Pictured above is the GrandMA2 lighting desk that has been used for each production I have volunteered for and has recently been upgraded to the GrandMA3. I have observed the lighting designer and operator use this desk and have been shown and taught how to do some tasks using this desk for example setting cues.
The photo to the left depicts the time I shadowed the lighting designer and operator on an amateur production of Shrek the Musical in a theatre near me. This experience taught me the effort and skill that goes into lighting in technical theatre. Watching him go through cues and communicating with the stage manager and director opened my eyes to how important team work is within technical theatre.
Pictured to the right is two of the set pieces for Shrek the Musical, the dragon and the bridge. When volunteering I assisted back stage and one of my responsibilities was putting the bridge on the stage for a scene change and this involved making sure it was properly positioned with the help of spike tape and ensuring that the breaks were on so that there was no risk to the casts health and safety. I also assisted in other scene changes, for example Lord Farquaad’s castle and smaller set pieces like the campfire and rocks.
On the left is the set for the amateur production of Jesus Christ Superstar that I volunteered on. This picture was taken during the get in which I assisted on and I helped with a variety of roles like set dressing and positioning lights like the uplighters at the back of the stage. I also observed a tech run and assisted different people when needed, like the stage manager, set designer and the lighting designer.
The image on the right is the fly floor in the theatre that I volunteer with, I was up on the fly floor getting taught how to move large set pieces and the legs and any thing else that is suspended above the stage. I helped to lower truss so that other team members could secure lights and remove any unneeded equipment that didn't need to be flown. I was taught the correct health and safety procedures that come with being on the fly floor.
This image shows the stage before any set was added. I helped to prepare the stage so that it was ready for set to be built on it when it arrived. This involved tidying up lose cables and removing anything that was not needed. it also involved general housekeeping like tidying up and sweeping the stage so that there were no hazards or anything prohibiting the set to be built.
I have experience in doing get-outs as I have helped out with the get out for Shrek the Musical and Jesus Christ Superstar. I do not have images that would represent this however pictured to the right is one of the tasks I was doing that I took a picture of. I was tasked with helping to remove all of the DMX and power cables that were used on stage and organising them into their correct bundles. I also helped remove set dressing and put away lights that were used on stage for both productions. I also helped to paint the stage black after Shrek the Musical as the stage had been painted green. Both get-outs have provided me with valuable experience in technical theatre and has made me aware of the late nights spent working.
