The House: Rehearsal Diary 1

30 August 2024

Day 1 of the rehearsal process for a show is always like the first day of school. As Company Manager, I have spent the weeks leading up to the first day planning and preparing and it’s always such an exciting moment to finally be in the same room with all the lovely people that will be working together to create a new piece of theatre.

After a meet and greet where you gather with colleagues, old friends from shows gone by, and all the new people that you have the pleasure to work with for the first time, the company gather around a table, introduce themselves and begin to read the play for the first time together.

The end of the read-through is an exciting moment for the company of actors who are fired up by the potential of creating a new production. After a brief pause for coffee and tea, it’s time for the design presentation by our set designer and co-costume designer Francis O’Connor, where we get to catch a glimpse of the set and his plans for how the production will look on stage.

Once the formalities of Day 1 are finished, the Druid office team and some invited guests head off, leaving the cast, directors and stage management team to discover the world of the play in more detail.

While our Deputy Stage Manager Síle Mahon is in the rehearsal room as the eyes and ears of the production team, the Assistant Stage Managers Méabh Crowe and Rachel Stout are busy scouring the internet, Adverts, Done Deal, Facebook Marketplace and every charity shop in the vicinity of the rehearsal space to find the perfect props at the best deals. Assistant Stage Managers are always the best hagglers so if you are ever in need of a bargain, reach out to your nearest ASM!

The first two weeks of rehearsals are all about discovery. It’s about finding out what the overall language of the play is. For the actors, that is expressed in words, inflection and movement on the stage. For the production team, it’s determined by the costumes, set and props.

It’s the job of the stage management team to make sure that all departments are singing off the same hymn sheet throughout the rehearsal process. I know that all the hard work will pay off on opening night.

‘Twas the night before rehearsals, and all through The House, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
Stage Management had printed the scripts and set up the place, in hopes that there’ll be enough chairs in the space.
With coffee in hand and smiles on their faces, Stage Management wait for their day at the races.
We’re rehearsing The House, a play by Tom Murphy, come on book your tickets, they’ll be gone in a hurry.

Photos: Ste Murray