Two Performances down, quite a few to go...

"My Grandfather told me there were two kinds of people.  Those who do all the work and those who take the credit.  He told me to try to be in the first group.  There was much less competition."

I was lucky enough to sit in on the first playing of A Christmas Carol this morning, and was really impressed with the professionalism of an amazing cast.  It's brilliant to see the whole thing come together and for everyone to really just gel - proves it's all worth it.  It's a dark, intense version with laugh out loud moments, and it's definitely worth a look see if you haven't got your tickets yet. There are one or two tickets left for Saturday's shows - 11th December, 2:30 and 7:30.  Friday is virtually sold out.

What was really notable was the ensemble nature of the cast, a lovely feeling of all dependent on each other, and a real sense that if - Heaven forbid - anything did go wrong, then it would be covered by someone else. The most amazing thing was that everyone worked really hard to develop this - no-one dropping the pace or letting anyone down at any point.  It's rare than you can say that about a cast, and the whole thing is credit to the team - Pip, Janet, Karen, Terri, the costume ladies and the tech team and, of course, the cast.

The young people are also taking critical roles in stage management and make-up - applying foundation one minute, acting the next.  Yes - it's about the arts, and its value - yes it is about having the most professional piece that's possible, but what a thrill that such a group of young people can be so flexible, and so determined to make the show happen.

But then what would you expect?  Youth theatre is a training ground - it gives young people the building blocks that set them on the way to becoming young actors.  We take that very seriously.  But it is also about enabling young people in their journey to becoming rounded people.  Things impress me outside of the art of it.  Someone didn't get in the cast, for example, someone really talented.  Did he despair and take his bat home?  No - he volunteered to do the sound.  And that's where you know that you're doing something right.  That you're making a place where young people pull together and want to be part of it, even if they can't be the star.

That's how it is here.  This morning the caretaker rang in sick.   No problem, everyone got stuck in, sweeping up as the audience were being ushered in!  This morning a matron couldn't make it?  No problem, others stepped in to make up the numbers.  That is the way it is here.  And that is why the work we do is about the arts, yes, but also about so much more than the arts.

So, here's to the rest of the week - and more of the same.  A cast confident of itself, and a support staff who step up to the plate and make it all work.  Well done everyone!  Brilliant work!