Over the next few months I want to introduce you to members of BODS from all sides of the group. For the first two I want you to hear a couple of stories about what drama and Bods has done to help others.
Anthony Gofton
"Being part of the tech crew for a theatre production, especially a BODS production, has its own challenges. Deciding the best place to put a mic on the ghost of Jacob Marley or matching the appropriate bomb noises to accompany an air-raid shelter sing-along, I never know what's coming next. My own background is more studio and broadcast audio than theatre sound design and reinforcement, and so this has been something of a learning process for me and has lead to some of the most challenging and rewarding work of my whole career - all for fun with a joyous group of wildly enthusiastic volunteers.
Some memorable moments have included providing real-time synchronized sounds for a light sabre duel, finding exactly the right barks for a puppet dog, recreating the London blitz, scaring the audience with spectral moans and groans. Pantos tend be the busiest for me, with comedy effects ('ba-dum tishhh' for a cheesy gag is especially satisfying!), songs and whatever bizarre contrivances the director decides to inflict upon our long-suffering audiences. Our next panto is A Lad In Boots by our own Tony Mellerick, and it will be immense fun to complement the performances with music and audio gags.
Ultimately, all of us in the crew, the cast and the creative teams, are working towards the same goal which is to entertain people, and do it to the best of our abilities. The best theatre sound of all is an audience laughing and clapping...whether it's real or not is for you to find out when you come to our next show, hope to see you there!"
More Members
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