Rehearsals: 6 Ways to Make Every Second Count

22nd November 2023

Rehearsing your Christmas show: the pressure is on. You need to survive, yes, but also make every second count (take a team point if you recognise the quote)…

1. Delegate, divide and conquer

Do your cast really all need to watch that problematic scene with the Kings AGAIN? Get someone else to listen to the Shepherds, or take the Angels to try on their haloes. Otherwise you’re too busy frowning at unruly extras to concentrate on solving the problem.

2. Star the Extras

Your extras (sorry: ensemble? Chorus?) are going to need a lot of attention. Use them as much as possible for movement, responses, reactions.  Work with them (let’s face it, they’re not your best actors) to make their lines snap and crackle. Keep them busy. If the chorus is good, everything’s good.

3. Time spent on songs is never wasted.

Make them sing every line as if it’s their personal solo moment of glory.  Listen to them – don’t use the track with vocal on it for a minute longer than necessary, and try not to sing with them. You’ll soon be able to hear what needs work. The joyous sound of kids singing at full throttle is worth any amount of practice.

4. Watch.

Get your head out of the script. Forget about the lines and LOOK at what they’re doing. If they need prompting, get one of the other kids to do it. You need to be noticing that Bottom’s got his back to the audience, or Pandora’s picking her nose.

5. Join in.

You have to be dying to jump in and model the acting, all the time. Ham it up to the absolute max. If someone’s away, don’t just do their lines – get up there and throw yourself around the stage. Do it anyway, even if no-one’s away. Eventually, the kids will politely ask you to get out of their way.

6. Rehearsals are awesome.

The most spine-tingling moments happen when it’s just you and the kids in an empty hall.  You should all leave the room LONGING for the next time. Enjoy the journey.