by Priscilla

Feb.15, 2011, under Backstage Blog

Automation itself refers to all the show’s moving parts. So in the case of some of the set pieces like Alice Springs or the Harbour Bridge they are all computer controlled moving parts, but the biggest and most notable one we have is Priscilla herself. The bus is completely operated by computer by one of our operators.

It is a very complicated piece of kit. It has twenty independent pieces to control, any one of which could go wrong at anytime during the show, so you have to be really on your toes to keep an eye on everything. I’d say its one of the more complicated pieces of kit in the West End, particularly when you take into account the number of things that can go wrong with it and the amount of time throughout the show that it is used.

Martin Ellsmore

I started automation up in Leicester at the Curve theatre and worked on all the shows they put on. They were a receiving and producing house, so the longest they would keep a show on was 2-3 months. The automation for that was very different in that there were a lot of new things coming in and going out, so you would be chopping and changing very quickly. At Priscilla we obviously have the same kit day to day, but the problems it throws up are different each time so it keeps you busy.

The most difficult part of the show for me is Macarthur Park, as the bus doesn’t stop moving throughout the entire song. As well as moving downstage and upstage it is spinning, which involves a lot of changes happening underneath the bus that you can’t see and which are all happening on the back of each other. So if you develop a problem with anyone of the moves you find yourself trying to catch up to finish the scene at the same time as everyone else.

My favourite part of the show is the Poseidon Adventure routine. The first time I saw it I thought it was so simple, but so brilliant in how it works. I still find myself watching it on the monitors. It’s just a great feel good happy show. I have spoken to so many people that have seen Priscilla and not a single one has disliked it. They’ve all come out happy.