Stepping out of Cinderella World... And So What next? Director's Blog 50

Hi all

Its really becoming palpable now that the panto is almost over. I was in yesterday for the first show and chatting back stage for a moment with Sally, Andy and Ian. I said so 38 down only 11 to go. And Sal said 'Don't go there! I can't even bear to think that its nearly over". I said I felt the same and so did the girls (Men!).

Its such a trick this making a show thing. It really doesn't matter how many times you have done it you can bet it will get you again! Its a bit like promising yourself you won't have another kid after the trauma of giving birth to the first! But hey you always forget don't you? Nature has its own special way of making us forget.

It alway starts as a project scope, budgets, timelines, milestones, risk assessments, personnel and recruitment, contracts and much more. And then at some almost imperceptible moment it transforms into a creative process. 

For us at Team Arc scouting ahead of the Team Cinderella  birth began mostly with Nita and I pouring over schedules, learning new things about the law and child performers, fearing that we might not get the CRB's  and licences back in time for the chaperones and negotiating all sorts of real world stuff. 

By necessity of course there has to be a moment when we have done enough of the basics and set the foundations for us to be able to move into what I like to call Imaginal Space. This is slightly different from imaginary space, in that its the space in which we actually go and live for the period of creating, rehearsing and performing the show. There's no real alternative actually unless its one that doesn't include passion and love. It is not imaginary in that it is actually a place we all recognise. It becomes its own micro-climate and system.

I think its probably the same as being part of any team enterprise aiming for the same goals, creating something that did not previously exist. Perhaps the only difference is the intensity and speed of putting a show together. 

Like any other 'making something' project all the ingredients are the same. Perhaps one of the most terrifying things though with this is that there is no Research and Development money so to speak of, so you have to hope that you can make it work, and you can only really know when its too late and its out there!  So this is both scary and also totally addictive. Its the biggest rush and the biggest fear. Failure is always just a second around the corner, as is success of course. But in the end both are simply transitory. All things pass.

So contracts signed and creative process underway from August, we now find ourselves looking at the final manifestation of all those elements in the form of something so tangible in the show that its become its own little institution. We built it all together this Team Cinderella thing. Without every single person's commitment and belief in the project it would have floundered. People have invested all sorts of things and brought exactly what they needed to do so to the project. 

I have worked with many teams over the past 28 years since Arc was born and many not at Arc. And maybe I am waxing a little lyrical here as I am just a little emotional and could perhaps also be accused of self-indulgence, but I can honestly say that this is the best team I have ever been a part of. So its set a huge challenge for the next team I play for!

It is a powerful and special thing in large part also because it is time limited. Six months to vision, invent and make it isn't very long. And then at the end, the set gets taken down,the lights go off and the left over programmes get binned. The people who were so special to each other for this window of time go their separate ways. They promise to stay in touch because no one wants to let go of the great feelings they may have had. But we all know that whilst some people will have made friendships for a life time, and some may even work together again, (Watch this space for the new Ugly Sisters Duo Panto Producers worldwides!) The reality is that once its over, its over. It stays in our memories of course, and in our blogs! (all 50 of them!) and on our CV's!

This has been a particularly special one for me. Its meant a lot because its been a journey of professional and personal growth, which started as the scariest thing I have ever taken on. In spite of directing over 50 plays, I hadn't done this musical theatre thing ever! Imagine that, what foolhardiness! But its been a total blast. I have busted through prejudices I didn't even know I had. And I have relished in the new creative partnership forged between writer, composer/MD and AD/Choreographer/Designers and am hoping that this will find a new form of some sort going forward.  I have also found the Partner Production Manager to die for and I remain a stalwart fan and hope that Chris will join me in many projects in the future!  

And of course the truth is that many of us will come back together to work again, because that is how it is in this business. Always a blend of the new and the old. And some of our wonderful Young Company performers who have developed hugely will find themselves once again on the the stage, and maybe even with us.The future bodes very well for them.The thing is too - its all about love, hence I guess the word Amateur which we are all essentially, just some of us happen to be lucky enough to get paid to love! (Not sure about that one!) 

And so off to show number 39 this afternoon ( its been more than 39 steps believe me!)

Have a good one and remember that the Two for One Ticket Promotion that started at 8am today for 24 hours!