Students' Perspective

“It’s not the lack of fear that makes you brave, but the ability to overcome it.”– a quote from many wise people that I put into my own words.

I took part in the 2024 Senior Production of Mamma Mia! and had a role in the ensemble. We sang, acted, and danced through months of preparation for the shows between 10–12 May. I created many new friends and connections with the cast and crew.

It takes so much courage to even audition and I’m proud of myself and the rest of the people who auditioned for making it that far. There’s also loads of bravery involved in getting up and performing in front of an audience. The first show, I completely forgot the first dance and only remembered once we got on stage!

All I could think of that first night, under the blinding lights, was the little mistakes  made in the dance; that I went on too early, or I tripped on a prop. But by the final night, I was thinking how long it's been since the first rehearsal last year.

The first few moments you spend on a stage always seem to be the scariest moment of your life, and you tend to forget what you’re doing or how you got there. It’s not long before you realise how brave and confident you’ve become!

I debated signing up to audition for Mamma Mia! out of fear – I’m so glad I decided to overcome it.

Ruby (Year 8)
Ensemble Member

Above all, what I learnt from working with the backstage team this year is that each and every role requires an enormous amount of bravery.

Starting a backstage role is a big change from the learning we’re used to from classrooms, where we are taught how to do something and then practice it at the safety of our desks with pen and paper. Instead, the learning is hands-on.

While rehearsals go on, the crew members are picking up on how to perform their role, and also what is happening on stage at the same time. This requires a huge amount of patience from the actors, and an enormous ability to work under pressure from the backstage crew.

The crew perform a variety of roles, all of which pose unique challenges. The team in lighting operate a complex lighting board and spot lights, learning how to operate them and at one point, even improvising the entire second act of spot cues mid-rehearsal!

The backstage crew have to constantly be aware of what is going on in the show around them, and be ready at any time to adapt to changing plans. The assistant stage managers take on a huge commitment as they step up to assume a leadership position, learning how to make stage drawings, use the comms, manage groups of people, and have a strong awareness at all times.

The experience of backstage crew is one which is unique, and it is also consistently some of the most fun I have each year. I’ll always treasure the memories from the backstage crew of Mamma Mia!, and the huge stack of draft stage drawings I have amassed.

Ash (Year 12)
Stage Manager