Director's diary

4.43pm Monday 23rd July...

I sit down in the pub staring at a pint of cold lager, anticipating the sweet taste of freedom. I have just returned the van which has been used to ferry all the various things that we begged, borrowed and stole for the production back to their rightful owners. Henry VI is now officially over, bar the partying. I raise the glass to my lips in expectation of a quasi-religious experience.

My house is trashed, my life is... no, wait, I have no life and I haven't had more than five hours sleep a night in the last two weeks. Something is going to give and it may just be my sanity. We are running the show(s) through now, making last minute tweaks and changes whilst desperately trying to get the set built, costumes made and props acquired. As always, I need another week. Both shows are looking good, but not good enough. More time is needed to get the details right and ensure everyone knows what they are doing when, but we don't have it.

My old friend Simon Jarvis comes up for the weekend - we used to make films and plays together a decade ago on the South Coast - he's a scenic artist par excellence. Him and Cath Doman (the designer) work round the clock to get it all looking right. I leave them alone together in the barn where we are building the set to go and rehearse and come back to find that they have produced seven decapitated heads. I worry about my friends sometimes!

The cast relax between scenes!

2 weeks ago...

We get into the Guildhall. Last minute work on the play is replaced by rigging and technical. The Guildhall usefully drops in that we can't turn the power on until 5.30pm on a weekday otherwise we will blow their system. Now we have no time to focus lights, and end up programming the lighting desk without seeing what we are doing. Of course when we try it out at the Dress rehearsal none of it works!

The next day myself and Barry Mills (lighting) re-programme the desk - again blind - but this time it seems to work. Still though we are trying to focus lights without being able to see what they look like until we are running through in the evening.

Kingsley Ash (music) is eerily calm, what does he know that I don't?! His music and sound fx are stunning throughout.

Cast of Henry VI.

Finally we open the first show then the second, and they are good. Not quite technically there, a few errors litter the performances, but they have a rough energy and despite the lengthy running time seem to whizz by. Crucially the audience likes them and the applause is warm.

We move to the weekend and perform both shows Saturday and Sunday. Now they are starting to motor, although the cast and crew are all fighting exhaustion. Adrenaline is keeping them going.

1 week ago...

After a night off the company is re-energised - helped by a couple of stunning reviews in the papers, and suddenly the tickets are starting to sell. On the Tuesday night we have our largest audience so far and the cast are buzzing with it. There is a self-belief about the company now - five and a half hours of Shakespeare can be fun!

A real pleasure for me is watching the performances grow. As the run progresses I try not to interfere too much, a little pep talk before the show, maybe the odd note, but generally try and take a bit more of a back seat. Many of the company, particularly those in parts that span both plays, embrace this opportunity. 

Andy Curry's Richard of Gloucester is simply stunning, and Bill Laughey's Edward, Cecily Boys' Margaret and Jonathan Bedford's Henry develop and grow with every night. Jonathan in particular is finding more and more humour in Henry, which is both lovely and a welcome respite in what could otherwise be heavy-going. But in some ways it is unfair to single out individuals, this is very much an ensemble performance and everyone gives so much every night.

Cast of Henry VI.

We finish up with two stunning performances on Sunday. Sometimes companies try too hard on last nights and it doesn't quite work, but this time everything is just right. We have a full house on the Sunday night and the atmosphere is electric. The audience watch with pin-drop intensity and the cast respond admirably - an incredible night for all of us, and a fitting end to what has been an exciting, challenging and remarkable journey for the whole company.

Tuesday 24th July...

Second day after last performance. Day after end of run party.

I am in a darkened room nursing a sore head and wondering what I am going to do with my life now, but it hurts too much to think...

The end!

Mark France