Back in my favourite August location this year, but in very different circumstances to 2011 (or indeed 2010). This year I am freelancing. Instead of working at a venue or visiting with one company, I'm off on my own, teching and working backstage for five shows.
Yup. Five.
My friends in a similar line of work to me have declared that I am mental. Fair point friends; it's a long day but it is a lot of fun and I'm not finishing too late.
Despite being freelance, the work isn't too isolating. My acts are all very nice and we get on well, plus I'm back teching a lot of shows at Pleasance Courtyard, my old venue in 2010/2011. So some things aren't massively different. In fact the biggest difference (and my favourite difference) is that I don't have to sit outside in the rain! It's nice to see people on staff returning from last year and I'm also spotting actors and directors I've worked with this year. It's lovely catching up with people.
I'm teching for four comedy shows; Jenny Fawcett, Ford and Akram, Ed Eales-White and Max Dickins. I tech these guys a lot in London and have seen the four shows evolve so it's lovely to come with then to the Fringe. The fifth show was a late offer, but I was recommended through Pleasance for it and the venue is much larger than my other ones. So I'm working backstage at Andy and Mike's Tick Tock Time Machine. It's a children's show with moving set pieces which I change around. The flats are ridiculously heavy and after our tech rehearsal I was concerned that I'd be a wreck after 20 days of it. But it's actually ok. It's fast paced and the adrenaline is giving me the push I need to move the giant boards around. Or I'm getting stronger. Not sure.
We've had previews at its the first weekend. Everything is getting into the swing of it and I'm easing into my routine of two shows back to back then lunch, a show, rest, a show, longer rest and final show.
Then to Brookes' Bar at The Pleasance Dome!
This year my Pleasance pass is the yellow of the visiting company (instead of black staff pass). It doesn't give me the perks of being first in the queue for a free show, but it can get me into the artist's bar - which is something staff sometimes struggle to do if it's a busy night. There's always a familiar face in Brooke's so it's often worth a visit after work.
Today is the first day of the free Fringe, so my latest show, Max Dickins is starting at Cabaret Voltaire. Having recovered from my four show days has been ok, let's see what five is like!!
Stay tuned for a run down of the shows I've enjoyed in my first week in Edinburgh!
No comments:
Post a Comment