"Pleased to meet you Mr Ironside"

I'm walking down Oxford Road from St Peter's Square. On my way to the Palace Theatre to do the pre-show checks for whatever was playing that week. As I passed the Odeon I saw the Stage Manager from the Opera House stomping up the street towards me dressed in his usual odd-mix of stone-washed jeans, shirt, tie and 'Big Verne' sheepskin coat. As we approached each other and I went to greet him,I noticed that he was somewhat red in the face. "Hi". He cast his eyes to the pavement and strode off right past me without a word. It was a bit odd however, I didn't give it much more though until I reached the Palace and heard what at gone on that afternoon. The  Opera House was the Palace's sister Theatre and tended to house a few long running musicals each year to compliment the Palace's programme of opera, ballet and plays, The big show at the Opera House was 'Peter Pan the Musical'  and it was Wednesday, matinee day. The show, starring Lulu ...

It's early Monday afternoon and I'm standing at the bottom of a ladder on the stage of the Palace theatre. Footing the ladder along with me is Gil Binks the Chief Electrician. Dave Moore is up the ladder trying to twist the focus knob on a Fresnel lamp on LX bar 1. Even with the use of a spanner for subtle persuasion, he's not having much luck. We've all been there since nine o clock when the Luckings artic backed up to the scene dock door and we  unloaded the set for a thriller called 'Underground'. The show,  a cut above your bog standard Monday opening play, had  a great set which consisted of an uber realistic London tube carriage. I remember the opening of the show clearly. The houselights went out and a sound effect of a busy station faded in with 'Mind the gap' and the rumble of closing doors. We hear the whine of the trains motor and the crack of sparks as the train pulls out of the station. The tabs fly out to reveal a crowded carriage t...