Noises Off

by Michael Frayn
Talisman Theatre Company, May 2007
Director: Gus MacDonald

My second time around at this play, one of the funniest ever written. Last time (at the Loft in 1991) I played the put-upon stage manager, Tim; this time I’m the harassed director, Lloyd. In another 20 years or so I shall probably be playing Selsdon, the befuddled, drink-sodden elderly actor.

In this shot, I’m trying to inspire my cast to great things at the dress rehearsal of Nothing On, the play within the play. Trying to stay awake are Kenny Robinson (Garry), Jo Foskett (Brooke) and (on the sofa) Mary MacDonald (Dotty), James Harris (Freddie) and Julia Donoghue (Belinda).

Starting to lose it with Jo.

Many people thought that Noises Off could never be produced at the Talisman, owing to the unique requirements of the set. John Ellam proved them wrong with a remarkable feat of design and construction: nine entrances and exits and a gallery level, all incorporated into a full-width set that – in Act Two – revolves through 180 degrees to show the action from behind.

Cast and director lose the will to live as the dress rehearsal continues past 1am. Mark Docker (Tim) is behind the sofa; Jeremy Heynes (Selsdon) is sitting on the stairs.

Proving that they always come in threes: me, Jeremy and Mark in Act Three, with Kenny sat on the stairs unable to believe his eyes.

Because there was only a few centimetres’ clearance between the top of the revolving set and the lighting bars, the set could not be lit from above as is normal. Mark Rowbotham matched the ingenuity of John’s set design with a lighting plot that allowed the action to be lit almost entirely from the front.