From welcoming rehearsals to inventive staging and memorable performances, going behind the scenes of The Old Electric offered year 10 student Safina Stack a fresh appreciation of the people, creativity and community that bring local theatre to life.
Recently, I’ve had the opportunity to work as a backstage helper for Sideshows, Seagulls and Shanties, created by The Old Electric, for my work experience week at school.
The show, which is currently visiting community venues, is a whirlwind tour through the stranger corners of Blackpool and Fylde folklore. From seagull goddesses to a morris-dancing inspired rave, devastating shipwrecks and the dark realities of life as a sideshow performer, to celebrating the cunning and entrepreneurial prowess of Blackpool’s BnB landladies, the show uses captivating short episodes to explore lesser-known histories of Blackpool.
Being involved behind the scenes gave me an appreciation for the amount of effort, creativity and teamwork that goes into bringing a production to life, especially in small, lesser-known plays.
When I was initially introduced to the cast, I was welcomed into a very kind and supportive environment. Everyone involved was super friendly and encouraging, helping me feel like part of the team.
The cast was incredibly enthusiastic and passionate about the production, and it was clear that they had an active interest in theatre. They genuinely enjoyed performing, which was so sweet to see.
After asking the actors why they wanted to participate, Lindsay Barlow told me she enjoys pushing herself and looking for ways to get out of her comfort zone. This attitude was reflected throughout the whole cast as everyone worked really hard at their performance and thoroughly supported each other to end up with the best performance possible.
This is one of the things that stood out most to me – the inclusive atmosphere. People of different ages and backgrounds came together with a shared love of theatre and ended up with undeniable chemistry. The rehearsals were also a lot of fun to watch. It reminded me how enjoyable performing can be, and I found myself feeling a little jealous that I wasn’t taking part in the acting side of things. This truly helped create a supportive and heartwarming environment that I was happy to briefly be part of.
I had seen the show in dress rehearsal at Blackpool Central Library, where the show visits for a full performance on Saturday 18th July, before joining the audience for the first performances at Flakefleet Primary School and Ibbison Court in Revoe. Watching it all come together for the first actual performance was very rewarding. The amount of effort that was put into the production was incredible and really impressed me.
Every character’s outfit was unique and interesting, helping distinguish each one clearly, especially when actors took on multiple roles
One aspect of the show I really liked was the costume. Designed by Janine Walker, it was clear to see how thoughtfully created the costumes were. Every character’s outfit was unique and interesting, helping distinguish each one clearly, especially when actors took on multiple roles. They were distinctive yet harmonious and extremely visually effective.
Another component of the show I liked was the stage design. The stage itself was a square made out of chairs that the audience would then sit on. The design was extremely immersive as shows being performed in the round create an intimate atmosphere that draws the audience into the wacky world of the play. Additionally, the stage being made out of chairs makes it accessible and easy to set up without the need for an actual stage. One final element of the show I enjoyed was the smart use of props. Props like aerial bars added a memorability to the performance and acted as a storytelling device for multiple scenes. I liked how thinking outside of the box, like setting up the bars onstage, can be a creative way of setting and executing a scene. Overall, everything backstage dazzled me and I left the experience very impressed.
Sideshows, Seagulls and Shanties is a silly yet endearing production that balances humour and education about the history of our town. It is an episodic play that contains a variety of stories and characters that keep the audience engaged throughout. It has many strong features, such as a very well written script, the use of music and singing and the impressive innovativeness of the costumes.
Overall, working backstage on this show was a wonderful experience. It gave me a greater appreciation for the arts and helped me understand the amount of teamwork required to stage a successful production. I was very thankful to have the pleasure of witnessing a performance that was as funny, heartfelt and packed full of creativity as this one. Even though I wasn’t on stage, I thoroughly enjoyed being part of the production and would happily volunteer backstage again.
If you get a chance to see the show I highly recommend you do. I watched it three times and found something new and exciting every time. It visits Boston Way Community Centre, 17 July; and Central Library, 18 July. Tickets are free, with a refundable £2.50 deposit. Advance booking is recommended as venues have limited capacity. Suitable for audiences aged 12+. Book here.
Main photo: Safina (far right) with the cast of Sideshows, Seagulls and Shanties.
