Electrifying - Grease

Backstage Pass
A Day In The Life Of An
Actress – Siobhan Dillon
On this bright mid-November morning, after a lovely
relaxing Sunday off, I start my busy week ahead with
a cup of jasmine tea and a huge bowl of cinnamon
porridge (very Rock n’ Roll!). I jump onto a very overcrowded
London tube and arrive at my singing
lesson. We work on Sandy’s songs from Grease (as I
am her understudy) and also work on songs to
improve my vocal versatility and range, which I
believe is very important for me as I haven’t really
given enough time to mastering the art of singing!
Next location – acting workshop – fun! I leave my
acting improvisation class filled with enthusiasm,
strength and courage – as well as with a spiritually
clearer focus. Hungry again I stop by a salad bar for
my favourite duck and cucumber salad wrap and fruit
smoothie – lovely! Now, off to the theatre…
‘All cast members to the stage please to commence
your physical and vocal warm-up’ is the message for
us all blasted out of every speaker throughout the
theatre – everyone scurries about, pulling leg
warmers and dance trainers on. I grab my bottle of
water and head towards the stage.
Down the stairwell the atmosphere is alive and
electric with echoes of giggling and gossiping friends
sharing stories of their weekend activities and antics!
We bounce down more flights of stairs than any of us
care to think about - which are certainly easier going
down than climbing back up at the end of the
evening!
After the curtain has gone down at the end of the
show, having left the stage high on adrenalin, legs
wobbling underneath me like stacks of jelly, I can’t
help but think how much hard work it all is, but when
you take your bow in front of a huge audience full of
smiling faces and when you can feel the enjoyment
overflowing onto the stage where you and your team
are standing, that’s when it all becomes much, much
more than just a job!
www.greasethemusical.co.uk
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A Day In The Life Of An Actor
– Richard Hardwick
Actors are notorious for getting up late and I’m no
exception to the rule. I’m not a morning person at
all. This stems from our working hours and finishing
late at night.
I normally rise about 10am and straight away have a
pint of water. Hydration is essential, especially if you
are singing as well. Then I’ll have some bran for
breakfast and another pint of water. At the moment
I only use a tiny amount of milk as the less dairy the
better. Dairy products produce a singer’s worst
nightmare – phlegm. So cut down on the dairy.
Then I’ll watch some TV, usually The News and turn
on the computer. I use as much of my free time as
possible to pursue other interests. I write, run a
Theatre & TV production company and teach in
hospitals. As an actor the more creative interests you
have the better. Then it’s off to the gym (four times
a week) and into the theatre.
Again, I’ll have a pint of water as soon as I get into my
dressing room, then head down for a 15 minute
vocal and 15 minute physical warm-up. We usually
have a little break at this point to catch-up with each
other and visit friends in other dressing rooms, but
once we get the half hour call I get ready. Shower,
hair, make-up, costume, water and down to the stage
before beginners call.
Once the show’s over I go to the pub, maybe out
with friends or straight home. I’m usually home by
11.30pm and go to bed by 2am. I’m a night owl, but
lots of actors get home and then let their body
unwind for an hour or so. Pint of water by the bed
and maybe a few pages of a book, then lights out.
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