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Oberon Books Theatre, Drama and Performing Arts

Oberon Books is the UK's most exciting independent publisher specialising in theatre, drama and performing arts. Oberon has many of the most original new playwrights working today, and a backlist of 1500 books including some of the best of British Theatre since the 1940s, European and world theatre in translation and classics from the world's leading dramatists, as well as a wide range of handsomely produced publications covering the theatre, opera, dance, biography, performance studies, monologues, practical guides and fiction.

A prolific publisher with a reputation for publishing some of the most challenging, exciting drama happening right now. Oberon goes from strength to strength, bringing into print plays from the stages of the National Theatre, the Donmar Warehouse, the Royal Court, the Tricycle, Traverse, Soho and fringe theatres, not forgetting broadway.

Oberon's catalogue includes the Actors's Tool Kit, a selection of publications for drama students and professionals performers: The Improv Book, Improvisation for Theatre, Comedy, Education and Life (Alison Goldie), The Principles of Movement (Keith Bain), The Clown Manifesto (P. Nalle Laanela, Stacey Sacks), In-Depth Acting (Dee Cannon), Acting Shakespeare's Language (Andy Hinds)...

Best Theatre Podcasts (2)

The Producer's Perspective
Ken Davenport is a broadway producer. His work includes Godspell, Kinky Boots and Deaf West Theatre's Spring Awakening. He's also the creator of a blog on the role of the broadway producer. His guests include playwrights, directors, composers and of course a few fellow producers. It gives a great perspective on American theatre and it's interesting to think about the similarities as well as the differences with British theatre. His recent interview with The Stage regular Howard Sherman covered subscription theatre, theatre building and their (lack) of comfort, the secondary ticket market and the relationship Broadway has with off-Broadway and theatre across the US.

Guildhall School of Music and Drama
For those applying to drama school, Guildhall's podcast is a must. the podcast has a series of 'in conversation' with the cast, crew and creative team of their public productions. along with its discussions of productions, there are also some insightful podcast with staff, such as voice coach Patsy Rodenburg, on their technical theatre exhibition. The podcast gives a great insight into the work happening in a conservatoire.

Inside Acting
Inside Acting comes from LA. The episodes range from interviews to listeners questions to roundtable discussions. They cover topics such as trusting your guts, treating acting as a sales job, avoiding scams and finding a good theatre group. the podcast offers an insight into what life is like being an actor in LA.

Off Book
Off Book is the Young Vic's podcast. it features interviews with some of the artists who have visited the Young Vic. Conversations bring to light people's first experiences  with the arts and theatre, how their backgrounds have informed the work they produce today and how they have developed throughout their careers. 

Working in Theatre: Stage Management

Stage management is the practise of organising and coordinating a theatrical production. It encompasses a variety of activities, including organising the production and coordinating communication between various people such as director and backstage crew, or actors and production management.

Stage management is a sub-discipline of stage craft. A stage manager is one who has overall responsibility for stage management and the smooth execution of a production. Stage management may be perform by one individual in small productions, while larger productions typically employ a stage management team consisting of a head stage manager and one or more assistants.

The responsibilities and duties vary depending on the setting of a production (rehearsal or performance) and the type of production (theatre, dance, music). Most broadly, it is the stage manager responsibility to ensure that the director's artistic choices are realised in actual performance.

As the lighting, sound and set change, cues are developed and the stage manager records the timing of each as it relates to the script. He or she maintains a prompt book which contains all cues, technical notes, blocking and other information pertinent to the show.

During rehearsals, the stage manager serves as an adjunct to the director by recording the blocking and ensuring that cast members stay on script, have the requisite props, and follow the blocking. Stage manager are also responsible for helping establish a show's rehearsal schedule and ensuring that rehearsals run on time. He or she documents each rehearsal in a rehearsal report.