Way out West (incorporating Way up North)

it's a hard knock life?

During my invective laden spiel yesterday, I completely omitted to be unkind about am-dram stage managers, this has preyed on my conscience all day, and I feel it is only fair to make up for it now.

There are good am-dram stage managers, just as there are many professional bad ones, it's just that in the world of amateur theatre the bad out-number the good by so many. You can spot the bad ones immediately, they are usually late forties up in age and have taken early retirement, and (here we deviate globally from the professionals), they are nearly always male. To the bad stage manager every task, however basic, is a challenge, and will be undertaken with an attitude of bewildered optimism, and with a minimum of research. I tell my students repeatedly; if you don't know, find someone who does and ask them. There are few working environments where there are better opportunities to kill or maim with impunity than the theatre.

As the cliche has it; a little knowledge is a dangerous thing. In the case of amateur theatre; little knowledge, boundless enthusiasm and the dunkirk spirit frankly terrify me.

Finally (as I'm sure you'll be happy to hear), why are they always so bloody pleased with themselves? The smallest achievement is greeted with a torrent of group hugs, back slapping and mutual congratulation, while I sit glowering at the lighting desk watching the 'schedule' slipping away.

In conclusion, don't do it, just say no! The worlds' culture will not cease to exist because the Little Plimbury Players didn't do their G&S this year ('do' really is the operative word here, anything the most savage critic can say about Ayckbourn is but nothing by comparison to the wounds that a bad am-dram production can inflict on his work). I suppose the job of stage manager for an am-dram company is the male equivalent of the jam and scone function in the Women's Institute (I'm not knocking the WI), somewhere where an underemployed person can feel useful, and not actually do that much harm.

I suppose, after more than twenty years in the business, I feel slightly resentful that a job I value hugely in my fellow professionals is considered of such little import. I'm sure this is not my final word on the subject, but it'll be back to normality for the next month or so.

posted by Lampy @ 11/08/2005 02:59:00 pm