01/03/2021​​

• Rehearsals start at 10.00. Before rehearsals start, I learned that Sheyi Cole isn't going to make it as he is ill and Genny Lewis is getting headshots done but will join in the afternoon. I had to send out an emailing to remind Genny about giving 24 hour notice and to also book her absence using an eGo request. Sheyi doesnt have to do this as it is sickness related. We learnt from Producer Ellie Claughton that we will be in MC Theatre (8th) in the morning up until Thursday, then Thursday (11th) onwards we will be in the Silk Street Theatre on one side of the Iron. I was the main host for the meeting this morning and sorted out the breakout rooms or any requests from the director. 

• Made the next Rehearsal Call for tomorrow, made sure the actors that have their costume measurement meetings in the afternoon are in the morning session. 

• Jackal Run Production Meeting at 13.00 with PM, Production Arts and Creatives. Devon spoke through any points that we have as SMs. Such as; Rehearsals have been going well and that we plan to meet with the creatives, design realisation students, costume and cast in a rehearsal session. Also that Devon and me are splitting the stage management roles so all SM related emails/questions should go to both of us as I am missing out some emails. 

• Rehearsals start at 15.00.

• Production Manager Tom Mackey have arranged a meeting for tomorrow morning before rehearsal for 9am for a PM and SM. This is to discuss about going back into the building on Monday. Tom Mackey has also released a production schedule that is to the end of term and it confirms that all of filming will take place on the last week from 22nd March to the 25th, with the 26th being the strike day.

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02/03/2021 ​

• Had a quick chat with Devon about what actors aren't comfortable going in and it is Sheyi Cole. In this case he has let drama admin know, but for the future all students who wont be returning need to notify drama admin and it is not our responsibility as Stage Managers. 

• Meeting at 9.00 with SM and PM (Breach & Barrel Organ): I need to email facilities managers about getting some tables and chairs for the Milton Court Theatre from the 8th to the 10th of March. I need to await a response from PV about the Theatre being painted. We also skimmed over COVID protocols, talked about each actor having their own personal chair with a name tag, and it would almost be a personal docking station. Milton Court and Silk Street still have one way systems. Tom will look into QR codes to have signposted for Track-and-Trace purposes. As we are indisposable Wednesday morning, whoever has the space Tuesday night will have to set up for the SM group the next morning. There is discussion about seeing if Ophir Westman- Student Producer to see if he can facilitate wednesday mornings. Staff cards are ready and waiting at MC Stage Door to give to the creatives on Monday morning. Check if we need any AV equipment for the rehearsal space, such as monitors/tvs, but this may not be possible as AV are inundated with other responsibilities. We need make sure that we have Zoom facilities however to accommodate for any overseas students or those who dont feel comfortable coming in. Lastly I asked if anyone knows of the Guildhall Cafes being open- no one knows, so I may have to chase this up with facilities. Devon said that the common room is open so there is access to at least hot water. 

• Rehearsal starts at 10.00. Lily Hardy was late because of WiFi issues.

• I got an email from Student Producer Ophir Westman about sending in a biography and headshot for the programme so I need to do that. 

• Rehearsal starts at 14.00. Alyth Ross was late. 

• Had a check up meeting with Devon and Lucy Serjeant at 16.45. We chatted about how we will organise Monday and the process we would do. Such as having to have certain equipment available like: a measuring tape, LX tape, scissors, paper, pen and blu-tack. Luckily I have a black 'apron' which is helpful. We might need a sound system- so thats something to think about. We will need to mark out 2m gaps from each table and chair using a measuring tape and LX Tape. Might need to look at getting bins for any rubbish. Get PV in the space to show how to turn on the lights in the morning and to arrive 1 hour on the first day to set everything up- then 30 mins early after that. If there is a Production Meeting at lunchbreak. Look at SMs splitting up their lunch break so one can always facilitate the rehearsal at 2pm. In an in-person rehearsal, always listen out for any important information that the creatives may discuss. And to be the conduit for information for them. Keep a note of who visits rehearsals for a considerable amount of time for COVID reasons. 

 

03/03/2021 

• Had this morning off and watched 'Its True, Its True, Its True: Artemisia on Trial' of which was a Breach Production by Director Billy Barrett and Writer Ellice Stevens. It was really interesting seeing how the theatre company approached Verbatim material and to see the lengths they are comfortable going to put the point across. 

• I wrote a biography to give to Ophir Westman (Student Producer) for the programme of 'Jackal Run' when it airs. My biography is: 

' Eve Clayton is a student in her second year of Theatre Technology in the Production Arts course at Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Eve is part of the Stage Management team on the drama ‘Jackal Run’ as part of her elective. Previously, Eve has worked on Guildhall productions of ‘Opera; Triple Bill’ and the drama ‘Pod’ as both Production Assistant and Camera Operator. Eve was also Stage Electrician at the Palladiums ‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat’ (2019) for three months prior to joining Guildhall.'

• Ophir then messaged me saying that I didn't need to give him a biography, as I was just included in the message to see the email- which was a bit embarrasing. 

• Rehearsal starts at 14.00. I am the main host and SM for this as Devon is away with Stage Management Interviews. Learnt that Jide Okunola has booked a flight for Saturday which is great news. He will need to isolate for 10 days before coming into University. So he cannot come in until the 17th of March. Had a discussion with writer Ellice Stevens about the call for tomorrow and learnt that everyone was present in the morning however Sonny Pilgrem had issues with Wifi. 

• I sent out the Rehearsal Call for Thursday 4th March

• Sent an email to Jide Okunola explaining the rehearsal call as it states 'full cast' in the morning but that doesnt actually include him. 

• Sent out an email stating that there are no notes from today.

• Started creating a To-do list for Monday for the SM team, to make sure we don't miss anything. 

• Put the recording of todays performances into teams and notified the creatives.  

• Had an SM Catch-up meeting including Anna Reid at 17.15. Anna shared her screen with us to help illustrate what she will be talking about. We learnt more about her, her career and creative process. When it comes to presenting her with prop ideas she personally like slideshows as well and to have not just the picture but prices and retailer with it. She discussed what shes sees for in a Stage Manager when selecting props- such as knowledge on where the prop came from in the narrative, what character uses it and its purpose. She also mentioned that sometimes asking for references/moodboards from designers is a great starting point when looking at sourcing things. Furthermore, understanding the script and the narrative inside-and-out is really important. Anna Reid loves it when an SM has a deep emotional connection to the story and is just as passionate to the design- it can really help push the design futher. Lastly, its okay for a prop to be rejected by a designer, as that process of seeing something a designer doesnt like is really helpful for them too. On the side I have included the two moodboards that inspired me the most from Anna. I'm not entirely sure why but the more I understand/hear about the Spy Cops incident- these images make the most sense. Especially when it came to the settings surrounding the victims. 

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04/03/2021 

• Meeting for everyone at 10.00. Alyth Ross didnt show up and tried several attempts to get in contact with her. We also recorded the meeting for both her and Jide Okunola. 

• Me and Devon have nothing planned for the rest of the day as the actors are having independant study. However both forgot that the Director and Writer cant start zoom meetings as they're not hosts. I was unavailable but luckily Devon got it resolved in the end. 

• Lesson is Excel Spreadsheeting at 4.15 with Robert Coupe. What I learnt was: 

1) If dealing with Budget- select columns that will include money and change the data to Currency above the numbers section on the home page. 

2) Start you table a few cells down to make space for additional information such as; the header, your name, Budget price, Total Spent and what is left over. 

3) Headers should include: Date/Item/Source/Who/Gross/Vat/Net/Progress/Notes 

4) You can make each column the same width by selecting several columns and draggind the width with your cursor. 

5) VAT= 20%. VAT needs to be in a ratio format for Excel so that would be 1:2. 

6) Gross is how much the item costs

7) To find out VAT you need to type in =SUM(gross - net) 

8) To find out Net you need to type in =(gross/1.2)

9) Once you are able to know these formulas, and the formula is copy and pasted into every cell for that column- any gross price can be inputted both Net and Vat will all be automatically calculated. 

10) To find out total spent: =SUM(select all gross columns) 

11) To find out what budget is left: =SUM(Budget-total spent) 

12) To make a drop down column, you will need to make a separate sheet containing the kind of list you want to see when the drop down appears. Then select the cell you want the drop down to be on the intended sheet and select data>data validation>allow>list>click source>click navigation pane. Go to the other sheet with the list you made, select the list and the cell numbers will appear in the data validation box. Press enter. A drop down will appear in the cell you intended and this can now be copy and pasted into all the cells that you wish. 

13) Conditional Formatting can make the table useful colour wise. Go to Conditional Formatting on the home page>new rule>format only cells that contain>specific text>containing(what ever you like)>format (however you like). This can put peoples names in a certain colour, it can make text change colour if its given a limit like budget etc. Its just a really helpful tool visually. 

14) When it comes to printing, you can go to view>page layout and it will show what it should look like when it is printed. 

15) Before printing, its better to highlight what you want printed the go to>print selection>fit sheet on one page. 

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05/03/2021 

• Meeting with the actors at 10.00. Alyth Ross was a bit late again today but she eventually made it. Devon read through the COVID policy before the break at 10.30, I also added that people shouldnt be worried about making others uncomfortable to come in as everyone knows the risks and its their decision to come in. 

• We all re-grouped at quarter past and we made break out rooms for the actors to quickly rehearse for their sharing session. 

• At 11.30, we let in the PA Students and staff that are working on the project into the zoom call. Billy just gave an introduction into the kind of performances that is a possibility- such as multiple monologues and headphone work; where the actor is saying verbatim exactly how it was said.  First the actors showed some performances that they have been preparing. This was primarily to show the other Production Arts students the possible potential for what the final outcome could be. Whilst they performed their segments, I got out some pens and paper and drew what I imagined the final product could be like. Allegra Totaro-Wainwirght and Mary Deakes from Design Realisation went on to show the kind of research they have been looking into for the set design/enviroment these could be potentially set in. Such as working mans pubs, police offices, interrogation rooms, galley kitchens, court rooms etc. I thought they hit the nail right on the head with the research as it correlates perfectly to what I was invisioning. Emma Peace and Imogen Leather from Costume then went next and went through all of the period styles in fashion from the 70s to the naughties. I also loved what they looked up, and feel like what ever we end up going with stylisticly its going be really nice and cohesive. LX and Video didnt have anything to share. Adi Currie from sound did say that they have been working on a spotify playlist to potentially be played in the background of some monologues. 

• After the sharing session, I emailed Robert Coupe (SM Staff) as I still have an issue with the conditional formatting in Excel. I ended up downloading excel as it would be easier to have that for this allocation anyway. When I go to Conditional Formatting>New Rule, there should be a list of options of what to format but it didnt appear. Robert discovered it was an issue with Mac computers and discovered if you select 'Classic' style, the lists will pop up. I managed to colour format the progress drop down boxes as well as mine and Devons names. 

• Writer Ellice Stevens emailed me and Devon with call sheet information for Monday through to Wednesday. So I created the rehearsal call for Monday 8th and Devon created an overview schedule for those three days as requested by the actors. I forgot to add the Covid Protocols that was requested by Gill Allen so I amended it and sent it out as a V2. I also emailed to say that there was no rehearsal notes from today. I sent Gill Allen a list of names of the production arts students in Jackal Run for the programme. 

• Had a SM Meeting at 16.30 to discuss going back into the building next week. We mainly talked about Covid protocols and how we felt about going back next week, as well as any updates on how the rehearsals are going. Also discussed about putting on a 'Stage Manager mask' and putting up a confident front and projecting your voice to make yourself known in the rehearsal space. There is a possibility that the four of us could have Teaching Room 2 as our SM Production Office when in Milton Court. It might also be a good idea for me and Devon to chase up any kind of script that Writer Ellice Stevnes has been working on. Furthermore, as our rehearsal ends at 1.30, we have 30 minutes to get the theatre cleaned and turned around for 'All your houses' rehearsal at 2pm. This means we'll need to evacuate the space as soon as possible to maximise our time. Lastly, Devon will be incharge of the Soldo Cards for any petty cash purchases, as I had pretty bad luck with it last time as Production Assistant. 

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