Starlight Express Evaluation: Costume

What went well?

• we completed show week with no problems
• the costumes all looked effective onstage
• there were few costume changes, so was fairly smooth during shows
• within 'gangs' there were few variations on design, making them easier to create

What were you most proud of?

• I loved the way Greaseball's costume in particular turned out

What could be improved next year?

• the Year 12s could be more involved from the beginning
• more time could be spent from the start to avoid rushing at the end
• decorations (particularly for main characters) could be sewn on to avoid dropping off

Tues 21: Tidy Up

Today, Elishia and I were given the task of collecting a trolley and filling it with any rubbish found around the theatre.

Fri 17: Get In

Today we had the get in for Starlight (- take 2 after the bad weather caused the show to be postponed). As I helped after school, a lot of the work had been completed and there were only a few of us available.

My jobs included:

- taking down a leg and border in the hall (I acted as a weight supporter whilst Alanna spotted for Elishia)

- rigging two legs at the 'tunnel's entrance' (I rigged as Alanna and Elishia took the weight for each leg)
- running the lighting power and multicore cables (Corben and I ran these from the Box, around the wall of the tent, to backstage where the power was)
- attaching cables between Robe LEDs (I did this in the tower with Elishia)
- running HDMI cables from the TVs to the visuals desk (I worked in the tower with Corben, plugging the cables in and taping them along the truss. With Ryan's help we then cable-tied them across the roof supports to the visual desk.)

Thurs 16: Truck Makeup Model

As there were no tasks available for costume today, I was a model for the makeup group. I was made up as one of the trucks, and from doing this they were able to decide what works and what doesn't.

Wed 15: Sorting Costumes

Today we had the task of further embellishing the carriages tops, but as we only had two glue guns and there were three of us in the team, Asha and Abby did this.

Whilst they were decorating the tops, I busied myself by making sure all of carriages' costumes were complete. This turned out to be a very long task which I believe will be beneficial.

I then repeated the process with the electrics' costumes.

From doing this I made a list of items which were missing, and gathered the spare clothes.

 I shall now have to chase up the missing items and possibly replace them with the spares if they cannot be found.

Tues 14: Brief Starlight Meeting

Today we briefly went over the plans for Starlight.

• The new tent is up
• There is more seating so more people can watch
• The Get In is on Friday 17
• Anna will not be here for show week, so Asha, Abby and I are in charge of costume

Vision Mixer (notes)

• Works with director
• Cuts the shots onto the screen
• Vision mixing desk - buttons respond to different cameras
• Left hand - cutting
• Right hand - general set up, adjustments
• Live shows - easy to miss shots - instantly onto TVs
• Always watches monitors - there are preview screens for each camera
• Rehearsals, check shots, ins/outs
• Have to be able to work under pressure - quick reactions
• Abbreviations
  - pvw: preview
  - pgm: program

Video Team:

• Vision mixer
• Camera operators (live shows)
• Robotics camera (pre-recorded shows)
• Director
• Pre-production team

Cables-transmission

Composite video

- analogue

- one cable

- 480i 576i resolutions

- RCA, BNC, SCART

ASM - Assistant Stage Manager (notes)

Stage Management Hierarchy: SM > DSM > ASM

What does an ASM do?

•          Works with SM & DSM
•          Organises crew
•          Moves set
•          Props -something handled or used by an actor but not worn or part of set
•      Make/hire/buy props

Different Scenarios:

ASM on Tour: goes with the show that travels from venue to venue

Not tied to theatre, tied to show
Employed by theatre companies to work for them (West End)

Repertory Theatre: eg. National Theatre can put multiple shows at once, ASM works for all shows, several plays over a short period of time
Producing House: (Salisbury Playhouse) – produce own work

Receiving house: (Mayflower/Pavilion) shows come to theatre – ASM with touring company + ASM at theatre – theatre ASM shows touring ASM around, shows problems, work closely

Skills and Qualities:

•          Organised – noting down
•          Communication skills
•          Confidence
•          Focussed
•          Efficient
•          Hard-working
•          Calm/patient
•         Adaptable to various scenarios
•          Quick-thinking/problem-solving
•          Physically fit – especially touring ASM
•          Independent but also team-worker
•          Comfortable in close proximities
•          Able to be quiet
•          Listen and follow instructions
•          Knowledge of show

Phases of performance: Planning > Rehearsal > Performance > Post-performance

Putting up the Truss 28/1/16

Today as part of the get in we put up the truss (the metal frame on which the lights hang).

In order to do this we first had to lay out the parts in a specific order. The end of each section was labelled with a colour which matched another section.

Next we had to make sure each row was secure before joining the whole structure. We wore gloves as protective clothing as the metal was cold and dirty.

To secure the sections together, we put metal pins fastened with clips.

After everything was joined, we attached the legs.

Control's Pyjamas Ideas 17/1/16

Today I was searching for some train pyjamas for Control, when I had the idea that we could print Thomas the Tank Engine's face (or just a train) onto some iron on transfer paper and iron it onto some plain pyjamas.

If we bought a pack of the transfer paper, we would have plenty left over which we could print a big 'GB' on for the back of Greaseball's boiler suit. Also a simple logo for the diesels could be printed out multiple times and ironed onto the diesels' backs, similar to the 'T-birds' from Grease.

Starlight Costumes 14/1/16

Today we were a man down in the Year 12 costume group as Asha was away, but Abby and I got stuck into our jobs. We retrieved 6 costume rails from below the stage (+ two broken ones!) and after setting them up we were able to sort out the few costumes that had been delivered.

As we finished hanging the few sample clothes, a batch of leggings for the electrics and carriages came through. As there were different sizes (S/M & M/L) we had to double check that there were labels in all of them, and if there weren't we marked them with a pen. Unfortunately the S/M purple leggings for the electrics hadn't come through yet, but everything else on the list was there.

Here you can see Abby sorting out the carriages' costumes.

We had the most of the carriages' costumes. They wear vests (undecided style) and skirts in either pink or blue, the pinks with silver leggings and the blues with blue ones. So far we don't yet have the blue skirts or any vests. For the four main girls we have two pink galaxy tops, and are waiting on two blue ones.

The electrics will be wearing metallic purple vests and leggings. At the moment we only have one vest and not all of the leggings. As Electra is male and all the electrics are female, we have ordered a purple suit for Fraser to wear.

The steamers and diesels are both in boiler suits, steamers in graphite and diesels in black. We are aiming to give the steamers more of a distressed and grimy look, whereas we will embellish the diesels with studs and the like.

The trucks are in blue boiler suits and overalls, we have one of each.

Each group has their own rail which will be labelled and will have dividers for the different sizes.

Starlight Meeting

Today we had a meeting in which Mr Hawkins gave out the production schedule and discussed the key dates.

  

The songs are being rehearsed in performance order to help with familiarity and to aid the transitions. This allows us to make sure that entrances/exits are smooth, and scenery/props are able to be moved.

As there are mock exams in the hall until Thursday 14th, rehearsals shall take place in rooms such as the dance studio.

The setting up of the marquee is due to be on 20th January.