{"id":6639,"date":"2024-09-17T14:25:54","date_gmt":"2024-09-17T14:25:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.spotlight.com\/?p=6639"},"modified":"2025-06-13T16:23:12","modified_gmt":"2025-06-13T16:23:12","slug":"maggie-livermore-acting-diary-auditions-and-rehearsals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.spotlight.com\/news-and-advice\/young-performers\/maggie-livermore-acting-diary-auditions-and-rehearsals\/","title":{"rendered":"Diary of a Young Performer: Auditions and Rehearsals"},"content":{"rendered":"

Maggie Livermore takes us behind the scenes of the audition and rehearsal process for \u2018Till the Stars Come Down\u2019 at the National Theatre.<\/span><\/h2>\n

Young performer Maggie Livermore was thrilled to get her first stage role in <\/span>Till the Stars Come Down<\/span><\/i><\/a>. She played \u2018Sarah\u2019 at the National Theatre from 24 January to 15 March 2024, but the journey to this performance started long before then \u2013 all the way back in September 2023.<\/span><\/p>\n

We\u2019ve been given a unique chance to follow Maggie through the highs and lows of this exciting process \u2013 from the first audition to callbacks, tech rehearsals, press night and all the way to the final show!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Maggie\u2019s diary entries shine a spotlight on the realities of being a young performer in the performing arts industry and provide a useful look at what other young actors can expect when going through this process.<\/span><\/p>\n

In the first of this three-part series, Maggie takes us behind the scenes of her audition at the National Theatre and the rehearsals for <\/span>Till the Stars Come Down <\/span><\/i>that followed when she got the role. Here\u2019s what she shared:<\/span><\/p>\n

8 September 2023: The First Audition<\/b><\/h3>\n

Today,<\/span> I had an audition at the National Theatre for a new play. I was so excited! Dad picked me up from school and we jumped on a train to London to the Southbank. We got there early, so we watched the skateboarders doing these crazy tricks.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The first time I saw the National, I was shocked by how big it was. There are so many entrances. Dad and I walked past the main entrances around the back to the stage door. Once we were in the theatre, all the staff members we met were so nice and welcoming.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I said bye to Dad and was asked to go inside to a big room with the casting people. There were about 20 kids in the room, and they were seeing us in groups of two. I guess they were seeing a LOT of kids for this play! I was a bit nervous, but then I figured that if I\u2019m right for it, then I\u2019m right. I will try my best regardless.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

They paired us up and we ran our lines with each other. The girl I was running lines with seemed nice. We also played lots of fun drama games and did warm-up exercises. It wasn\u2019t stressful at all and it felt like a whole day full of fun! That was pretty much it for the audition. I really loved the whole experience!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

18 September 2023: Recall News<\/b><\/h3>\n

I got a recall for the National Theatre! I can\u2019t believe it! The play is set in the East Midlands, and although part of my family is Northern, it\u2019s not the \u2018right\u2019 Northern accent, so Mum asked her friend, Elspeth, for a few pointers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Elspeth is a voice coach. I met with Elspeth over <\/span>Zoom<\/span><\/i> and we did some voice exercises, which seemed a bit funny to me \u2013 but I really liked them! It was so useful and I felt much more confident with the accent afterwards.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The recall was a self-tape, so I did the scene with my grandad, filmed it and sent it off. Now we wait\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n

23 October 2023: The Final Recall<\/b><\/h3>\n

One step closer! I had a final recall in person today. I woke up so excited to see everyone again. My grandparents are here visiting from Sweden, so we all went in to London for the day.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I went in for the recall, which was a readthrough with director Bijan Sheibani, writer Beth Steel and the National Theatre casting team. They were so nice and encouraging \u2013 it made me feel confident and good about the casting. Whatever happens, I feel like I did a good job today!<\/span><\/p>\n

After the recall, we were walking down Southbank when Dad got the call from my agent. He put it on speakerphone and we all listened as they told me I got it! I was so happy I cried! So did Mum.<\/span><\/p>\n

A few days later, they sent me the script and I started learning my lines. The rest of the cast will start rehearsals in December and I will join them in January.<\/span><\/p>\n

2-8 January 2024: Rehearsals Begin<\/b><\/h3>\n

This is it \u2013 my first day! I packed my backpack with the script, water, snacks and a book. Mum and my brothers took me to the rehearsal space on Copperfield Street in London. Once the theatre is ready, we will move rehearsals to the National Theatre.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

First, I met the chaperones who will be looking after me and then I met with the cast. They were all so nice. I was a bit nervous, but I was soon put at ease.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I love that I get to travel to London every day! On our way to Copperfield Street, we stop in <\/span>Pret<\/span><\/i> on the way and I either have a juice, caramel <\/span>Frappuccino<\/span><\/i> or smoothie as a treat.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The first week is all about working through the play scene by scene. The adult actors have been rehearsing since December, so a lot of the scenes have been blocked already. The director, Bijan, and staff director, Stepan Mysko von Schultze, make sure I understand everything and I make sure to make lots of notes in my script.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In one of the scenes, I use a phone. They said it doesn\u2019t work, so I started my scene and suddenly the phone turned on! I thought I had done something wrong and I felt so embarrassed, but they said it was fine, so I carried on.<\/span><\/p>\n

In the rehearsal room, the stage spins around like it will in the actual show. It\u2019s called a \u2018revolve\u2019 and it\u2019s really cool \u2013 although it does take a second to get used to! The play is set in the round, so the audience will be all around us.<\/span><\/p>\n

We all bring dinner to rehearsals, and the \u2018Sarah\u2019s eat together. Because I\u2019m sharing the role with two other girls, we take it in turn to rehearse on stage. One of us acts in the scene whilst the others watch.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"Maggie Livermore and Cadence Williams enjoying a meal during rehearsals\u00a0\/ Image credit: Georgia Griffin<\/em><\/p>\n

This is my first professional play and I feel like I\u2019m learning something new all the time. Bijan and Stepan are so patient with me and allow me to explore and take the time to absorb the information. They seem very happy with my work so far, which is encouraging.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The WHAM team (Wigs, Hair and Makeup) have requested that we come into rehearsals with French braids. Sarah has wavy hair in the play, so it will help if our hair is already braided.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Throughout the rehearsal process, we run our lines with the voice coach. She helps generally with diction and volume, but also the specific East Midlands accent.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Sundays are my day off and it\u2019s generally filled with homework and relaxing with my brothers. Don\u2019t tell them this, but I do miss seeing them all the time!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The next week continues in the same way, though I\u2019m back at school now, so I go to school until about lunchtime, when mum or dad pick me up. I get changed out of my school clothes, put on my rehearsal clothes (which are \u2018good to move in\u2019 clothes \u2013 loose, layers and comfy). I\u2019m normally hungry at this point, so I eat my lunch on the train into London.<\/span><\/p>\n

I\u2019m feeling more settled and brave now, so I try new things and explore my character. One of my favourite scenes is with \u2018Tony\u2019 (Alan Williams). Alan is kind and patient, and I feel like I can try different things in rehearsals. He says I\u2019m doing a great job! He has so much experience and is more than willing to pass on his wisdom or just crack a joke or two.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In between scenes or whenever I\u2019m not needed, I read or play games. I\u2019ve been introduced to a book called \u2018Murdle\u2019, which is great \u2013 I really recommend it for passing the time backstage. I try not to mess around in rehearsals, but Marc Wootton (\u2018Marek\u2019) is so funny and cheeky that it\u2019s really hard not to sometimes. Marc is so encouraging and kind and I feel so lucky to be in the same room as these wonderful people.<\/span><\/p>\n

The fight scenes are taking a long time to rehearse. It\u2019s so important that we as actors know where to stand, where to go, where and who to swing at and, obviously, the impact. Because we are all involved in that scene, every actor must know exactly where to move to make sure no one gets injured. As the play is staged in the round, it makes the fight hard to stage realistically, as the audience can see us from every angle.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

9 January 2024: Rehearsals Move to the National Theatre<\/b><\/h3>\n

Drop off today was at the National Theatre stage door \u2013 eeeek! Gosh, it really brought it home seeing the theatre and seeing the incredible stage. We\u2019re playing in the round with a minimal set.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I climbed to the very top of the auditorium and looked down. To think that, soon, this space will be filled with people, and I will be down there performing for them! Our voice coach pointed out that we must be loud and clear to make sure we can be heard at the very top of the auditorium.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Beth has been dipping in and out of rehearsals. I know it\u2019s a privilege to have the actual writer in the room and she\u2019s amazing, super funny and so positive and kind. She lets us improvise with the text and sometimes our improvisations end up in the final play.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In my scene with \u2018Uncle Tony\u2019 today, I added the line, \u201cIs it really old\u2026 <\/span>like you?<\/span><\/i>\u201d The team laughed and said they liked it and that we\u2019ll be adding that last bit to the play. I\u2019m proud to be able to add something to Sarah\u2019s character.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I got to try on the costume today. My character will be wearing a lovely yellow dress for the wedding and cute pyjamas for the scene after. It was so exciting to try on the costume and we also discussed bows and hair clips. I wasn\u2019t allowed to tell the other Sarah\u2019s what it looked like as I was the only one who was dress-fitted at that stage. I was dying to tell them! All I said was that it\u2019s lovely and sunny.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

One of the councils has raised an issue with the language in the play. I will be honest \u2013 it <\/span>is<\/span><\/i> rude in places! Mum and Dad did talk to me about it all before I started, so I knew what the context was. I understand that I swear in the play as<\/span> Sarah \u2013 it\u2019s not me, Maggie. In any case, one of the other councils were not happy for their child actor to hear those words, and so we all have to sit in another room for some of the rehearsal so that we don\u2019t hear the dialogue, which is such a shame.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

None of it makes much sense to me, as I have read the script a million times and pretty much know it inside out now \u2013 including the swearing! The chaperones said that this sometimes happens in theatre and that negotiations are ongoing. Hopefully, we\u2019ll be able to rejoin normal rehearsals soon enough!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

10 January 2024: Working with the Movement Director<\/b><\/h3>\n

We have been working with our brilliant movement director, Aline. She talks to us about how our characters move and why how we move around the table is important. She choreographed our dance around the circle.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

We have also worked on our freeze frames at the beginning of the play and during monologues. In my scene with Alan (\u2018Grandad Tony\u2019), she was helping us move in the round, making sure the audience could see us from all angles regardless of where they were sitting, but doing it in a way that made sense.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

13 January 2024<\/b>: <\/span>Preparing for the First Run-Through<\/b><\/h3>\n

We had an earlier call time today with a lunch. I asked Mum to make pasta pesto (my favourite) and I made sure to bring my book \u2013 just in case!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In break time, I tend to look over my lines or chat with the cast, but sometimes we get time to read, too. We\u2019re having our first run-through of the play on Monday. I can\u2019t wait!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Thank you, Maggie, for sharing your amazing experience with us! In the next Diary of a Young Performer<\/a>, we\u2019ll see how Maggie got on with the run-throughs, as well as how she handled opening night and press night for the show!<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Take a look at our website for more <\/span><\/i>tips and advice for young performers<\/span><\/i><\/a> and <\/span><\/i>their parents<\/span><\/i><\/a>, including:<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n