A Day in the Life at Peer Place
By Naomi Langford
Hello! I’m Naomi Langford, last year I was a training actor with Peer Productions as part of their Peer Actor Development programme, and I’ve recently returned as the new arts assistant. I’m excited to have this opportunity to contribute and learn about the theatre-making process in the friendly, supportive environment of the Peer team as I help with prop-making, assistant directing, Generation Girls facilitation, understudying, and proofreading… I’m lucky to experience a wide range of all the weird and wonderful things that happen behind the scenes at Peer!
This is a look into my (not-quite-so typical) day at Peer Productions.
9:15
I arrive and greet everyone before going through to the back rehearsal room. In here there is a table set up with air-dry clay, glue, paintbrushes, newspaper and two Greek Chorus masks which I hope have not stuck to their moulds. I’m making proto-type masks for Antigone, soon to be staged at the Buzz Theatre. The actors will make their own chorus masks to match their identity as characters in the ensemble. To understand the process and help the actors design their own character masks, I’m going through the process of sculpting the design in air-dry clay, allowing it to dry before smothering it in Vaseline and building layers of papier-mâché over the top. Once the papier-mâché structure is removed from the clay base, this should give me a lightweight and robust half-mask.
Today, as I had feared, mask number one (with a glaring, angry expression) is reluctant to be removed from his clay base. I gradually prise it away with some determination and note down to use more Vaseline next time to avoid this problem. The whole process is about learning as I go along. Now I need to add a second layer of paper on the inside of the mask for strength, and think about decorating… what if we used some watered-down air-dry clay for an ancient, sculpted, stone effect?
11:00
Rehearsals have started in the neighbouring rooms, and I need to quietly pass through to get some materials. As I tiptoe round the back carrying cups of watered-down PVA, I catch glimpses of performances taking shape. The Antigone group are working on movement as a chorus, exploring moving as one body in their white rehearsal masks. It’s mesmerising to watch. Through to the Hidden rehearsal room, where there is a lot of laughter as the cast work with Nina on blocking the Pandora scene, a moment of comic relief in the show which always feels creative and fun to perform, with freedom to improvise and play. I visit the costume cupboard to organise potential costumes for the Hidden cast. It’s fun to find costumes we used last year and see how they will fit into the new production. There are so many memories attached to all the different items, from Chloe’s hat and her Mum’s butterfly dress to Awkward Bob’s trusty raincoat.
Preparing for the upcoming tour brings back a rush of memories from the recording of Hidden - The Digital Package during the COVID-19 lockdown, another project that I was involved in with Peer. I also wrote a blog about that filming process, and all the challenges that came with putting the show together during a lockdown, which you can read here. After all the turbulence of the last few years, it’s nice to be looking forward to sending a show out on tour again!
13:00
At lunchtime I hear about what everyone else has been up to this morning, Alice booking Hidden tours to schools, Rosie developing the new Generation Guys project, Nina and Suzanne’s rehearsals, and Nick editing the second series of 50 Days: Alone Together. It’s exciting to be part of the Peer team in their first year in the new Peer Place. It feels like a new chapter, and there are so many new and interesting projects in development.
In the afternoon I join Hidden rehearsals. Nina takes the actors Sophia and Joe to a cafe in preparation for the key scene where Hayley opens up to Matt about her self-harm in a coffee shop. It’s important to understand the atmosphere and situation before bringing the scene into rehearsals. Meanwhile, I support Bronwyn and Alex with staging the scene focused on the complex, manipulative friendship between their characters Emily and Sophia. Having acted in this scene last year, I find it interesting and refreshing to see a new interpretation.
The actors find moments of nuance, comedy and connection between the characters which are fascinating to see coming together. It’s great to have this time set aside to focus on individual scenes, characters, and relationships before bringing the whole piece together and making fixed decisions about the staging. The cast are brilliant for supporting me whenever I step in for a missing cast-member, filling me in on new decisions on blocking and choreography.
16:00
I finish my day by preparing the bright pink Generation Girls trolley with equipment needed for this week’s workshop on sex education. As I wave goodbye to everyone and wheel the vibrant trolley behind me on my way to the station, I’m not sure what my day tomorrow will involve. I could be stepping in as an understudy in Hidden or painting set pieces.
Theatre at the moment is unpredictable. As mentioned above, last year we adapted by making digital content, including plays over Zoom and the Digital Hidden package. For now though, we’re so lucky to be completely back in the room, and able to tour productions like Hidden to local schools schools in person.
After worrying for the future of theatre during the pandemic, I feel optimistic seeing all the new ideas and projects in development at Peer, and I’m excited to be a part of them!