Backstairs Billy– Week Five

It’s our final week of rehearsals and Michael wants to start running the play with invited audiences made up of those people working on the show. We hope to do four run-throughs in total, with the first one on Wednesday. Before that, we get the opportunity to work through the play once more in fine detail, with specific and encouraging notes from Michael guiding the actors. 

We also welcome a visit from someone who used to work in service at a royal household to give us some helpful advice on etiquette – things like hand positions, bows and curtseys, drinks services, etc. His feedback is informative and means we can iron out any incoherencies, although we give ourselves the grace of maintaining a little theatrical licence at points! 

On Wednesday morning we start with a run-through in full costume, with corgis and an invited audience in attendance. Running the show in costume is great as it allows the actors to get used to this element of the production before they’re onstage in front of an audience, and it also means the Wardrobe Team can start running any quick costume changes. As the play’s setting is Clarence House in the 1970s, the costume offers a specific indication of time and place, so it’s an important building-block in the world of the play. 

We continue to run the play on Thursday, Friday and Saturday mornings, with working notes afterwards. Each run feels more assured as the actors deftly take on notes and build confidence. As the play is a comedy, it’s good to see which parts are landing with our invited audiences, and this will continue to evolve and be informed by our audiences when we get into the theatre. 

We end the week with much excitement for the stages ahead – at the prospect of getting into the theatre and sharing our work with audiences!