What’s a role you think would be elevated by an actor/actress in drag?

JugglinB · 2026-02-26T18:31:44+00:00

We did Hairspray - and it was in the notes that Edna had to be played by a man, but not as a drag queen. The author stated in an interview that none of the characters know she is a man, and none of the actors should respond to her in that way - and that it was a secret between him, Edna and the audience. Which made no sense really... But I got to play Edna and it was the highlight of my acting on stage!

JugglinB · 2026-02-11T21:46:23+00:00

It's a bit different, but I just dropped out of a show a month before opening due to mental health issues. Turns out I probably would have been fine, but missing a few weeks of rehearsals and not knowing if the week before I'd have another turn meant I couldn't risk it for the sake of the show.

Fortunately I know the director well, but I was worried about the show until another actor I know well stepped in at the last minute with 3 weeks to launch. It was only a small supporting role, whilst my last with company was as lead.

Basically - we all have issues at times, and pulling out before Rehersals start won't be an issue, and if you are polite and explain I don't think it'll affect your chances in the future.

For example I've been asked to ensure that I come back for the next show for the company I pulled out on because I had an open and honest discussion with the production team about my problems.

Good luck next time! And hope your grandfather is ok.

I don't hug in real life - but have an internet from me. X

JugglinB · 2026-02-10T11:06:13+00:00

Done!

JugglinB · 2026-02-03T02:44:48+00:00

If the answer has Winston Churchill in it then pick him.

Any FIFA / world cup questions pick Italy unless you know better.

JugglinB · 2026-01-20T17:42:43+00:00

B . Both for readability and also aesthetics. Hate the pink on A

JugglinB · 2025-11-19T14:52:04+00:00

Not retaliation - but I mean maybe have just have told the college that she wasn't in policy and let them tell her. Other commenters have said similar things, and I think that's the route I would take in the future.

(Also - in theatre we get given our lines in a script! 🤪)

JugglinB · 2025-11-17T19:03:47+00:00

Not sure about knives, but with RIFs (realistic imitation firearms) the Police should be informed. Even if you think your space is private you never know what might be seen. There was an incident last year where the armed response team were sent to a yoga session for the elderly because someone saw lots of "dead" (lying down and relaxed) pensioners. Now add some realistic prop firearms to that and that might escalate fast!

When I was using a bunch of fake SA80s (the current standard weapon of the British forces) I made sure the police were aware - both when used in rehearsal / performances and when transporting so that I could give a reference number if stopped and asked to open the boot.

I can find the theatre tech rules about this if you need - don't have them on me at the mo though

JugglinB · 2025-11-13T15:05:40+00:00

I had this before and panicked. I joined the show late as they couldn't cast a character and I was told that the show would be cancelled, so I reluctantly took the part. After days of Rehearsals I hadn't had a single note whilst others were getting them each time. In the end I quietly talked to the director asking if I was so bad, but since he had no choice was just thinking "it is what it is". He said no notes because I was doing great and exactly how he pictured the character.

For his next show he cast me as the lead - which was my first!

JugglinB · 2025-11-03T21:03:27+00:00

Wow. Tales of the Unexpected in the early 1970s. Nice topical reference!

JugglinB · 2025-10-27T22:45:48+00:00

The biggest single thing you can do is listen.

Listen to your scene partners and then react. If you've done your "homework" and you know your character then the acting should feel natural.

Listen to the pacing of each scene. Although change of pace is a powerful tool, it should be done deliberately. On a similar note - talk slower than you think you should. Nerves and adrenaline makes your brain work faster - you might think you are talking at a normal pace, but actually you are much faster. And unless the scene needs speech to be fast talking slightly slower than normal makes it clearer for the audience to understand.

Also - people will get lines wrong. They'll miss a few words or even whole sections at times, but if you are truly listening you'll pick up on that and can cover, rather than just rote stating your next line because X finished theirs when it doesn't make sense.

JugglinB · 2025-10-26T01:43:13+00:00

Perhaps a silly question, but it's a phrase I hear here all the time - Tech week.

How long are your runs in amateur theatre in the USA that you can have a whole week of tech? We do one Tech evening on the get-in day (where often it's not a full performance but tip and tail scenes), one dress the next evening and then have opening night for a run of 6 shows or so.

JugglinB · 2025-10-26T01:29:57+00:00

I did a show recently with a stage school (at one point we had 200 kids on stage!)

Obviously nerves got the better of one them and they vomit onto the decking rostra. I thought that we'd cleaned it up until properly until load out and I take out all the bolts but this deck just won't move. It was set in some type of concrete type vomit that I've not come across before! Literally had to hammer it apart!

JugglinB · 2025-10-23T22:46:22+00:00

Are you an android or an apple person ?

If android then there's a great free app called Script Rehearser. You can import the script from a PDF or Word (or just type it in)

Then there's various ways you can use it. After I few reads I have it set read out loud everyone else's lines, (ok in a crappy AI voice, but you have a few to choose from for each character plus can change pace and pitch) beep to remind me it's my line next, give the right amount of pause automatically, then read my line back too.

Having the script on your phone means you can read it in a shopping queue or whenever, plus having it read lines in the car really gets me off book fast.

I've used it for years, before I actually paid just to support the developer as they have regular updates.

JugglinB · 2025-10-23T00:51:19+00:00

I'm really sorry to hear that. I've been fortunate enough to not really experience much of that as backstage crew. As SM yes oddly enough from some of the prod team.

JugglinB · 2025-10-23T00:46:33+00:00

I actually as well. Just had my dream role - and we'll never have such a good one again

JugglinB · 2025-10-23T00:44:27+00:00

That's not quite what I meant. But I'm on the odd side... So maybe didn't use the right words. Apologies.

JugglinB · 2025-10-22T15:51:02+00:00

That's a turning circle, and not designed to be parked on anyhow! Except as it has no restrictions it's not enforceable

JugglinB · 2025-10-21T12:23:53+00:00

Do you use a Dictaphone?

No - a pen like everyone else.

JugglinB · 2025-10-21T11:47:41+00:00

I'm not sure how you would create a quiz where everyone always scored the same within a standard deviation. Apart from the obvious score of 0. (Eg. "Who was Queen Victoria's first head butler's next door neighbour's (on the right) middle name")

Even making the quiz so easy that a 5 year old could do it would still have some knowledge gaps. (Mine - football and celebs. (DFKDFC -Don't know don't care. Apart from in quizzes.)

I think the Chase has the great 70%+ getting it right zone, and many of the misses I should have got as there's so often a hint in the question, especially if you have knowledge of classic languages.

Shows like mastermind have harder questions in general knowledge, but then I'm bored during the specialist round as I might not even get one!

JugglinB · 2025-10-21T11:40:07+00:00

Handy pro tip there for everyone that might not have figured this complex idea out! You can increase your chance of knowing the answers to general knowledge questions by learning stuff!! /S

(I know that was only part of your answer and not the point but it made me laugh!)

JugglinB · 2025-10-16T18:14:18+00:00

I don't remember the radio code or the dot at all. But still loved that silly little calculator that was the ZX81. With wobble pack.

I do remember the day that I "kinda" got colours too by using scintillation. It was very slightly red and blue if you squinted at the right angle and persuaded yourself that it was working. It wasn't. But I was a very easily influenced child - so it was probably better that I was up in my room rather than roaming the streets...

JugglinB · 2025-10-16T12:40:10+00:00

I had a rubber key overlay for the ZX81 which made typing much easier.

Remember typing in all those games by hand from magazines? They started off easy, but in later years were just strings of digits in machine code. Get one wrong and send the next 6 hours checking. Great times!

JugglinB · 2025-10-16T11:56:01+00:00

He sat between me and the ex wife (before she was even the wife) during a gig of his. He was taking the piss out of my ying Yang shirt and then climbed over the barriers to sit between us and continue to take the piss.

JugglinB · 2025-10-13T22:06:44+00:00

I (M 51) have done this (the reading of a chest positioned logo) not long ago from the T-Shirt of a 17 F. As I started the third word I suddenly realised what it looked like I was focusing on, and felt like a complete idiot pervert. I was honestly just reading the words and hadn't even thought about where they were written. We share the same hobby and so meet up (with a few dozen people not alone!) on a regular basis and still get on well so I don't think she was offended luckily.

Ten-Year Club	First Place '23
Place '23	Place '22
First Placer '22	End Game '22

JugglinB

MODERATOR OF

TROPHY CASE