Bangkok Diary

13th September

The optimism about success with the lighting equipment was short-lived. All went well to start with and John Kearney, Stage Manager, managed to get the equipment checked in and it was taken down the excess baggage ramp to a huge sigh of relief from all. John had promised to buy the whole party a drink if all went according to plan but as I said – success was short lived. A message soon came back up that the equipment was too heavy and above EU lifting limits and the baggage handlers were refusing to load it. Frantic telephone conversations took place across the Continents but in the end we admitted defeat at 1am local time.

The most important piece of equipment, the Lighting Board was accepted but not the Moving Lights. I discussed with Andy Rushton, Chief Electrician, whether he could manage without them and although he said he could if he had to, I had been so impressed by the quality of the Hungarian National Opera performance, and that I didn’t want to risk us not giving the best performance possible. We eventually arranged that our usual freight company would have them sent Air Cargo and at vast expense, they will arrive in Bangkok tomorrow by Qantas. I also have to worry about how to get them back to the UK as quickly as possible as we need all the equipment for Milton Keynes the week after we return from Bangkok.

On a more positive note, all is going well at the theatre and despite discrepancies between the technical plans provided and reality, our Technicians have managed to keep on schedule. Work has stopped for the day now to prepare for tonight’s concert by the Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra. Our Technicians are having a well earned rest (or beer) in preparation for some serious work tomorrow when we will finish building the set and hopefully get the revolve working. I am pleased to be going to see the Concert tonight, with John Pryce-Jones, our Music Director and will report on the programme tomorrow.

John’s rehearsal with the orchestra went very well yesterday and I was very impressed with the huge sound that they made. There are further rehearsals on Thursday and I have every confidence they will sound stunning on opening night on Friday.

Today the remainder of the company will travel from Leeds to Bangkok, including dancers, Ballet Staff, Wardrobe and Wigs staff and Company Manager, John Duncan, keeping everybody in order. I hope they will have a less eventful night than last.

Mark Skipper
Northern Ballet Theatre Chief Executive