Theatre is having its moment in the spotlight, with organisations such as the Shepparton Theatre Arts Group putting on multiple performances a year.
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The downside of theatre, as with any hobby, is there’s a lot to learn and with the group’s Little Shop of Horrors (live and re-potted) production this year, The News has compiled some information for the uninitiated.
The theatre dictionary
Matinée: An afternoon performance.
Break a leg: Good luck — say it to your friends or family who are involved in the show.
The pit: The area under the stage where the orchestra is during the show.
Props: The stuff the actors interact with; think phones, books, baskets.
The set: The background stuff on the stage; think the walls of the room, or the forest background.
Finale: The final song, often involving the whole cast.
Bio box: The room at the very back of the room, behind the audience, where the sound and lighting crew are.
Interval: The 15 to 30 minute break in the middle of a play or musical.
Theatre etiquette for first-timers
Some of you may have entered a theatre before. Some of you may have been to concerts but are yet to dabble in a play or musical. Some of you may be nervous about your first time sitting in the audience at Westside or Eastbank.
As with most entertainment venues, there are rules people are expected to follow, but they are simple and in most cases, fairly obvious.
But just in case, here are the top three rules of being an audience member.
Rule one: Do not talk during the show, unless of course, it’s during the interval.
Rule two: Clap after songs and during the final bow. Make sure the performers feel appreciated as well as the orchestra and crew.
Rule three: Enjoy the show. Laugh if you find a joke funny, clap if you enjoy a song, cheer for the performers you like.
Little shop of what?
As mentioned earlier, Little Shop of Horrors (live and re-potted) will hit the Shepparton stage this September, but what is it all about?
The show centres around Seymour Krelborn, a meek and dejected assistant at a flower shop who happens upon a strange plant, which he affectionately names Audrey II after his crush at the shop.
Little does he know that this strange and unusual plant will develop a soulful voice, a potty mouth and an unquenchable thirst for human blood.
As Audrey II grows bigger and meaner, the carnivorous plant promises limitless fame and fortune to Seymour, as long as he continues providing a fresh supply of blood.
Just when it’s too late, Seymour discovers Audrey II’s extra-terrestrial origins and its true drive for world-domination.
Little Shop of Horrors will hit the Westside stage from September 6 to September 14.