Sean Laing - Production Manager for Pegasus Opera's Double Bill

Central’s Principal Josette Bushell-Mingo OBE directs Pegasus Opera Company’s captivating double bill: ‘Toutes les femmes,’ featuring Roman Fever by Philip Hagemann and The Human Voice (La Voix Humaine) by Francis Poulenc, running from 12 to 14 April at the Royal Academy of Music’s Susie Sainsbury Theatre.

To celebrate the many Central graduates who have contributed their expertise behind the scenes,  we’re launching a special blog series focusing on their work.

Sean Laing, a graduate of our BA (Hons) Theatre Practice - Technical and Production Management course, talks to us about his role as Production Manager. 

Can you describe what the role of Production Manager for the double bill production at Pegasus Opera entails?

As Production Manager, I have overall responsibility for seeing through the practical elements of the production, from initial conception, through rehearsals, up to opening night. I support the creative team in ensuring that the production is able to be delivered on time, in budget, and to the highest technical standards. This involves running production meetings, costing elements of the production, producing risk assessments and overseeing the get-in and technical rehearsal periods.

How does your work impact the overall productions? 

The main bulk of my work is usually ensuring that the resources that the production has are used to best support the creative aims of the team. During the feasibility process, this can involve supporting the designer and offering alternative suggestions to bring the design in budget, if it is initially unachievable.

On this particular production, one of the big challenges we faced was achieving movement of some of the set elements, to change the set between the two parts of the Double Bill. By tweaking a few elements of the design, and better using some of the automation features of the theatre, we were able to achieve the designer’s desired effect with very few tweaks to the original concept.

Can you discuss the collaborative process of working with the rest of the cast and crew to bring the productions to life?

Once the full creative team are on board, my main task is helping to prepare a design brief. This will usually include outlining budgets and other parameters, such as staffing, build time and anything else that could impact the feasibility of a design. I will then work with the creative team to ensure that this design brief is able to be met.

Once a production is in rehearsal, a large part of the process is Production Meetings, which are generally held weekly, which I would usually run. This is the one chance where the full production team are together, and is the perfect opportunity to raise any concerns, and address any issues that the production may have, with everyone around to help problem-solve.

How did Central’s BA (Hons) Theatre Practice - Technical and Production Management course, help prepare you for your current role and your career so far? 

The course was incredibly helpful - I worked on my first production with Pegasus as a Production Manager while still a student, and the staff were incredibly supportive of this. In addition to all of the practical training and experience, one of the most helpful aspects was the number of graduates who came back to deliver workshops and mentorship. Many of these people are people I still work with now.

Reflecting on your career to date, what standout moments or highlights come to mind?

One of the highlights was definitely getting to travel with a production of DROWNTOWN (Rhiannon Faith Company) to the Wuzhen Festival in China last October. Also, although this might sound like a smaller one, I’m currently working on The Dream of a Ridiculous Man at Marylebone Theatre, and this is the first time I’ve seen a show that I’m Production Manager on have an advert on the tube!

What goals do you have for the future? 

I never expected to end up working in opera as much as I do now, so I’d be keen to continue to explore this, but I’d also love to work more in Musical Theatre.

Visit Pegasus Opera’s website for further details about the double bill and to book your tickets.