Welcome to the Rock

Come From Away finally returns to the UK! Judging by the audiences in Leicester for the previews, this is very welcome news.

This has been the most lovely rehearsal process. The show is a hugely intense piece to learn across many departments, whether you’re a musician, performer, sound operator or deputy stage manager. You need to know your stuff, otherwise the show is left very exposed. Fortunately, we have some of the best people in the world working on this tour.

We rehearsed the show fully chronologically, which sounds obvious but actually this is the only time I have done this on a show. Usually you would tackle the trickiest bits first to get a head-start, but the trickiest element of Come From Away is maintaining its flow, and staying chronological helps with that. We completed that process in two weeks, and then it was about running and cleaning, as well as band calls.

This past week has been tech week and previews. I have never known a more stress-free tech. Yes, we all needed to be on our full A-game, but a mixture of a cast who had been drilled to place each chair in the correct position, lighting & stage management teams from the Gods and a sound department you could only dream of ensured us of the smoothest of technical rehearsals.

And now we’re underway with previews, with full standing ovations at every performance. I still can’t believe how lucky I am to be involved with this show, playing with the most amazing musicians & cast, supported by a top technical team and basically getting to do what I love for 100 minutes every night. Please do come and visit us on our tour - you’re really going to want to see this show!

Leicester is such a vibrant city. Curve have been the most welcoming hosts, and we have discovered some fantastic cafes and restaurants during our stay here. And the locals are so bloomin’ friendly! I very much look forward to coming back one day.

Our tour continues on to Liverpool this month, which means I can see a little more of my parents (perfect timing for Mother’s Day!), and looking forward to friends in the North West coming to visit us at the Empire!