Day 5 - with a little extra Heart!

Another fabulous day today (see pictures!). We were also delighted to receive a visit from some of the Heart Angels, with their mobile DJ desk - a fantastic bit of equipment which allows you to have a go at being a radio DJ. Several of the gang had a go, declaring it very simple and deciding to give some famous DJs a run for their money!

Make sure you pick up a copy of the Bicester Advertiser as well today - there's a fab piece on page 14 on the greatest show on earth (i.e. New Theatre Stage Experience's production of Fame!)...

Day 3

Some fab pics above taken in rehearsals today by the lovely Christina! Things still seem to be racing along at a great pace and with such energy, it makes us in the office feel tired just watching them...

T-shirts have arrived this afternoon for all the cast (to be distributed very soon) and several of the principals have answered some questions for the Oxford Mail - stay tuned for news of when their star interviews hit the shops!

Day one: introductions!

It's lunchtime on the first day of Stage Experience 2010! And so far, everything seems to be running very smoothly indeed (touch wood...). We started the day with some words of welcome from Kerry and Ed, and Jamie (the General Manager of the New Theatre) also popped in to have a quick word about health and safety. Much screaming later (you had to be there...) and everyone was given a tour of the building in their colour groups.

Mark, our photographer, and his assistant Lawrence have been taking group and individual shots all morning for the programme. We've just got the big group shot on the main stage and 6 more group photos to do this afternoon before we're finished, so they'll be done whilst Ed and his creative team run some workshops to help everyone get to know each other and shake off those first-day nerves.

The really hard work starts tomorrow...

It's the day after tomorrow! ARGH!

Stage Experience is almost upon us! With 48 hours to go, everyone is rushing around the New Theatre trying to get everything ready. Gill, Kerry and Christina are setting up the tuck shop and putting up all sorts of signs in all sorts of places so that nobody need ever get lost over the next two weeks. Jack FM have just dropped off the goodie bags which all participants will receive, and thanks to their new air fresheners, our office now smells like strawberries!

Everything is almost in place for Sunday, when all the cast and crew will arrive for their induction tours. Remember that our professional photographer will be here to take your pictures for the show programme, so be sure to have your most award-winning smiles at the ready...

The lady in charge of the stage...

Name: Sarah Ripley

Role: Stage Manager

About: This is my first Stage Experience. My theatre career started a long time ago and during my career I have been involved with many musicals. I toured large scale musicals all over Britain and Europe, then just prior to starting at the New Theatre I taught stage Management at LAMDA.

What is the first musical you ever saw? The first musical I ever saw was Wild Wild Women at The Theatre Royal Windsor - it was also the first one I worked on.

What is your favourite song from a musical? ‘42nd Street’ from 42nd Street.

The Final Countdown...

It's less than a week till Stage Experience begins! ID badges are being made for all staff and chaperones, the t-shirts are arriving next Monday and the tuck shop is fully stocked!

If anyone can think of anything we have forgotten to do, please drop us a line and let us know. 6 days and counting...

And Jon said 'Let there be lights', and there were!

Name: Jon Robinson

Role: Chief LX

About: I started 17 years ago as a trainee theatre electrician whilst completing 181 City and Guilds Theatre Electricians course. I then worked at the Apollo Theatre Oxford then the New Theatre Oxford for many years whilst also being a freelance Lighting engineer and rigger for many large out door shows up and down the UK. This will be my 9th stage experience and I'm looking forward to the challenge again.

What is the first musical you ever saw? Cats

What is your favourite song from a musical? ‘Defying Gravity’ (Wicked)