Theatreworks presents:
The Love of the Nightingale
When I was invited to stage manage The Love of the Nightingale, Melbourne was just entering Stage 4 COVID lockdown...
'In the silent moonlight, she sings...'
Script by Timberlake Wertenbaker | Directed by Simran Giria
Much like the rest of my cohort, I was very much starved of live theatre by July of 2020 when my colleague Georgie invited me to work on LOTN. I jumped on the opportunity to pick up a new project...and then Melbourne was slammed back into a COVID lockdown even harsher than the first.
Working on Love of the Nightingale in a COVID world posed a variety of new challenges. I ran our initial rehearsals via Zoom, accompanied of course by a consistent chorus of "you're frozen!" and "sorry you dropped out". Many of the cast and crew members weren't able to officially meet each other until November when restrictions finally began to ease and we were able to commence in-person rehearsals - exclusively in outdoor rehearsal spaces, rain, hail or shine, and complying with outdoor gathering limits and mask rules.
I was conscious in our initial rehearsals of facilitating relationships between the 10 members of the cast wherever possible, and being sensitive to their comfort and mental wellbeing as we navigated the new normal. November and December were an intensive blur of rehearsals as we hurtled towards opening night, racing to make up for the time we had lost.
In this two month window I worked tirelessly to maintain team morale and momentum, source and craft over 15 props and manage OHS risks that included open flame, use of glassware, and a 90cm tall, 3 tiered timber set that we bumped in and out each day. In the end, I was able to co-ordinate a show that was performed in the traverse, with 4 entry/exit points, to audience members seated in completely COVID-Safe Perspex booths.
In spite of unprecedented times (including a COVID scare of our own during prod week), the Love of the Nightingale sold out it's run before opening night, even adding an additional matinee due to popular demand.
Learn More
The Love of the Nightingale was performed to completely sold out audiences from Jan 5-9, 2021.
Full details can be found via the Theatreworks website, or click the 'Review' button below to read our review from The Age!
Instagram: @loveofthenightingale
#nightingale2021
Images courtesy of Wing Sze Chong
Instagram: @thoughtsofawing
Website: thoughtsofawing.wixsite.com/hello
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Caitie Murphy - Stage Manager
Copyright © 2024 Caitie Murphy - Stage Manager - All Rights Reserved.
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