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History ensemble member Nick Asbury on the cards and flowers which go with Press Night.
Press Night goodies
It all starts with cards. On Monday morning I went and bought some nice lovely cards of some really beautiful images from the National Geographic.
 Then, in the afternoon when I had a break from rehearsals on stage I sat down in my dressing room and wrote to the 40-odd people I'm working with. Depending on how your feeling this can either be a fearful chore or quite an exhilarating exercise. Luckily I really got into it and came over all gushing to all my fellow actors stage crew, designers, musicians, director - anyone within sight. It lasted for all the 45 or so cards. This of course started putting me in the mood.
Next thing was, on the Tuesday, to check my brother knew it was a 7.00pm show (always the sign that something is up) and then it was a brief notes session early afternoon and then suddenly the cards started appearing on my dressing room table as if delivered by some strange Hedwig of the theatre. Flowers bloom at Stage Door. Bottles of bubbly pop up in strange places. The air starts to fill with a weird tension and excitement that I can only describe as a frisson. Eyes brighten. Senses rule. Yes, it's Press Night. The nearest theatre gets to Glamour.
As curtain up approaches people read their cards, do final warm ups, make small involuntary noises, take some air. Then Beginners is announced - the Call to the Stage of those actors who start the play - and the hair goes up on the back of your neck. More noises. Everyone congregates in the Wings to watch Forbes do his Prologue and we're off, slapping him on the back as we go.
The show goes by in a whirl. I really enjoy it. Which is unusual for a Press night. The only other time I've enjoyed Press Nights are in this project where we do Press Days. Then you couldn't give a monkeys. It's too early and you've got three plays to do. And by the time you're on Play Three you've forgotten it's a Press at all. But it was great. We all gave a good account of ourselves. Geoffrey really flew. And we mucked up the Curtain Call. Which is always, in this company, a good sign.
We then had big party in the Foyer. My brother was there with my sister-in-law. They've got little Sam at 4 weeks old so it was the first time they'd been up past half past nine for a month. We kept them awake, which is a bonus.
Then to a cieledh, or however it's spelt. And now my head hurts. Another show tonight and I'm sure it's going to rock. But we don't get cards or glamour for this one. Just headache pills and another dose of adrenalin. Which is far better.
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