Many theatre-goers never have the chance to see what goes on behind the scenes, but as part of a group of friends we ventured backstage at the Theatre Royal to discover for themselves what life is like off-stage for those participating in each show.
The glamour of what the audience witness on-stage is certainly not replicated off set. Dark, tight spaces, a maze of narrow corridors, small window-less dressing rooms and changing areas where you can’t afford to be embarrassed, combine to form the working facilities of the performers. It’s amazing what they have to put up with in the name of art! The vast amount of machinery, the huge twisted rolls of wiring, and the array of various types of equipment gave a memorable impression of how much goes into a performance that is never seen by the public.
Our guide provided an interesting, if at times lengthy, commentary but we gained a detailed insight into backstage life. Standing on the stage itself, looking at the auditorium as the actors would, illustrated clearly what faces them as they emerge from the dimly-lit corners of the wings. We were even able to try out seats in the auditorium to decide where we would like to sit for our next visit!
“Theatre Royal Backstage tours”:https://www.theatreroyal.com/your-visit/backstage-tours/
