Theatre and Dance

Chun is now the Deputy Stage Manager (DSM) with NBT, this is his story.

"The audience doesn't see my job which is to 'make the book'.

"I sit in on the ballet rehearsals, watch the dancers and write down the blocking and all the movements then I have to pass that information on to the other departments in the theatre.

"At the very start of the creation of the ballet I take the plain piano score and physically mark on it, where exits and entrances take place, and I write down the steps - so that we can refer back.

"It takes quite a while to make the book. There are two sides to it, the artistic (entrances and steps etc) and the technical (what lighting is needed and when scenery needs to come in).

"The DSM's job during the performance is to run the show. Nothing starts if I don't say 'Go!'. I issue the instructions for lighting, entrances, and scenery changes from the book.

"My job is hard to picture but I call the show, I say 'lighting Go!' and it happens.

Chun in the wings and in control

"At the Grand Theatre I take up the position just in the wings downstage left. (the left when on stage and facing the audience).

"I have a headset and all the staff have a radio linked to it so everyone can hear me. There are always three members of stage management, me on the desk and one person either side of the stage. There is also a stage technician on either side of the stage and an electrician. So it depends on the ballet but there is a minimum of six staff, and more for a complicated ballet.

"I also liaise with the set designers about the set before we start with the ballet, if something isn't working during rehearsals with the set, then we together can have a re- design.

"It is very detailed work but working with NBT is very enjoyable - a great experience.

"Not many dancers go on to stage management - in fact I haven't met another. I think it helps for me to have been a dancer. I really enjoy being all the rehearsals in the studio, and I still know the mental framework of the dancers.

"I think as a dancer and I admit I sometimes miss out on the technical details of dancing.

"When I watch a great piece I often wish I could still have a go, but at least I am in the right place watching at the side of the stage. I do really miss dancing but I have moved on I love my work and the past is the past.

"My job is about live theatre so mistakes do happen - sometimes the computer running the lighting can crash with no warning so there are times when things go wrong but the audience should never see the mistakes and that's the challenge.

"At NBT the dancers have a good technical awareness and knowledge of the dance steps. That makes it much easier for me, If things go wrong this company can often fix it themselves.

"I have a passion for the ballet, it's what I love and to have a chance to do it everyday is great.

"I was born in Taiwan my family was originally from mainland China. I started ballet at eight years old but I moved abroad at 13. There is no proper ballet company or national ballet school in Taiwan. So I went to the Royal Ballet School, It was a big decision but at it wasn't something I struggled to decide. I had such a dream to dance.

"Because there is national service in Taiwan I knew if I left I couldn't go back home for years and I haven't really been home since. But this is what I wanted to do I wanted to follow my heart."

NBT perform Swan Lake from Wednesday 4 March to Saturday 7 March 2009 at the Grand in Leeds.