Sylvia Carter
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2020 CUELINE Page 2 Autumn 2020 2 Cover International Stage Management Day #stagemgrs20 3 Editorial: Joining the Dots Andy Rowley 5 Five Top Tips for a safe return to work Phill Brown & Louise Gregory 6 The Bear and the Cub Adam Harrison 8 Covid Opportunities Jessica Tha nki 11 Review : Romantics Anonymous—Midlands Jenny Ell 13 How Fidelio Beat Quarantine Ben Cook 15 Accentuate the Positive Coral Nelson 17 Despatches from the Covid Rehearsal Room Louise Gregory 20 Sadly Missed: Sylvia Carter 21 ‘Uncle’ Bob West 22 #WeMake Events Global Day of Action Sharon Calcutt Cheadle 24 Do We Dare to Imagine a New Future? Prema Mehta 26 Safety Matters: A new safety mark Geoffrey Joyce 27 Central Pages: SMA COVID Guidelines 30 Central Pages: Links to the documents on our website 31 Work, Caring and Covid (PIPA and a Better Future) Matt Harper 33 Welcome to SMA India: Andy Rowley talks to Amita Puri and Keyur Shah 35 Call Q Perfect Timing for a New Stage Management Tool David McGraw 38 Circus Pandemonium! Cat Tyler 41 Not On The West End Backstage Shopping Special Jane Williamson 51 Last Word: Where Is The Drama? Natalie Braid 53 A Warm Welcome to New Members Debbie Bland Editor: Andy Rowley Cueline 203 Autumn 2020 Published by Stage Management Association 89 Borough High Street, LONDON SE1 1NL 020 7403 7999 [email protected] https://stagemanagement.uk Views expressed editorially or by correspondents are not necessarily those of the SMA The editor reserves the right to edit submitted material without consulting the contributor. Copyright © Stage Management Association (SMA) 2020 CUELINE Page 3 Autumn 2020 Editorial: Joining the Dots Andy Rowley International Stage Management day is a day for reaching out to colleagues around the globe, and SMA staff, board and members will be joining with the International Cohort in the US SMA National Collaborators Conference (online) this week- end. The connections we make inform our work in the UK and give us insight into new and more inclusive ways of working. This benefit was recognised by Stage Sight in a recent re- view, and has been enabled by the Society of Theatre Research who have kindly given fund- ing for our online outreach—thank you to both organisations for their great work. This year #stagemgrs20 is not so much a day of celebration, but more of reflection and support for SMs all over the world whose lives and livelihoods are affected by the effects of the pandemic. In Cueline this autumn we hear from some of them. The Covid-19 period has hit members very hard—many, including younger members and those starting out, have been simply abandoned (there is really no other word for it) by government support programmes. Despite this, and very many members having to find temporary employment, SMA staff would like to say a big ‘thank you’ to the majority of members who have been able to continue to pay subs– many opting for the new lower monthly or quarterly rates: we know it hasn't been easy . It has been tough on staff too, working in isolation, and the Association itself faces challeng- es as these exceptional times continue. SMA has maintained the Freelist and lobbied tirelessly on your behalf, finding new ways to support members and make sure that we are all as ready as we can be to get back to theatre and live events work as soon as possible. SMA are committed to continuing to do what it takes to support members in the COVID- 19 period. Our website, social media and SMAgenda all carry up to date information and advice, and our office remains open, but staff are working remotely Since March SMA has promised that no member with whom we are in touch will lose membership; thanks to the hard work of SMA staff we have been as good as our word: over 140 members have been able to retain membership whilst they have been without work and unable to pay subs. In addition staff have been taking care to offer advice and guidance – in person, on our website, through SMAgenda, via our Zoom Brunches and online. Members have been very generous in their thanks for this support (our mailbox at SMA virtual HQ is full of kind words and encouraging messages). We would like to say that it is our pleasure to serve members at this time, and we are glad to be in a position to help. It is not over yet, and we are determined to continue to do the best we possibly can to keep members informed and supported, as well as to work with AAPTLE, and other groups to enable safe return to working in theatre and live events and a better and more inclusive workforce with fair pay and conditions. CUELINE Page 4 Autumn 2020 Cueline magazine has always been SMA’s main communication channel and journal of record. Those who told us that they have enjoyed looking back through our Cueline archive will have seen (as well as how much our work evolves) how much the magazine reflects the preoccupations and events of it’s time. Of course this edition is no different, and the Covid -19 pandemic is undoubtedly the elephant in the room, but there is plenty more in a larger than usual magazine to keep you informed and entertained. Adam Harrison has researched how theatre started in the USA, and Jenny Ell reviews the innovative ‘tour’ of Romantics Anonymous. Ben Cook reports on the ingenious way that Garsington Opera beat quarantine, and Jessica Thanki tells how Covid has been an oppor- tunity for her. It’s been a tough year for students in training , but accentuating the positive has helped Coral Nelson make the most of her unusual first year at RCS; also in Scotland Louise Gregory reports on first hand experience of running Covid Rehearsals. #WeMakeEvents and #lightitinred have been banging the drum for our industry recently— Sharon Calcutt-Cheadle tells us about the Global Day of Action, and SMA remembers two distinguished and much-loved colleagues who will be sadly missed. Check your email inbox on Saturday; we need a few minutes of your time for something which we think you'll agree is vital in 2020 and beyond We know that many members are very short of funds, perhaps working in non -theatre jobs or their own businesses or side hustles to keep solvent. In this edition we devote 10 pages to businesses run by backstage colleagues who are now (temporarily) producing wonderful gifts and artisan products as well as innovative services. Whether you have cash to spend or not we hope that you will take a look and share the information with friends, family and new colleagues and acquaintances. Recent campaigns, including #lghtItInred, #WeMakeEvents and the Equity / Bectu #PantoParade have all highlighted the real danger to live performance and theatre, and millions across the country support us—this is a great way that they can help practically by buying unusual hand-crafted gift products for loved ones and colleagues (and maybe us!). Jane Williamson is your personal shopper and brings you the pick of the crop. In our Central pages we have COVID-19 guidance and links, and PIPA and Stage Sight tell how we can create a fairer and more inclusive workplace. Geoffrey Joyce has his eye on Brexit this winter, and a new replacement for the CE safety mark, we welcome SMA India– just six weeks old, whilst David McGraw investigates CallQ as a tool for working SMs. Meanwhile Cat Tyler’s adventures in Circus Pandemonium are a poignant and uplifting read, and Natalie Braid’s lockdown down-under is proving a true Covid roller coaster. Something for everyone we hope: please stay safe and keep in touch with SMA. CUELINE Page 5 Autumn 2020 Five Top Tips for a safe return to work in COVID Phillip Brown Head of Risk and Safety at SOLT/UKTheatre—working with member theatres to create safe ways of working. Phill runs Managing Covid-19 Safely Courses: https://theatremeansbusiness.info/webinar/managing-covid-19-safely/ Communicate – keep your team involved on what you are doing to manage COVID-19 and how you are doing it. You should also meet & discuss COVID issues on a regular basis as a team. Engagement – get everyone involved—its corny but we are all in this together! Get input from your team on what’s working and what’s causing them problems Lead by example – demonstrate your commitment to managing all aspects of COVID-19, chal- lenge unsafe behaviours and reinforce good practice. Continuous Learning – identify and change unsafe conditions and dangerous behaviours. This can be accomplished by effective training or regular forums so staff become personally responsi- ble for managing COVID. Provide recognition and feedback – give recognition to the delivery of good performance, acknowledge your team achievements and share best practice throughout your organization. Louise Gregory - Stage Manager see Despatches from the COVID rehearsal Room p17 Illumination Theatre Services www.illuminationtheatreservices.co.uk We are all in this together. Share the responsibility, and explain why the rules are there. A toolbox talk on the first day is a really easy way of making sure that everyone understands what they’re going to be doing and why. Mental health is also important. Take more breaks, have a relaxed attitude about getting back to work, and get out of the rehearsal room at lunchtime. Safe Working Plan or Risk Assessment. If you are writing one make sure that you discuss every- thing with the Producer and Director to get their input.