“IT’S ALL done with smoke and mirrors – and quite a bit of masking tape,” Says Bob Hill, head of Wokingham Theatre’s set construction team.
Every Tuesday and Thursday a bunch of bodgers (their words) several in their eighties, get together to bang a few nails – and a few heads – together as they raise one spectacular theatre set after another.
The team is unique, and their work contributes greatly to the very high levels of professionalism enjoyed by Wokingham Theatre.
There’s plenty of good natured squabbling (and laughs) as the team trips over each other’s work, criticises each others’ judgements, and gives out praise where it’s due.
“Graham is the only non-bodger,” says Alan, who’s painting the floor.
Does Alan like floor painting?
“No, I’ve been lumbered with it,” he laughs.
“Paul’s actually in charge of paint, but he only likes doing walls, so I paint the floors.”
The drawbacks, he says, are sore knees, and people walking all over his work.
“You can’t start until the set is fully up,” he explains.
“It’s all very last minute.”
Derek wallpapers.
Why?
“Because no-one else can,” laughs someone from the other side of the set, “and because he’s tall.”
Derek grins and nods.
“I love doing things where you can achieve results quickly,” he says.
“Papering is fun – it gives fast rewards – and I like straight lines.
“Bob usually works out how many rolls of wallpaper we need – I just do what I’m told.”
Kevan and Brian are on carpet duty.
“Every set is different,” says Kevan.
“But we do the carpets, and if you look around you’ll see why – we’re the only ones who can still kneel – and I’m short, so I’m already nearer to the ground.
“You need a good eye and a sharp knife.”
“Not a job for me then,” shouts someone.
“I’ve got a sharp knife, but not good eyes.”
Many of the group love seeing their work on stage, and enjoy the fact that the audience has no idea of the problems they have solved.
“It’s a great team to work with and we get a huge amount of satisfaction,” says Tony.
“We’re not particularly DIYers at home, we just enjoy learning new skills and practising them here.”
Tony is the group’s Door Man.
“ I did a few doors – now I make sure frames are square, and doors close properly,” he laughs, “but my speciality is upsetting everyone.”
Bob leads the group.
“You won’t see a wobbly set here,” he beams.
“Our flats don’t fall down – they’re anchored to the floor with screws.”
Screw size is crucial, however, and repeatedly drummed into the group.
“Size 8 will split the wood, but size 6 is perfect,” he explains.
Bob also swears by jointing plates and masking tape, both of which are crucial to smoke and mirrors magic.
“Jointing plates can fix almost anything together,” he says, “and masking tape can cover any join.
“Gaffer tape’s no good because the glue melts under the hot lights.”
Do they all get on?
“We’re a friendly bunch, and we work as a team,” they say.
“And 90% of the time one of us can solve a problem with the right skills.”
Work begins on a new set with just a drawing or scale model to work from.
“It’s no good all of us chipping in with 10 ways of doing it,” Bob says.
“It needs one person to say, ‘this needs a four foot flat,’ or ‘a door flat goes here’.”
Tony agrees: “Somebody has to take charge.
“We can’t have everyone arguing about it, or nothing would ever get done.
“We’d all still be discussing it after the production was finished.
“but we have plenty of time for chit-chat over coffee.”
Enjoyment of each build is short.
“The day after the last show we pull the whole lot down, and get straight on with the next one,” says Alan.
“We spend weeks making beautiful sets, and they’re down in two hours.”
Graham, a design and technology teacher for 37 years, has been with the group for four years.
“I love coming here,” he says.
“It’s been a real eye opener.
“At home I make things that are really detailed and precise, but here it’s almost the opposite.
“Everything just has to look great from the first row, and that’s the trick – it’s a different kind of attention to detail.
“And I love the variety – I’m asked, ‘can you make a pair of crutches?’, or, ‘can you make a chaise longue in the style of Marie Antoinette?’”
With five of the group in their eighties, and one almost in his nineties, Bob is keen to welcome retired youngsters in their sixties looking for something to do.
“Basically, we need more kneelers,” he says.
“And you have to be able to work quite quickly,” adds Graham.
“You can’t spend half a day planing a piece of wood to perfection.”
Just then the joys of painting are perfectly demonstrated as someone accidentally steps onto the wet floor Alan has just painted.
Cries of ‘Woah!! Woah!!’ from the crew see the sheepish-looking culprit quickly back up, only to be barked at again just in time to stop him planting his now paint-covered shoes on the newly laid cream carpet.
It’s just a normal day for the team.
Wokingham Theatre’s construction team is: Bob Hill, Paul Baily, Kevan Daykin, Bob DeQuidt, Paul Grey, Neil Hodgson, Tony Jordan, Ben Kellett, Alan Long, Mike Paterson, Brian Pavitt, Derek Porter, Graham Prickett, Mike Rogers, Tony Thompson, Chris Westgate, Alan Waite, and Nigel Willetts.
For information, and to see their next spectacular set, visit: wokinghamtheatre.org.uk
