"No one likes an uptight stage manager"

Hometown
I grew up in a small village in Somerset, moved to London for Uni and now I live in Bristol

What do you do?
Self-employed stage manager

How long have you been at it?
Two years

What was your very first role in theatre?
ASM (assistant stage manager)

What have you done in theatre?
Some of the stuff I’ve done this year includes:
* Stage manager, Manchester International Festival, The Great Indoors, G-Mex, (Oily Cart Theatre Company )
* Stage manager, In The Wings Productions, The Little Mermaid, Charles Cryer Studio Theatre , Carshalton
* Stage manager/on the book, Inventome , The Cockroach Waltz , Greenwich Playhouse, London

Have you got qualifications?
A stage management & technical theatre degree from Guildhall School of Music & Drama

What did you want to be when you grew up?
I never knew really, I just knew I wanted an interesting job and I wanted to be able to make things

What do you do all day?
There isn’t really a typical day in stage management. I guess the one thing that will definitely happen every day is that you have to assess quickly, remember the strengths of your team and be the one to make decisions. That’s the management side, but then depending on the company you’re working for and the show you might get to do prop-making, driving around, watching rehearsals. All sorts of things really.

What’s the best thing about your job?
My favourite parts are the beginning and the end. I love arriving on the first day knowing nothing about the people or the show and just diving on in taking control and getting things moving. The first time you see all your hard work on stage in the dress (rehearsal) is a real buzz, and then there’s the last night, phew!

And the worst?
There is a lot of stress, sometimes people just don’t click or practical things go wrong like running out of money. Spending so much time away from home and away from my boyfriend sucks as well as I’m often traveling round the country.

What’s your dream job in theatre?
I want to make armour! That’s my dream. When it will happen I’m not sure but I’ve already had a go and it was great. Stage management is kind of an in-filler for me until I have enough money to go for props instead.

Got any wise words for someone who wants to be where you are now?
You need to take every opportunity you can, phone people up, apply for jobs you never think you could get, be really self confident and most of all relax and have fun, no one likes an uptight stage manager!

Martha’s website