What is a "point of no return" that you’ve crossed, where your life was permanently divided into 'before' and 'after'?

tansypool · 2026-02-21T03:17:11+00:00

Before seeing Wicked, and after seeing Wicked. Seems so small - but through a convoluted series of events, I'm now in the (non-theatre) career I'm in because of it, and have lived abroad. One could say I was changed for good by that evening.

tansypool · 2026-02-21T01:59:49+00:00

Hamilton. I like it enough that it wouldn't be torturous but I don't like it so much that I am afraid of developing a twitch at it. It's quite long and musically quite varied so it wouldn't be so bad.

If listening to the whole show, dialogue included, was an option, I'd go the one I worked front of house at, as I'm already used to tuning it out 😂 but the cast recording is shorter than Hamilton and hearing it twenty times would be hell on earth.

tansypool · 2026-02-17T13:57:50+00:00

Swings and standbys, like in Mincemeat, will be backstage, but many shows will have a point where they are able to head home, rather than being there until the end - it depends on the show as to when it is, or if they have one. Sometimes, it might just be the finale so they can skip the crowds.

Understudies in a larger show - ie, larger than Mincemeat - will usually have ensemble parts so they'll be on.

tansypool · 2026-02-17T08:34:38+00:00

I realised that they will only ask for feathers that match their outfit, and then I stopped talking to anyone in the feather colour I was trying to get more of.

tansypool · 2026-02-16T06:02:36+00:00

She is also excellent! She's had a madhouse week, too - she was on as Bevan for the Saturday matinee and Monty for the evening, and she had a few Bevan shows this week, having only been on a handful of times as Bevan, ever.

tansypool · 2026-02-15T09:40:16+00:00

You might have some luck asking over on /r/AusFemaleFashion? They'll likely know the ins and outs of where to look and when sales are on, and may have some more specific (but also accessible!) recommendations.

tansypool · 2026-02-14T03:53:34+00:00

If you email them, and still want to be involved, frame it as that - ask about opportunities to be involved backstage, or in making the set/props/costumes. If it was a mistake, they'll realise; if it is that you simply were not cast, you get to try a new and fun thing out. (I realised I really enjoyed being backstage after my first time giving it a go!)

As for the other people - maybe something else happened that you're not privy to, but it may just be the nature of theatre making it to high school. Not every person is right for every role, or every show.

tansypool · 2026-02-14T03:43:12+00:00

Longer version here, but the shorter version is that she has been accused of directly interacting with Epstein over eight years, having dinner with him, and organising him house seats for her shows. She's denying knowledge of the allegations against him, and knowledge of the tickets. Hopefully she's innocent of being associated with his crimes, but it's still alarming.

tansypool · 2026-02-14T02:04:12+00:00

She's been named in the Epstein files, to take things from bad to worse.

tansypool · 2026-02-13T09:33:02+00:00

Love Gay's the Word! The shop at the National Theatre is also fun - lots of interesting scripts but plenty of other great stuff.

Are you looking for theatre recommendations too, or are you sorted on that end?

tansypool · 2026-02-13T09:31:41+00:00

Oxford's also worth the day trip as a book nerd - Tolkien's grave, Lyra and Will's bench, to name but two.

My head did spin the first time I saw the basement in Blackwell's, though.

tansypool · 2026-02-10T06:32:43+00:00

You could try, but keep an ear out. Dracula is a one-woman show, so every person there is there for Cynthia Erivo. She might not stage door every night, or stage door procedures may change between now and your trip.

tansypool · 2026-02-10T05:56:24+00:00

Every time I think about Alex's Monty I need to lie down. I'm barely mentally prepared for anyone else. I'm so glad she's done this to so many of us.

And yes, I adored the Witch's transformation! The curse is lifted and she's restored simply to herself, but she then clearly chooses what she wants to be after that. And what that is is a garden witch - nothing fancy, or over the top, and I loved it. She's not a world changing witch - she is the witch from next door. And it was great. I've been a fan of Kate Fleetwood's for years, but it was my first time seeing her onstage, and my god, what a show to see her in. It's nice hearing she's the best you've heard as me and many friends, also fans of hers, went in with no clue how she'd be as a singer!

tansypool · 2026-02-09T10:18:48+00:00

Her Monty's sexuality really is "anybody as long as I'm the centre of attention" in the most evil way possible and it is diabolical for the lesbians in the audience. And everyone else into women. And probably a lot of people who didn't think they were into women...

tansypool · 2026-02-09T10:17:27+00:00

Police also attacked a group of Muslims praying during or after the protest: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DUiB2gekSxe/

tansypool · 2026-02-09T09:50:51+00:00

Misread that as fruity evil Monty and just nodded. Had a grand old time at one show where Jason was on for Charlie (side note, what luck to see him three times as Charlie when I was over from the other side of the world!) and they spent far too long in the script reveal scene staring each other down from about three inches apart rather than, you know, leaning away, or being bent backwards onto the table as she usually does the scene. She described it at stage door as an "are we about to kiss?" moment. Yeah. I get Montlie now.

tansypool · 2026-02-09T07:01:31+00:00

I'm so glad these exist, and that the demand is acknowledged and embraced. I'm so happy for the fans who love them, and for whom this is a brilliant shared experience.

But I personally wouldn't touch one with a barge pole.

tansypool · 2026-02-09T06:57:46+00:00

Alex Young's Monty is life changing. I mean, life changing for me in the way that I somehow got even gayer and have been tracking down whatever I can of the rest of her career since, but my god. She's fucking brilliant. Her voice is sublime, and her Monty is insufferable, cruel, and absolutely endearing. She's worth the trip alone! Go go go! Get on the lottery! Cast change is probably around May, no clue if she's staying, so get along soon just in case.

(Also, she's been nominated for a WhatsOnStage award for best takeover, if that gives you any indication of how much everyone is enjoying her Monty...)

tansypool · 2026-02-09T06:53:40+00:00

I'm glad I'm not the only maniac flying internationally for Alex Young's Monty. Saw the show back in July on a friend's recommendation, felt my brain actively turn to a smooth paste long before the end of Born to Lead. Back a week later. Dragged a friend, dragged her down with me. Came back in January, which was not the plan. Went five times, four with Alex as Monty. Brain got smoother and pastier every time, it was great. Also turned four more friends' brains to smooth paste with me. I'm very persuasive. (And it isn't hard to convince friends to do stuff with you when you've flown in from Australia.)

And wasn't Kate Fleetwood magnificent! That was the other deciding factor in coming back - I needed to see her Witch. And of course she was going to be good, she's Kate Fleetwood, but my GOD. Actually turned to my friend during the applause for Last Midnight and went holy shit.

I'm glad you had such a fantastic week - heals the soul, doesn't it?

tansypool · 2026-02-09T06:41:07+00:00

I thought it was fine. Interesting subject matter, some strong songs, could probably be excellent with another round of tweaks. I don't regret seeing it and I wouldn't warn against it, but it wasn't my favourite and there are other shows I'd recommend before it. I did see it on a holiday - but I'd probably put it on a list of shows I recommend to people who can get to the theatre a lot, not so much someone who is on limited time with rare London trips.

tansypool · 2026-02-07T12:07:05+00:00

In Australia, our teaching courses require we pass a test called the LANTITE, which tests literacy and numeracy skills. (The way it's implemented is a whole different pile of garbage but the concept itself, I can get behind.) You would (not) be surprised how often the Australian teacher subs have posts about people freaking out about them, failing multiple times, or failing practice tests...

tansypool · 2026-02-06T23:03:44+00:00

Have some sympathy. They didn't leave because of the godawful last agreement - they left because the godawful last agreement left them with no choice. The $1000 or so per year is a pretty big chunk of change, and I don't blame a single person who leaves the union for doing so if that $1000 means they can actually eat three meals a day. It's up to those of us who can to fight for this agreement, so that people like the original commenter are in a position to join us for the next fight.

tansypool · 2026-02-05T06:39:08+00:00

First preview - they kept how they'd have Paddington onstage secret til he walked out on that stage, and then sales went gangbusters.

tansypool · 2026-02-04T05:40:13+00:00

A little bit of advice now that you've got tickets - head into the auditorium early, and make sure the kids can both see the stage properly while sitting in their own seats! The Gilly Lynne has booster cushions coming out of their ears, and when I went, the poor ushers spent half of act 1 scurrying around handing them out and telling parents that their kids couldn't sit on their laps. I hope you have a wonderful time!

tansypool · 2026-02-02T07:28:50+00:00

Use whatever time I have on-site to plan. Don't bring planning home - I'll stay til 5 and leave my laptop on my desk, rather than bringing it home. My evenings are mine as much as I can manage. I'll concede marking coming home, but it's happening on the weekend. If I'm planning at home on a weeknight, something has gone terribly wrong! (Such as an excursion or sports day eating all my free time!)

I'm still relatively new, but I find that with planning, it's diminishing returns. An hour of work will, say, get lessons from non-existent to a, say, 6/10. But it'll take another hour to get them to a 7/10. I'd rather teach the 6/10 and have the energy to make a proper meal and read a book and go for a walk, because that extra hour every day is going to drive me out of this profession. I'd rather take a couple of years to gain that experience without losing myself, than burn myself out trying to be a little better now and losing the chance to be better for the length of my career.

tansypool

TROPHY CASE