Abbey Theatre - Amharclann na Mainistreach

We’re gearing up towards the tech week now and schedules and dates are being signed off. This involves a meeting with each department checking that they will be able to finish their work in the time allotted so as not to slow down the next group in.

The props department found a pram which was used in previous productions and the designer liked it and its now being used in the rehearsal room. Props however also wanted to use it for an exhibition in Dundrum Shopping centre which The Abbey has set up with costumes and props from Plough through the years. Rehearsals won out though and other props were chosen for the exhibition. Well worth a look though from the 12th – 18th July.

The construction manager came over for a site visit. The Abbey Stage has three lifts in the centre of it 8.6 metres x 1.9 metres which for this production will drop down two metres and a raised platform will span across the three lifts. It was important that the construction manager was familiar with the lifts and the stage area. With flight delays he only made it in for a few hours but it was very constructive time.
The final images are due to the printers for the cloths this week so work to finish sourcing and cleaning up of the images continued on Monday. They’ve gone to print now so cannot be changed.
The guns used in the show are replica guns and the sourcing of them continued this week by stage management. We’ll need to get some photographed for the designer’s approval.

The costume designer and Hair and make-up person will sit down next week to discuss styles and make-up. Than these will all have to be finalised by July 16th as we start teching on the 17th. The tech is the time when we bring together the technical aspects of the show with the set, blocking and cast. Lighting, sound and flying should be given preference on these days in order to build the technical side of the show. We will tech for three days finishing with a Dress rehearsal on the 20th July. Fingers crossed all the preparation will pay off then.

More next week.
Aisling Mooney – Production Manager