Being cast in your first Cambridge show is both exciting and nerve-racking – but, before turning up to your first rehearsal, did you realise that you now committed to the get-in and get-out? On the first day of the run, the whole cast and crew come together (often as early as 4am!) to ‘get in’ everything that is needed for the show, from lighting to set. A get-out is the opposite: entirely de-rigging the stage until no trace of the show is left. It starts as the final performance ends, runs on until the early hours of the morning, and is followed by the long-awaited post-show party. If you’re lucky, it’ll end with a Spoons breakfast – though few make it that far! Whether performing is your passion, or just a fancy in which you wish to indulge, then read on for a few tips to help you through this exhausting, exacting, but ultimately enjoyable facet of Cambridge Theatre.

“You’ll be learning a whole new stack of theatre skills to take into your next production”

The first essential is a steady supply of sweet treats and energy drinks, or, at the very least, access to a Tesco Club Card so you can escape for a snack run. Keeping up energy levels is key as there is no place to hide; before you know it, you’ll be in your hard hat rigging the lights in the rafters of the ADC. This may seem daunting for the uninitiated but, actually, working on a ladder or balancing counterweights can turn out to be a lot of fun. Be open to the experience and have a go at everything – you never know what you’ll enjoy. Besides, you’ll be picking up a whole new stack of skills to take on to your next production!

Secondly, you’ve got to wear some scruffs. You might end up doing one of the most laborious tasks of the lot: painting the stage at the end of a very long get-out. Getting black paint on your favourite clothes is a sure-fire way to spoil your mood for the coveted after-show party (which sometimes includes a free drink at the ADC bar). Alternatively, you could end up painting a set piece at a get-in, a task that comes with bragging rights to all your friends and family. You are now a Theatre Artist Extraordinaire, and they can see your brilliant work onstage!

“There is no leaving it to the ‘pros,’ you have to become one”

Don’t forget that, for the next few hours, yelling will pretty much be the sole mode of communication, particularly when counterweights are coming in and you’re in the way. Don’t take it personally, don’t be intimidated, and don’t yell back! These people know what they’re doing (unlike you…) and are just trying to keep you and everyone else alive and well. Listen to the safety stuff, but don’t be afraid to get stuck in – there is no leaving it to the ‘pros,’ you have to become one! You’ll learn all the practical and technical stuff on the job, whether that’s developing your carpentry skills or dismantling a stage to fit a band pit – the more involved you get, the more fun you’ll have! The tech team is really talented, so make the most of the opportunity to learn from the actual experts.

“A quick doze in the auditorium works wonders”

You may feel it’s all work, work, work (and trust me, whenever it’s not, people will find you and give you a job), but even the most exhausted performer can’t get away with slacking. That said, there are some lighter tasks if you know where to look – and some actors definitely do! Hoovering the dressing room can suddenly become a top priority and can easily be made to last for quite a while, especially when things are getting tense on stage. Tactical napping is also a great skill to bring to the table. Weeks of juggling rehearsals, supervisions, lectures, and Spoons trips means exhaustion can kick in at any moment, so whenever a quiet ten minutes presents itself, remember that a quick doze in the auditorium works wonders.

Get-ins and get-outs are a time for the whole company to come together in pursuit of their passion for theatre, and it’s that spirit of collaboration and togetherness which make them so memorable. Students’ ability to produce these brilliant, large-scale, and often technically intricate set designs and lighting plots is testament to this teamwork. So, whether it’s 4am on the morning of your production, or nearly dawn after your closing night, it’s time to put on your hard hat, pack the chocolate, and cling on to the hope of the post-show party. Who knows, you may be seduced to the other side and end up as a techie!