Amanda Hall Interview: Sister Act, 2014
Title
Amanda Hall Interview: Sister Act, 2014
Date
19 September 2017
Description
Oral history interview with Amanda Hall, a locally based director, choreographer and youth theatre leader.
What's the story?
Director and choreographer Amanda Hall has had strong links with the Theatre Royal for many years, from performing in the venue in a special schools show in the 1980s to her involvement with Nottingham Operatic Society and in particular from 2014 with Carlton Operatic Society.
In this interview, Amanda talks about Carlton Operatic Society’s production of Sister Act in 2014. This was the company’s first production at the Theatre Royal, following their move from Nottingham Playhouse:
We moved over here in 2014 from Nottingham Playhouse. Carlton actually got to a situation where they nearly failed and we took a year out completely and we did some fundraising and some concerts and things and we made the decision to go for it wholeheartedly and move here than stay where we were. So it was one or the other. Plus, Sister Act had just been released on a limited basis to the amateur circuit and we were offered it because we were such a professional standard. The rights holders offered us one of the first slots to perform it. So it was released on a limited basis. So we thought, well, we’ve got a fab show, let’s go for it wholeheartedly.
Every year, whatever show you do will attract different people. We have a running membership. You audition to join the Society and then you’re a member for three years and then you have to re-audition, so you can either perform for three years or you could do one, not perform because actually I don’t fancy Legally Blonde, but I’ll do Grease, or whatever it is. So people pick and choose. Sister Act needed a lot of ladies and that was really nice because they were mature ladies and young ladies. It’s a really good show and also within the amateur circuit, men are hard to find. They really are. We have a nice young corps of men, but they are hard to find, so Sister Act was great for us to bring back in to somewhere. So yes, people pick and choose what show. It was a big company, but it was a brand new set, brand new costumes, everything about it was just fantastic and we got a standing ovation at every performance. It was superb. It was a really good show. And so that was it: we were locked in then here. It was right to be here then. It sold really well and I think then that has built the reputation now.
In this interview, Amanda talks about Carlton Operatic Society’s production of Sister Act in 2014. This was the company’s first production at the Theatre Royal, following their move from Nottingham Playhouse:
We moved over here in 2014 from Nottingham Playhouse. Carlton actually got to a situation where they nearly failed and we took a year out completely and we did some fundraising and some concerts and things and we made the decision to go for it wholeheartedly and move here than stay where we were. So it was one or the other. Plus, Sister Act had just been released on a limited basis to the amateur circuit and we were offered it because we were such a professional standard. The rights holders offered us one of the first slots to perform it. So it was released on a limited basis. So we thought, well, we’ve got a fab show, let’s go for it wholeheartedly.
Every year, whatever show you do will attract different people. We have a running membership. You audition to join the Society and then you’re a member for three years and then you have to re-audition, so you can either perform for three years or you could do one, not perform because actually I don’t fancy Legally Blonde, but I’ll do Grease, or whatever it is. So people pick and choose. Sister Act needed a lot of ladies and that was really nice because they were mature ladies and young ladies. It’s a really good show and also within the amateur circuit, men are hard to find. They really are. We have a nice young corps of men, but they are hard to find, so Sister Act was great for us to bring back in to somewhere. So yes, people pick and choose what show. It was a big company, but it was a brand new set, brand new costumes, everything about it was just fantastic and we got a standing ovation at every performance. It was superb. It was a really good show. And so that was it: we were locked in then here. It was right to be here then. It sold really well and I think then that has built the reputation now.
Type
Oral interview
Location of item
Theatre Royal & Royal Concert Hall Nottingham
Rights
Theatre Royal & Royal Concert Hall Nottingham
Contributor
Interviewers: Diane Jones & Jennifer Sherwood
Transcriber: David Chilton
Transcriber: David Chilton
