Producing

Padraig Cusack, associate producer of the National Theatre explains why and how the NT goes on tour.

In this film Padraig Cusack discusses the aesthetic and physical considerations of touring a series of different venues. New venues can challenge not just technical aspects of a show, but also the actors' performances.

Padraig Cusack discusses the different types of cost involved when a production goes on tour to different venues.

When a production is on tour the amount of time the crew needs to allocate the set depends on several factors, such as the size of the production and the venue. The very beginning and end of the week seem to be always the hardest.

Padraig Cusack talks about transporting the production of Gesthemane to be performed in Brighton.

It's always useful to consider the future life of a production. The History Boys is a great example of the National Theatre’s long-running shows: it's been staged on Broadway and twice in the West End, has toured the UK three times and once around the world. When a production runs for a long time, it can be constantly developing, and many new things can be discovered over time.

The production manager's job is to organize and supervise the technical aspects of a production. One of the most important things is to control the budget and allocate it among the different departments. Sacha Milroy, production manager at the National Theatre, talks about the initial meetings on a show and the parameters that need to be considered for its implementation.

When the show designer presents their final scale model of what they'd like to see on stage. the second phase of a production manager's job begins: working out how to make it happen.

The production manager and the design associate are responsible for looking after the designer’s vision for the show. When the fit-up of the design begins the production manager has to oversee the whole process to make sure that what the designer wants is being applied on stage and to deal with unexpected incidents.

Sacha Milroy talks about the experience of being a production manager of the National Theatre, and explains what happens at a typical tech rehearsal.