage disappear. – but No Man’s Land by Harold Pinter starts on October 1^st.

Things are really hotting up in the box office as more and more schools are calling trying to get their pupils and staff into The Prince and the Pauper – our Christmas production. It’s a great deal and for every 10 kids they get to bring a teacher for free! I know just from reading previous blogs on the theatre website that so many people working in our theatre were inspired to do so by being brought to a theatre production when they were at school. It is such a magical place to bring them.

I was so lucky to be able to see An Evening with Brian Blessed  -as it was completely sold out. I managed to get a ticket when a few more were released. He was only doing 10 live shows this year. Kudos to our producer Martin, who managed to get him to come here! 

He absolutely loved our theatre in the round! When he first came on stage, he prowled around it, in his pyjama bottoms and tweed jacket, marvelling at how it was like “Greek theatre” and saying how much his friend Kenneth Branagh would love it. He had a chair in the middle of the stage and he was constantly moving it around so that he could address the whole audience. 

What stories he had to tell! He veered between tales of classic actors such as Katharine Hepburn and Sir John Gielgud, to current ones such as Kenneth Branagh. He says that he and Ken have a father/son relationship – except that he’s the son and Ken is the father! His hilarious first ever voiceover – who remembers Cyril Lord Carpets - and how they went bust the week after!

He also told us of his expeditions to Mount Everest and the North Pole and was proud of the fact that at 83 years old he’s just qualified as an astronaut after training in Russia and with NASA. His memory was amazing as he recited whole scenes from some of his films, the moving poem he read to a dying Patrick Moore and even treated us to a rerun of his turn on Stars in their Eyes as Pavarotti.

Oh yes – and guess what music he came on to? Of course – the theme from Flash Gordon! What a legend.

New Job

I thought it was time I revived my blog - I miss writing about the daily goings on - it is easy to forget details and a blog is a god way to remind yourself what you've done and where you've been!

I guess my biggest news recently is my change of job. I am no longer a librarian (well, I am really inside - it never leaves you!) However, I now work in the theatre, darlings!

It’s always a little nerve-wracking starting a new job – especially in an environment you haven’t worked in before – so coming from libraries to a theatre has held some surprises! It is such a busy place where thee is always something happening!

The box office staff have been wonderful welcoming me into their fold and very patient while showing me the ropes. There has been quite a lot to learn – who knew the Box Office did so much?

The first thing that struck me was how important it is to try to get customers who come in or phone for tickets, the cheapest possible deal they can get. Whether it is a 3 or 6 play package, an under 26-year-old getting a free ticket or a concession for disabled customers and a free ticket for their carer. Also, matinees and first nights are cheaper too in many cases - there are so many permutations to choose from to make a visit to the theatre more affordable for all. Let's face it - these days we all need an escape from reality - and the theatre is the perfect immersive experience. 

The Box Office is also the custodian of all parcels and mail coming into the theatre. Whether it is a china tea set – ordered for the upcoming comedy Handbagged -which features the Queen and Mrs Thatcher’s imagining meetings at Buck House, a clinking delivery for the Gin Bar upstairs or someone dropping off some old tweed suits for the costume department.

People come in for lots of reasons, to meet friends for lunch in the café, or drop kids off for the Summer School (which is where the children in the Christmas show are chosen from) or even, one evening last week, someone asking us to dogsit their assistance dog while they enjoyed A Comedy of Eric’s. He was adorable and very well behaved in the care of the Front-of-House staff and volunteers.

The job has its funny moments too – this week a gentleman arrived, all dressed up with his wife to pick up his tickets – when we discovered he had come a week too early! My colleague said – don’t worry – we have seats for tonight if you want to swap? So, a marital crisis was averted! Looks like this is going to be a very fun job – watch this space…