First Day At Britannicus

Location: West London

The first day went very well, despite having to get up at 5:30am! I got up so early because I did not want to be late and I was unsure of exact travel times. Commuting in from Brighton also does not help. Though I didn’t mind sitting on the train for an hour and a half – it was nice. Today I completed my props list on the train – I feel like a regular London commuter! It gives me some time to catch up on work or just read, I’m waking up in a very leisurely manner.

So I got off the tube at Edgeware Road (of which there are 2 stations, not a good start) and made my way to St Mary’s.

There are several churches/churchy buildings in that area of London, all by the name of St Mary’s! I waited outside 2 of them, before losing my nerve and searching again. But after a (couple of) calls to my SM Julia, I found the actual St Mary’s, which is surrounded by a little park and is very nice. We had a meet and greet with the cast and production team, including our writer/translator Timberlake Wertenbaker (whom I’ve studied at uni and got a bit star struck when I offered her a cup of tea). Then I sped off to Wilton’s Music Hall to pick up some scripts. Wilton’s is GORGEOUS!! Tucked away in East London, its an old Victorian music hall and extremely old, but absolutely beautiful. I can’t believe I’m going to be working there. The atmosphere is incredible, simply stunning decor and some really distinctive spiral columns, keeping the whole thing up. I’m so excited to get in that space in a month’s time.

After picking up the scripts (all 16 of them at nearly 100 pages a pop, my arms!) I went back to St Mary’s for afternoon rehearsals. There was discussion about the play with the director and cast, which was nice to observe, and then while the actors had a movement workshop, me and Julia compiled the book in the next room. We had a brief meeting after rehearsals with Irina, Julia and Chloe – our designer – just to touch base and discuss props. And that was my first day. A very nice day indeed. Back to Brighton for dominoes and pale ale in a local pub (very civilised) before an early night.

I could get used to this.