[ohnotheatre]

Sam:

How have you found playing the villain of the piece? Surpisingly I have found this very easy and natural, not sure what that says about my personal nature though. What is biggest challenge you've faced doing graphics design for the production? The most difficult aspect of the graphic design was getting it to look stylized but natural at the same time. I have such a love for vintage posters, and trying to emulate the style using various iterations was very difficult yet thoroughly enjoyable. Describe your character in one sentence. He’s so cocksure, he believes he is always in the right, almost to the extent he thinks he’s the hero. What is your favourite thing about your character? The suits. I look so dapper. What will you take away from this production? My suits. I own all the costume!

[ohnotheatre]

Jared: As well as lighting you researched the genre and the era. Did this present any difficulties? Secretly, I love looking into male fashion from different decades. This particular period (1940's) was difficult as a lot of it was orientated to the Second World War and army dress. However it was still an enjoyable bit of research. The same goes for looking into the Film Noir aesthetic. I knew we wanted all of the elements of the play to be as historically and artistically accurate as possible, so I revelled in the task.

What is the biggest challenge you've faced as lighting designer? So far the biggest challenge has been transferring the desired lighting ideas from paper to reality; we've been unable to access the lights in the space so it’s been difficult to visualize how the ideas will work. Hopefully once the tech rehearsal happens it will all become clear. Describe your character in one sentence. Jim Cogsworth is a loyal, dedicated and slightly self-righteous man, who aims to be the best at what he does: serving the Beast and running his household. What is your favourite thing about your character?  I love the dynamic between him and Ms. Hudson. While he thinks he is the boss, really he knows she is more or less his equal and he respects and in a way loves her for it. What will you take away from this production? Aside from some killer formal wear? I've loved the experience of managing the technical aspects and working as a team to create a show. It all feels very grown-up.

[ohnotheatre]

Poppins:

What has it been like gathering costumes for a period era production?  Easier than I had originally anticipated, especially since fashion keeps repeating itself. Finding modern day items that fit in with the time is a lot easier than trying to find clothing from that specific period in the right colour and size for actors! 

What is the biggest challenge you've faced as costume designer? I think finding items of clothing that won’t make the actor look frumpy has been a bit of a problem. Especially when finding pieces online where you can’t get someone to try something on. Modern reproductions have also been a bit of an issue - I’ve had to tack on a longer skirt over a dress because it was much too short for the time period... I think a period housekeeper would have had a fit if she saw the length of the original dress. 

Describe your character in one sentence. A cheeky perfectionist.

What is your favourite thing about your character?  Hm... messing with some of the other characters… *cackles*

What will you take away from this production? A higher respect for costume designers (and an envy of their ability to make things from scratch), and a better sense of how to work in a production team. It’s a lot of work, but fun when things are running smoothly.

[ohnotheatre]

Mark: How is it playing the titular Beast? I have been a fan of Oh No, Theatre since I first saw Oh No, Zombies! [our first production], so to be asked by a company of actors I both respect and admire was an honour.

What is the biggest challenge you've faced working onstage as opposed to camera? Film allows you to make mistakes and get away with it; on stage, there’s nowhere to hide. Describe your character in one sentence. The Beast has a soul where darkness, light, love and fear all collide and fight for control. What is your favourite thing about your character?  Despite the curse he remains a mystery... what is my characters name! What will you take away from this production? A fantastic experience working with a talented cast and some very valuable stage time.

[ohnotheatre]

Laura:

Have you found it difficult to serve as both the director and the female lead? It's been one of - if not the most - difficult task I've undergone since being at university.

What is biggest challenge you've faced as a director? I would say one of my biggest challenges as director is probably trying to find a good balance between acting styles that faithfully represent a film noir feel, but also maintain modern elements for our audience to appreciate.

Describe your character in one sentence. Belle is a head-strong, hard working woman with an inspirational attitude towards pursuing your ambitions.

What is your favourite thing about your character? I love how sassy she can be. Belle will very happily stand up for herself and for others but she can also acknowledge when she has done wrong, which is a very admirable trait.

What will you take away from this production? Don't be director and female lead! No, seriously I would take away the experience as a whole and the amazing teamwork that everyone within the company has shown.