Margaret Catchpole 2012: Thank You For The Music

My Margaret Catchpole Blog.

Having initially approached Matthew Linley about the potential of doing some work experience in the office at Eastern Angles, I never thought I would end up performing for twenty nights as a Violinist (and of course, the front of a horse!!) in Maragret Catchpole.

Over the rehearsal period, I was kept busy shadowing the Cast rehearsals, standing in for the occasional Revenue Man or Smuggler, and sometimes chipping in with what the chorus had rehearsed in the scene, hoping I had remembered it correctly! 

During rehearsals with the Community Chorus, word spread to the Musical Director, Jonathan Girling, that I was a violinist. Slowly having my appearances in the Chorus cut down, as Jonathon noted "She'll be playing violin in that scene", I gradually accepted that I was going to become a..... ‘Musician'! 

Having accepted my fate in the music corner (which turned out to be the highlight of the experience for me), back in the Sir John Mills Theatre, hidden away at a desk hidden by a curtain, I found Laura, the Costume Mistress. I then spent days sewing buttons, adjusting skirts and labelling costumes, as we brought them back from various outings to costume wardrobes- Panto heaven! I even found a whole box of Dr Martens! But Laura sternly told me they weren't in period, and we quickly left with the natural, earthy coloured skirts and bodices we had found that WERE in period.

However much I struggled selecting period costume, missing music cues, holding off laughter when hitting metal, and holding off tears every night at Will Laud's death... I had a great experience and have many wonderful stories to return to Uni with!

Megan Smith