Rigging ‘Alice’ – 8 February 2011

This time last year, I was busy making final preparations for the lower school’s music, HONK!, in which I starred as ‘Ugly’. Once again, I’m involved in the musical (Alice, put on by the upper school), though this time I’m sat at the back, operating the lighting desk.

FOLLOW SPOT_Me operating a follow spot back in March 2008. I’ve always been interested in the technical side of things, though it’s only been the dance shows where I’ve had an opportunity to help out, as for all the other show I’ve been on stage. This March 2008 picture shows me operating one of the follow spotlights, as a very junior lighting crew member. I’ve worked my way up, though, and since last week, I’ve been involved with the rigging of this year’s production.

RIGGING_The lights ready to be lifted into position.

BEFORE_The dimmers before the lights were patched in... AFTER_And this photo of once they'd been wired up.

STANDING IN THE SPOTLIGHT_Fader 17 controls the centre spotlight.

With the show quickly coming together, there is just one week until the curtain goes up to the paying public. It’s really exciting being ‘on the team’, and despite the hard work it is all good fun. Tomorrow, we run the show from start to finish for the first time. Only time will tell how that will go.

Andrew Burdett

Andrew Burdett is a twenty-something from Maidenhead in Berkshire, working for ITV News.