Why are Hard Graft Theatre thinking about snow??
Hard Graft Theatre
Whilst the country is sweltering in the hottest summer for years, one Lancashire company is thinking about snow and Christmas. If you work in the entertainment industry delivering family festive fun the hard work is done and almost dusted well before December. Here we have a look behind the curtain and see how our favourite theatre shows are built.
For the last 11 years Hard Graft has been building a long-term legacy of entertaining children’s theatre in Greater Manchester and Lancashire. From tiny acorns they have become one of the best loved Christmas treats in the north west.
From their first show in the basement of the Civic Hall Uppermill, Saddleworth they now pack 400 seater grand venues across the county entertaining families wherever they go.
Mark Whiteley, Hard Graft Theatre Director, is the Dad of 5 & 9 year old kids. He said: “I know how expensive Christmas can be. I know that 150 minutes sat in a theatre seat watching a panto can be too long. I know that intervals are for the theatres to make even more money from hard working families.That is why, 11 years ago, we introduced our very own Christmas treat for your kids.
The work begins in January when the company decide what show they want to share the following Christmas. They then commission a playwright to create the perfect Christmas for the whole family.
“We aren’t panto” Joanne Whiteley producer at Hard Graft said. “What we produce are fun, fast fairytales for the family, with songs, a strong storyline and lots and lots of comedy.”
This year, with the World Cup in Russia, the company has decided on Babushka, the story of the Russian Mother Christmas. Throughout the spring months they we meet and discuss what the show will look like. Designer Celia comes up with some drawings and mood boards which highlight colours, costumes and what the set might look like.
In March the venues have all been contracted and the dates set in stone. There’s no going back now. This year we’ve added two new dates in Hebden Bridge and Northwich.
Northwich 22nd Dec
Saddleworth 23rd/24th Dec
Clitheroe 27th/ 28th Dec
Whitworth 29th Dec
Hebden Bridge 30th Dec
Ramsbottom 31st Dec
Marsden 2nd Jan 2019
By June the script should be almost complete, although work will continue right up until opening night. The script is read and building begins. This year we have built a full size Russian cart that will take Babushka on her adventures.
Now, in July we about to start marketing. Our secure online box office is built, with every ticket listed. Flyers are designed, printed and distributed across the north west. Posters are placed in libraries, shops and anywhere we can get them up.
After the holidays twitter and Facebook go into over drive publishing updates and offers. “We have thousands of customers to email, some of our audience members have been coming for the whole 11 years” Gary from marketing explains. “They always book early because they want to sit at the front, to them it’s a tradition and that makes me very proud”.
As you read this the company are auditioning the cast members. Traditionally Christmas shows are cast 6 or 7 months before Christmas so as to get the best actors, singers and dancers for the audience. Auditions take place at the Horse and Baboo theatre in Waterfoot and will last two full days.
After casting the marketing continues throughout the autumn and they are now entering the most busy part of the year as rehearsals begin. This is when everything comes together in one room, actors, writer, director, designer, technicians, builders and marketers. Slowly the show is built, but it won’t be till opening night that the company will know if all their hard work will pay off.
The next few weeks will be travelling, arriving at each venue at 9am to build the set, lighting and performing two shows a day to an excited Christmas audience. Only in January 2019 can we forget about Babushka, but then planning begins on next year’s show.
Hard Graft theatre co is an award winning company with 20 years experience producing comedy and childrens theatre for more information contact www.hardgraft.co.uk/
Author: Jude Gidney - Editor
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