When The World Turned Upside Down

What a special occasion this was – an evening I thought would never come – actually sitting in a theatre watching live entertainment!

After 17 months of theatrical inactivity, I was at last able to enjoy what I love best – yes, I was wearing face mask and socially distanced from other audience members – but here we were – back where we belong!

Having had their 2020 production of ‘Annie’ and three subsequent shows cancelled at lockdown, they didn’t waste any time in planning a virtual production under the banner ‘LIDOS@Home’ – this proved so successful that they were invited to repeat this for the ‘Virtual’ NODA Gala Weekend – this was viewed by many NODA members and very well received.

By way of assistance from the Carriageworks Theatre and Leeds City Council, they have now been able to perform ‘live’ and at the same time, ‘stream’ to the general public in the comfort of their own homes.

The premise of the show was to demonstrate, through song and dance, how LIDOS members coped during the long lockdown, linked together by two presenters, Emma Thomson and Jennifer Winstanley. Some members of the company performed on-stage ‘live’ in front of a video screen showing filmed excerpts. The show covered a huge range, from the very first days of lockdown; loneliness, boredom and home schooling (very amusing!). Locations were many and varied for the filmed sequences – gardens, fields, bedrooms, sitting rooms and even a road! – all coupled with appropriate song and dance, catching the moods superbly. 

Making her directorial debut for LIDOS, Emma Thomson must have had a mammoth task managing rehearsals over Zoom and organisation in the theatre. All this she did superbly with style. She had strong support from Robert Sanders as Musical Director and the incredible team of Emma Tempest and Donna Wells as choreographers – the whole package was joyous!!

More than ever, the technical team had worked very hard to get the virtual show literally, ‘up and running’! Under the experienced Ian Thomson as Stage 

Manager, we had Lighting from Adam Moore, Live Sound from Ian Thomson, Streamed Sound from Sam Woodall, Audio Visual/ Streaming from Chris Beardwell. The Video Editors were Chris, Robert Sanders, James Sidgwick and Ian Thomson. They really deserved huge congratulations, as so much of the show depended on their expertise.

LIDOS now have an amazing group of extremely strong and talented singers – all principals in their own right – and I see that they also have some up-and-coming stars in their Junior Cast! I wish I had the space to name you all but know that you were all stunning!

This was just a brilliant show and so on side for dispelling our lockdown blues – just one last mention – the array of pets who managed to get into shot during filming – you could almost hear them say ‘what are these humans doing now?’ Hilarious!

Well done to you all for your talent, perseverance and fortitude for keeping theatre going – The Show DID Go On!!

Congratulations and very best wishes for your future plans!

 

 

 

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