Around thirty fellow U3A members spent a few hours enjoying a behind the scenes tour of the Mercury Theatre.
Organised very efficiently by John Hunt it was the second one that we had undertaken, and it proved to be even better than the last. Not only were we taken to see the nitty gritty backstage storage, props and stage, but we were lucky enough to see a scene in the process of being created for a production that was on later that night.
Stagehands, technicians and the producer, some of whom were from a visiting production company, were working in harmony to create a spectacular 'classroom', complete with lockers etc. All of which would be dismantled after the show and moved to another theatre where the whole procedure would be repeated.
Our 'tour guides' were staff members who answered all our many and varied questions clearly and who were very obviously proud of what they had created.
We visited the offices where the staff were introduced to us and who gave a resume of their roles in everything that went on behind the scenes to keep the theatre running; from maintenance to finance, they did it all.
On then to the props department where everything was made from scratch by the very talented craftsmen and women. After every production the scenes created were either dismantled or sold onto other theatres, so nothing was wasted.
Our last visit was to the wardrobe department where the talent is second to none. Everything is made from scratch and the designs are phenomenal, from dresses, trousers, wigs and, because this year’s pantomime is Mother Goose, to a 'goose costume' which was basically a beautiful, embroidered dress complete with a very impressive goose tail!
Our tour ended with a lovely cream tea served by the very people who had conducted the tour. Would thoroughly recommend it.