My Master Builder– Week Five

It’s our final week of rehearsals and by Friday we will have begun our technical rehearsals in the theatre. Michael wants to rehearse in the mornings and run the play every afternoon in front of different people working on the show. This gives the cast a chance to run the show four more times before Michael begins to prioritise the work of the creatives and technicians in the theatre. Paule Constable, our Lighting Designer, joins us in rehearsals this week. She will only have four days in Tech Week to bring the story to life, while the actors have had almost five weeks.  

On Wednesday afternoon, we do a runthrough in full costume. This allows the actors to get used to this element of the production before technical rehearsals begin, and to make early discoveries about adjustments the Wardrobe Team might need to make according to the action of specific scenes. For example, Elizabeth learns that she will need a second stand-in party dress that has more give in it for a scene in which she spends a long time sitting and moving on the floor. We are able to run the small number of quick costume changes and can rest assured that these are all very doable and won’t need extra time or attention in tech. 

On Thursday, we have our last run in the room in front of a large audience, including the producers, the supernumeraries – who will be joining the company from next week – and Lila Raicek. She’s back from New York, ready for her debut play to preview in the West End a week from now! Each run has felt more assured as the actors play Michael’s notes from the morning and become more at ease listening to and playing with each other. 

It’s invaluable for Michael to see which parts are landing with our invited audience – where they are leaning in, where they laugh or gasp or flinch, and any moments where we appear to have lost their attention. This will continue to evolve and be informed by our audiences when we get into previews. 

After a final brief and really positive notes session from Michael, we say goodbye to the rehearsal space we have used to bring the play to life over the past month and a bit. With much excitement and anticipation, we head home for a good rest before beginning on stage tomorrow!