Theatre Australia

your portal for australian theatre

how do you prepare for the evening's performance?

Wed, 1 July 2009, 11:36 pm
Lisa Skryp45 posts in thread
OK - my turn to ask a question of actors, directors & techies of all varieties - how do you prepare for the evening's performance? I tend to have a light, not too garlicky dinner, then prepare my ever-present travel mug of coffee & head to the theatre as early as practicable. I find music that suits my character - often look for a "theme song" to get me in the right mood for my character. This time it might be something by the Kinks, but still deciding. Singing in the car is warmup part one. If the show is a musical, there will of course be a fair bit more vocal exercises. Get to theatre; dump my gear; check/set my props/costume. Tooth brushing, enough costume for decency, warmup (see below) then makeup/hair, if I can do it in that order. I like to be ready early enough for last-minute disasters. Then I go around stashing my water bottle(s) here & there for easy access backstage. I enjoy group warmups that are to do with pace/group intuition, but on my own I like to do at least a little light stretching/relaxing excercises & go through my moves onstage, walking my way into character. I like to do a familiar speech (not necessarily from the current show) & work on projection & breathing. Depending on the physicality of my role I might get into a bit more of a physical warmup as well. Think that's roughly it. Might change a bit this time - we'll see... What's your routine?

Okay seriously...

Fri, 3 July 2009, 01:32 pm
Well when I'm not performing at night time, I usually wake up swearing at what ever the ridiculous amount of hours before my usual wake up. Shower, eat eggs or I won't make it through to lunch time, freeze my but off, or melt my skin off depending on what time of year it is... wait for the obligatory phone message from which ever cast member is running late, warm up the car, look up the school and then hum for the rest of the morning. I go to the toilet just before I get changed into costume. Then about fifteen minutes before I have to be chirpy in front of three hundred kids, when I've only had five hours sleep...I do either the 'windy face' or the 'wormy dance of joy.' Both energy exercises, one involves winding my face from happy to sad with an imaginary lever. Lunch if I'm organised is a tuna sandwich, if I'm not a cheese sausage, and is usually eaten in the car between schools. Then it's onto the next school or, two depending on how crazy a day it is. I also like to bring a thermos with peppermint tea, and drink about three litres of water a day...the only way to maintain your voice through three shows a day, forty shows a season, three seasons a year. (Of course by the time I get to a night time show, I'm so buggered and lazy, all I manage is to remember to go to the toilet before the show starts...)

Thread (45 posts)

← Back to Green Room Gossip