Stage Management is a pivotal role in a theatre performance and it’s International Women’s Day, so we recently sat down to interview Mercury Theatre’s very own Emilie Leger, who has worked on many Mercury productions and gives us an insight into her role, herself and our current Mercury production, The Importance of Being Earnest.
How did you get into Stage Management?
Whilst at secondary school I found a real love for drama (fuelled by my mother’s love of musicals), but I didn’t enjoy being on stage. I wasn’t comfortable with performing or with lots of people looking at me! However, I knew I wanted to be involved somehow, so with the help of my drama teacher, I starting looking into all the different roles there were within a production, and Stage Management was the one that aligned with my interests the most. I started researching further education and studied Technical Theatre and Production Arts in Edinburgh. Whilst I was there, I was able to learn about so many different roles in theatre, and specifically the different roles in Stage Management. After trying my hand at each of the roles, it was evident to me that DSM (Deputy Stage Manager) was the role I enjoyed the most.
If you were not a Stage Manager, what would you be?
I like to think that I would be a baker. I love baking, it is the best way for me to destress after a long week and I always bring my cakes into the theatre I’m working in to share with everyone.
What is your favourite part of being a Stage Manager?
I love that I get to work with so many new people constantly. Each production brings together a new group of incredibly talented and creative people who all work so hard together to create an incredible piece of theatre. I also love being a part of the show every night and hearing the audience react to different moments that they find impactful, funny or heart-warming that evening.
What advice would you give to a student wanting to work in Stage Management?
Try to get as much hands-on experience as you can, through work experience or amateur dramatic societies. You will pick up so much whilst on the job that you can’t really learn through exclusive classroom-based learning. I would also advise trying to gain a base knowledge in technical components such as lighting, sound or stage, as these skills can become transferable and potentially invaluable.
What does your typical day look like when working on a show?
My days vary depending on what point we are at in the process of the show. If we are in rehearsals, I will start the morning with setting up the rehearsal room for whichever scene we are working on that day, and setting out the correct rehearsal props. I will then spend the day in rehearsals, supporting the director and the cast. This can be in a number of different ways, from writing down the blocking (the moves that the actors make in the scene), taking notes on specific props that they ask for and prompting them on their lines once we start running sections. I then end the day by writing the rehearsal notes, which are the notes I have complied
during the day and sending them to the various production departments (i.e. lighting, sound, workshop, wardrobe etc.) and I also write the schedule for the following day, and send it to the members of the cast.
If we are in performance, then my day looks a little different. I start my day by checking in with all of the backstage team that their checks have gone well and everything is ready for the performance. I then check in with the actors while they’re warming up and make sure they’re feeling fit and well. Half an hour before the performance, I ensure that the stage is ready to open the house, which involves making sure we’re in the correct lighting state, all the furniture is set on stage and that the pre-show music is playing. I then liaise with Front of House to let them know that we’re ready for them to start letting the audience in. Once it is time for the performance, I go to prompt corner in the Stage Left wing and I call the performance. This entails cueing all of the elements of the show including lights, sound, scene changes, fly cues and actor entrances to make sure that everything happens at the right time and the show flows as it should. Once the show is over, I write the show report detailing anything that went wrong and the schedule for the following day.
How would you explain The Importance of Being Earnest in three words?
Witty, chaotic and commentative.
Which The Importance of Being Earnest character is your favourite?
My favourite character is Cecily because she is so strong willed, and goes after what she wants, even if it isn’t the most practical. She is quite stubborn (which I can relate to) and headstrong.
What was the last show you worked on?
The last show I worked on was the Mercury’s pantomime, Sleeping Beauty. This was my fifth panto at the Mercury, and I really enjoy coming back to work on it each year. There are a number of returning cast and crew, so it always feels like a big family reunion.
Thank you for you time Emilie!
Emilie is just one of the many incredible women working in our building, as well as the many who have graced our stages past and present. We are grateful for and always keen to celebrate the fantastic female identifying individuals that help make the Mercury Theatre what it is!
For more information and tickets to our Mercury Production of The Importance of Being Earnest visit mercurytheatre.co.uk/event/the-importance-of-being-earnest-2/.
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