Welcome to the SUTCo Spotlight!
Welcome to the SUTCo Spotlight!
Welcome to the SUTCo Spotlight!
Welcome to the SUTCo Spotlight!
Welcome to the SUTCo Spotlight!
Welcome to the SUTCo Spotlight!
Welcome to the SUTCo Spotlight!
Megan, Meredith and Nick - The Ghost Light Prod Team
The Ghost Light begins tonight! I sat down with Megan (Writer/Director), Meredith (Producer), and Nick (Production Manager) to discuss the upcoming show.
George: Hey guys, thanks for coming down! Where did the inspiration for the Ghost Light come and how did it change over time?
Megan: I was procrastinating some months ago and ended up looking at theatre traditions, where I found out that many theatres leave on a 'ghost light' for ghosts to perform their plays at night. I thought this was really cute, and wanted to see a play about that, but forgot for a while. When proposals came around again I remembered, and decided to use this idea to write a play to put forward. I created two of the characters in GCSE drama (and they have since featured in four plays already!) and as they were ghosts they had to go in - and after figuring out the other characters I built it from there. In the read-through and subsequent rehearsals all the cast and crew have added offhand jokes which often we decided to keep, and so it has slowly changed throughout - and due to the semi-improvised parts, it will continue to change every night!
George: Meredith, how have you found producing?
Meredith: This is actually my second time producing! I was producer for a performance of Dracula last semester, which had the advantage of being a big name and very well known, but it was for an entirely new theatre company we'd just set up whereas this time it's been good to be for a company that some of the public and a lot of people round uni have heard of and one with a proper support network for the producers. I've done a lot of marketing stuff in the past too so that's been very helpful.
George: And what about The Ghost Light in particular has been interesting from a producer's perspective?
Meredith: This show has been really interesting to produce because it's new writing and something a little bit different as well. Trying to find the best way to market a semi-improvised play within a play about ghosts with some number of spoons has been a challenge, but it's such a fun show and I think getting that across has been the main thing and a lot of people seem to be focused on that which is good.
George: Nick, how have you found the technical aspect of the ghost light? What experience have you taken from previously prod managing?
Nick: Technically this show has given me the opportunity to try some new ideas and they have mostly come off really well. It’s really nice to work with such a small tech team, especially one as close as this one. I have really enjoyed how open this show is to ridiculous tech ideas and I don’t think there has been a single time where we have suggested something and the reply has been no!
George: How's the rehearsal process been?
Meredith: It's been such an exciting rehearsal process, watching all the characters really come to life in such a short time and the little bits of flair all the cast and crew bring to their roles.
Megan: Yeah, rehearsals have been very busy, but also very fun - much silliness has been had by all, and the cast have been fantastic at dealing with the short time-span.
George: Of course, you don't want to give anything away, but... anything to look out for?
Nick: Watch out for a just a few spoons, a slightly unusual boat and a small amount of salt.
Meredith: I'd say definitely look out for Gary - I can't give any more away, but you'll know what I mean when you see it!
Megan: I recommend looking out for four figures worth of spoons, three (not one but three!) stunt double bears, and an extra ghost.....
Wednesday 20th February - Saturday 23rd February 2019
Doors open at 7:00
Show starts at 7:30
£5 adv. Wednesday
£7 (£6 adv.) Thursday - Saturday
Sheffield University Drama Studio, Glossop Road
Tickets available here