Look back in wonder

THE whole of the county will be able to take part in celebrating The Courtyard's five successful years.

A gala performance of the birthday show, Guys & Dolls - which opens tonight - on September 18 will be followed by an entire day's activities to appeal to the whole family on September 20.

Face painting, story telling, break dancing, circus performers and African dance and drumming will be interwoven with music from Bandemonium, The Big Hum and the regular Saturday lunchtime caf. Back stage tours will take place between 10.30am and 12.30pm for the curious and a sponsored balloon release at 5pm will offer the opportunity to win £150 worth of free theatre tickets.

If you've never set foot inside the place - then now is the time.

Six months into his role as chief executive, Martyn Green is in a strong position to take The Courtyard forward into its next phase.

Having established itself as producing and presenting an exceptionally high standard of varied work, Martyn's primary intention is to widen the venue's focus to include more community activities with more outreach work.

Giving people the chance to express themselves is also high up his list of priorities.

"I want to see that ethos routed in everything we do," he says. "The Community Theatre is a good example. That's really the way I want to see The Courtyard continue."

"I hope the next five years are as vibrant and exciting as the last five."

Associate director, Estelle van Warmelo is familiar with the darker side of theatre - especially at this time of year, when The Courtyard has usually run a musical with more gravitas than Guys & Dolls: Fiddler on the Roof, Sweeney Todd, Little Shop of Horrors, Cabaret. Former artistic director Jonathan Stone chose autumn shows that packed punch.

A late change in programming, and a consequent change of director, meant that Estelle has juggled directing four shows, a revival of a former show for export to Italy and assisting on the pantomime within an eight month stretch.

Exhausted, she is enjoying working with choreographer Val Jones and musical director Rab Handleigh on the hit Broadway spectacular with what she describes as 'the most mischievous cast she's ever worked with!'

"It's a dramatic season," she says. "Guys & Dolls has its dramatic moments - between Nathan and Adelaide it's comedy, comedy, comedy but when you strip that away the impact is there. It's a strong story with some fun pieces."

A moment that epitomises what The Courtyard is all about came about for Estelle shortly after Jonathan Stone announced his resignation.

"It was a Thursday evening and I was sat in the far corner of the caf looking over some notes while the Youth Theatre were working on scenes around the building.

"The studio theatre audience was in the bar for the interval, the main house was full, there was something going on in the foyer and the upstairs restaurant and gallery was busy. Half a dozen things were going on independently of each other and I felt an enormous rush of excitement.

"This is what it's about."

The highs and the lows...

Susan Grenfell has worked in Hereford's theatre land since 1986. Beginning as a theatre technician she is now chief projectionist.

A musician, her personal highlight was appearing on stage with the professional band during the interval of last autumn's Fiddler on the Roof.

Her worst moment was when the first ever film shown, Saving Private Ryan, had to be cancelled due to a problem with the sound.

"It was a full house," she says, "And they all had to be sent home."

Faces behind the scenes -even before opening night

A lot of what goes on in the world of theatre does so without the public's knowledge, and without recognition.

A large part of what has made The Courtyard a shining example of repertory theatre, and an economic success story, is down to day to day 'grind' of the people who work there.

Four of the five shared Jonathan Stone's dream from the beginning.

Kathy Gundy worked as an administrator for The Courtyard before it opened from the Bewell Street office.

Working with the professional casts, sorting out the auditions and looking after the actors while they are in Hereford, in addition to her many other administrative duties, keeps her busy.

Highlights for her involve seeing the young actors progressing in their careers, and keeping in touch.

Problems with accommodation for the visiting professionals and finding pianists to turn up at out of the way London audition venues are what cause her nerves to fray!

She works voluntarily as a steward, and always looks forward to seeing the final product.

Box office manager Vicky Stackhouse worked at the New Hereford Theatre prior to The Courtyard, and with Jonathan Stone's team pre-opening.

Her highlight was the day The Courtyard opened to the public.

"So much work had gone into it, I felt extremely proud that we'd made it after two years of hard slog."

"In the first season the box office computer system crashed and we lost all the bookings that had been taken in the first week of being open.

"It was a total nightmare, I didn't sleep for days.

Jonathan leaving was very sad for me.

Tanya Ratcliffe also worked at the New Hereford Theatre, and with Jonathan prior to The Courtyard opening.

Now Front of House manager, Tanya's funniest moment was during the first season when Maurice was on in the main house.

"The poor chap was on stage in all his glory. Only it was a very cold November and our hearing had packed up! Even though we brought in industrial blowers, it was still very cold! I felt very sorry for him."

Much of her role involves problem solving and many people leaving the theatre at the end of an evening will thank her personally for having a great night.

"People enjoy being here," she says, "Which makes me feel that what I do is very worthwhile."

Tanya's lowpoint was having to face Rodney Bewes in his underpants while delivering a message to his dressing room.

"I kept my eyes averted, but I still saw too much!"

Smooth

Lee Collins began life on the box office and is now press and marketing officer.

His highlight was working on the steering committee for Borderlines, Hereford's first film festival, in March of this year.

"Being start of something from start to finish and learning about film and the film industry and the fact that it went so smoothly was great," he says.

A corrupt hard drive on the opening night of Sweeney Todd in September 2001 meant that the show could not go on.

"Having to deal with that from a marketing, press and customer point of view was really hard. It was the second show in my new post."