Do you ever think video blogs are a bit like buses?  You wait ages for one to turn up and then two or three come along in rapid succession….?

We have delved into our archives – in actual fact only a couple of weeks ago but so much has happened along the Love Never Dies production process that it seems like AGES – to bring you a clip of the landmark day when Ramin Karimloo, our Phantom, met his make up, wig and mask for the first time.  We were there to capture the moment on our trusty Flip camera to try and give you a little teaser into what the Phantom now looks like.

So let’s go back to the end of January as the cast near the end of their stint in the rehearsal space and prepare to move into the Adelphi… and in another West End theatre a specialist team gather to create the Phantom’s look…

In our previous Disfiguring the Phantom blog post you will have seen the first stage in the process to create the make up and prosthetics which will transform Ramin into the Phantom.

This week saw the culmination of all the effort by Neill Girton, who made the prosthetics,  Naomi Donne, who has created the make up, Campbell Young, the Wigs Supervisor for the show and Ivo Coveney who has created the Phantom’s iconic mask.  For the first time all the team gathered in a dressing room at The Palace Theatre with Ramin, to apply their handiwork for the first time.  Neill prepared Ramin and began applying the prosthetics.  For Love Never Dies the prosthetics will be made in silicone rather than the foam used for The Phantom of the Opera.  This material – although slightly heavier than foam – allows the actor much more freedom for facial expression and also looks much more “skin like” in texture.

As Neill worked he gave a running commentary on the process so that Sandra O’Brien (Biddie) who will be Wigs Mistress on Love Never Dies and Debbie Goodship (Lolly) her Deputy, could take notes and photographs.   The process at this early stage takes well over an hour, but Biddie and Lolly are confident that over time they will be able to complete the make up in around 45 minutes.  Before Naomi took over to put the finishing touches to the make up, Campbell stepped in to apply the wig and complete the transformation.  Then Ramin was helped into his costume and led to the stage so the final look could be tested under the lighting.  Oh… and sitting in the auditorium to witness this was Andrew Lloyd Webber, Director Jack O’Brien and key members of the creative and production team

Obviously it was a time of great excitement for all, as the months of hard work became a reality.  It is safe to say that everyone involved was thrilled by the result.

Check out our exclusive video clip for a little teaser of the make up process and a few words from Naomi and Campbell…

A couple of days later than usual, but here is the latest instalment in our weekly rehearsal update.

As the cast get ready for their first ever performance of Love Never Dies in front of an audience next week, we caught up with the often unsung heroes of the show – the understudies and swings – as they wait in the wings (or in this case, the auditorium!) for their moment in the spotlight…

I know we have talked about the electricity surrounding the show… but the scale of the buzz increased ten fold as the cast said farewell to their temporary rehearsal space and gathered at the Adelphi at the end of last week for the first time.  This marks a major landmark in the build up to first preview and the rehearsals gather momentum as the cast start to work through the show on the actual stage.

The auditorium was filled with technical, production, crew and make up personnel, pouring over dozens of computer screens at makeshift desks as everyone arrived and the intake of breath was audible.

Our regular bloggers Niamh Perry (Fleck) and Adam Pearce (Squelch), together with the third member of their trio, Jamie Reid-Quarrell (Gangle) fill us in on the initial reaction.  We also collared other members of the cast who are rendered almost speechless by the surroundings…and Head of Wigs and Make Up Sandra (aka Biddie) who talks about getting the Phantom into make up for the first time!

Hi, I’m Richard Linnell and I’m 12. I am one of the 6 boys who are playing the part of Gustave in Love Never Dies. Welcome to my first blog.

My first full cast rehearsal

10:00AM start at the rehearsal studio. This is the first day all the cast have met to run through so I was pretty nervous! I arrived and went up to the fourth floor. The first thing that I saw as I got out of the lift was a huge pile of pastries and cake, Yum! After watching everyone swam around the pastries we all went into the studio and sat down in the chairs that were set out and Andrew Lloyd Webber started to talk to us all. He introduced himself, Jack (our director), Simon (our musical director) and then we went around the room saying who we are and what we do. When it got to me I was quite nervous but once we had started all the nerves disappeared. Then Andrew told us how Love Never Dies came to be and then I met up with all the people that I knew from previous shows I have been in: Summer Strallen who is playing Meg Giry, who I knew from the Sound of Music where she played Maria and I played Kurt , Dean Chisnall who is in the ensemble, who played Prince Charming in my local Panto 2 years ago, where I was a juvenile dancer and Patrick Stanier one of our SMs here, who was the DSM at Waiting for Godot, where I played the boy earlier this year.

After the break we all sat down at tables to start the run through. I was sitting at the top table next to Joe (Raoul) with Sierra (Christine), Ramin (Phantom), Summer (Meg) and Liz (Madame Giry) on my right, Wow what a line up! As we went through the music I heard all the parts together for the first time and listened to all the scenes. We saw Bob Crowley’s brilliant set designs projected onto the big screen behind us and I realised how incredible, sophisticated, complex and beautiful the show is going to be. I sang my parts with the rest of the cast, which was very nerve racking but I think I did OK, and really enjoyed it. We had a break for lunch and I chatted with the other cast members, they are all so lovely. Funny thing, everyone seemed to have brought tuna fish and cucumber sandwiches to eat. After lunch we continued the run to the end of the show and finished at about 3:15pm.

I can’t say much as the plot, as it is a closely guarded secret, but I will say this, the press are right, this is Andrew’s best musical to date! To all you avid Phantom fans out there waiting for the twentieth of February with your tickets and wondering if it will be as good as The Phantom of the Opera, I can tell you this, it is even better. So hang in there because boy is this one is going to be a doosy!!

Until next time

Richard

Hello!

I’m Duncan and I am an Assistant Stage Manager on Love Never Dies. I’ve been asked to blog and tell you about what is happening backstage to mount ‘The Lord’s’ latest show. As the cast blogs are telling you, we are currently in the early stages of rehearsals.

In order to get the show rehearsed in time, we currently have three rehearsal studios and two production offices. Our main rehearsal studio matches the dimensions of the Adelphi stage and has a purpose-built stage area so that cast can get used to where the main set pieces are and see how the action and choreography will fit on the stage. Our second studio is mainly used for choreography sessions while the third studio is where the vocal calls take place to teach the cast the stunning new music for the show.

The stage management team is currently five-strong.  Our role during this early stage encompasses many different areas. Our main priority is to learn the show inside-out so that when we move to the theatre in February we can transfer the work done in the rehearsal studios onto the Adelphi stage. We also look after the creative team (who, being American, require a lot of coffee), the production teams (wardrobe & wigs, sound & lighting etc) and of course the actors.

As well as being present for the main rehearsals, the cast are also currently needed by the wardrobe and wigs departments so that they have time to finely-tune the fitting of all the magnificent costumes and wigs that are used in the show. These fittings, while essential, need to cause minimum disruption to the main creation process of the show. As such, daily scheduling meetings take place to work out who will be required where and when. The stage management team then co-ordinate the movement of the actors according to the schedule which (fingers crossed) allows everyone to carry on undisturbed.

The team also runs all of the rehearsal spaces which includes checking actors’ hours to ensure that they don’t work too long without a break, and setting any props that are required in each scene. During the early stages of the creation process we have to make notes on any new props that will be required and work out timings for scene transitions as well as teaching the cast how the set will be changing around them.

To say much more about what we are currently doing would start to reveal details about the show and therefore potentially spoil the surprise that our audiences will experience. However, in future posts I will say whatever I can about what the stage management team are doing to mount this new show.  I can guarantee that this show will be exciting, challenging and – most of all – fun for us to put on… as well as stunning for you to watch.

Hopefully, my next update will not be too far away. By my next post, I will have seen the set taking shape in the theatre and we should be progressing well with staging the show in the rehearsal studios. Until then, take care (and buy tickets!)

Duncan

Adam Pearce’s blog

Well, as Miss Fleck (aka Niamh Perry) has reported, yesterday was the Meet and Greet.

This is where almost every single person involved with the production from around the world all get together in one room and introduce themselves. There were cast, creative, wigs, wardrobe, casting, production, design, chaperones, marketing,  digital…the list goes on and on! So, we all sat down with tea, coffee, pastries, biscuits, everything you can imagine. Up steps the Lord to welcome us and he gives us the inside story on how he came up with the idea for the new piece.  He had been collaborating with a number of writers, but they just didn’t seem to work. Then he found a great team in – amongst others – Jack O’Brien, Jerry Mitchell, Bob Crowley, Ben Elton and Glenn Slater. Then Jack stood up and said a few words of inspiration. No matter what Jack talks about, you can’t help but be enthralled by his voice. I’m sure if he was even describing on how he opened a packet of crisps, your jaw would drop open and you would end up marvelling at the man!!

So we are making our way round the group, introducing ourselves. The Lord starts, then Jack, and we go round. I’m watching and trying to remember all the names and jobs, low and behold, it has come to my line. This is where I start to panic. I am 5 people away and I have stupidly just taken a giant mouthful of pecan Danish!!! So I’m chewing and chewing… Now 3 away… 2 away… chewing chewing chewing!!!  1 away… I swallow just as I start to stand. Thank goodness!!!…. But then realise I have not put the rest of the Danish down and am now holding it out in full view of everyone (including the Lord) Stupidly, I say ‘Hello, I’m Adam Pearce, and I play Squelch’ and find myself holding the pastry like a glass and am doing a kind of toasting gesture with it!! And to make matters worse, I look around and nobody else is eating, nor even holding any food what so ever!!  How embarrassing!! The curse of the ‘chubby funster’!

With week 1 of rehearsals over, the cast have been put through their paces!! For this show, for most of the cast, strength is a big factor. So every morning they have been in 10am -12.30pm doing an intense physical warm up and work out, increasing lower body and upper body strength, core strength and stability, just immense!!! God bless them, and all their blood sweat and tears, but it will hopefully all be worth it!!

We are extremely blessed to have such an amazing group of people here who are going to become family for the next year ahead. Cast, company manager, stage management, music team, creative team, wardrobe, wigs, it’s going to be a great year! Good times!!

Niamh Perry’s blog

I’m back again to fill you all in on the past few days of rehearsals. Most of the cast began on Monday [4th January] morning but by next Monday [11th] the whole company from every department will come together for an eagerly anticipated “Meet and Greet”. Rumour has it that the design team have put together a powerpoint presentation… I can’t wait! We have already started to set a few dance numbers (which are looking fabulous) and you can sense the excitement in the air.

For me, finally starting to put this masterpiece into action has been pretty overwhelming. As I said in my last blog, I have been lucky enough to have been involved in Love Never Dies from the very first workshop over 18 months ago.

I have also been asked to fill you in on my back story. Many of you won’t know this, but I first met Andrew (The Lord) when I became a finalist for the BBC show “I’d Do Anything” which was the TV search for a new talent to play ‘Nancy’ in Oliver!, in which Andrew was the judge. And although I didn’t win (which I think is lucky, as I wouldn’t be involved in Love Never Dies!), I gained so much priceless support from the legend himself, Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber.

It is because of his support and encouragement that I am blessed with the chance to create the role of “Fleck.”

I had my wig fitting yesterday with an awesome man named Campbell who covered my head in cling film, sticky-tape and red marker- I looked hot- NOT. I’ve never worn a wig before so this is a new experience all together!

I must dash here, I have a costume fitting in a few hours. It feels like I’ve been waiting for this for months! The excitement is taking over. Maybe they will let me fill you in on a few secrets…

Till then, much love and too much excitement…

Niamh xx