Backstage: what actually goes on in theatre dressing rooms?

Lightbulb-wreathed mirrors, wigs and make-up artists, a way of pale glamour: the backstage dressing room has its very personal lore in Theatreland. It’s a non-public area for an organization of actors to gear up or wind down, in between slipping into character, however it’s a lot greater than that. Movies similar to All About Eve and John Cassavetes’s Opening Night time, in addition to performs similar to Ronald Harwood’s The Dresser, present this area bristling with stress, vulnerability and rivalries. And Judi Dench has spoken concerning the enjoyable available on this different, unseen facet of the proscenium arch (together with by chance flashing Kenneth Branagh).

The intimate, playful and contemplative photos right here, captured so delicately over the previous 12 months by photographer David Levene, illuminate the cloistered lifetime of the dressing room and present a typically convivial, at different instances meditative backstage space throughout a bunch of main productions.

They’re crammed with movie star faces not as we ordinarily see them however in a limbo state, wavering someplace between themselves and the position they are going to quickly assume, entrance of stage. So there’s the tender sight of Steve Coogan in a quiet second, cup of tea and biscuit in hand, earlier than going out to play Dr Strangelove within the eponymous West Finish present. And John Lithgow, smiling, comfy with meals and buddies round him, earlier than enjoying the troubling a part of Roald Dahl in Big, and Paapa Essiedu, halfway by the method of donning his costume, and character, for Loss of life of England: Delroy.

There are many different glittery stars refracted by their dressing room mirrors, of their unguarded moments, from Vanessa Williams getting ready for the a part of the polished-as-ice style journal editor Miranda Priestly in The Satan Wears Prada to Olivier award-winner Denise Gough, bloodied in readiness for her searing efficiency in Duncan Macmillan’s dependancy drama, Folks, Locations and Issues, and Billy Howle in John Osborne’s revived Look Again in Anger.

Each actor has their very own tackle it: for Coogan, the dressing room has the velocity and vitality of a Method One pit cease. For Billy Howle it’s a sacred area – the quiet earlier than the storm of a efficiency, maybe. Levene, for his half, sees it as a “pulling again of the curtain” to indicate an actor as they’re. His lovely photos give a depth and dimension to the drama, romance and hidden realities of the lifetime of the stage.

Big – Harold Pinter theatre

“We have a tendency to return in at 6 o’clock for a 7.30 curtain. We go upstairs to the dressing room the place we’ve this fully idle half-hour between 6.30 and 7pm. My co-stars Elliot Levey and Richard Hope and I, we’ve began enjoying Botticelli, a sport that I taught them.

I consider somebody whose identify begins with ‘M’ they usually discover out who that individual is by incomes a direct query by asking oblique questions on different folks whose names start with ‘M’, by all of historical past. And we snigger and simply trick one another and cheat and it’s simply so daffy. We’ve turn out to be this excellent, unlikely three-way friendship.

We’re within the affect sport. You wanna have a terrific affect on an viewers, whether or not it’s making them snigger, cry, or cry out in horror. The tip of this play, it’s … it’s not like something I’ve carried out earlier than. You possibly can hear the viewers gasping. At nothing greater than the sound of my voice. Perhaps it’s one thing perverse in me, however I simply love that!” John Lithgow

Loss of life of England: Delroy/Closing Time – Nationwide Theatre

“It’s all the time been about this barnet, principally as a result of my character wants to only look slightly bit older than I’m. They had been attempting to work out methods of ageing me up and began off with this profound white strand of hair. You possibly can’t go heavy with the costume: the folks sitting near you can be like: ‘What’s that?!’ So it’s turn out to be extra delicate over time – wisps of gray somewhat than a clear stripe.” Sharon Duncan-Brewster

“I do tattoos each three days typically if I’m getting greater than two exhibits per week. We appreciated the thought of him having tattoos that type of informed tales about his contradictions, so he’s bought an England three Lions tattoo on his forearm, however then he has a Jamaican flag with the nationwide buzzing chicken on it.

I typically arrive two or three hours earlier than the present begins. I often do not less than the primary three scenes, I’ll go over the street to get a matcha latte, then I’ll come up right here and do perhaps like 25 minutes of yoga, respiratory workouts, stretching, all of that form of stuff.

You know the way sprinters or Olympians eat in a sure method and sleep in a sure method to ensure their physique is completely at its peak on the exact time of day that they’re racing? I type of give it some thought in the identical method.” Paapa Essiedu

Look Again in Anger – Almeida theatre

“When it will get to the half [hour before the play starts], we’ll placed on music. For me, sensory stuff is absolutely vital. I’ve visible references, household images – Mum and Dad. A part of their story is one thing that I’ve mined. I’ll sit in right here and take into consideration my character. There are a few hooks that I latch on to – ideas or emotions or sensations or moments in time. They’re deeply non-public.

Physiologically, I’ll begin getting fairly twitchy in right here, and I usually begin pacing and I’ll begin mumbling to myself. And I’ll get as a lot oxygen into my lungs and mind as I can.” Billy Howle

Roots – Almeida theatre

“I really like having the ability to act in no matter context, however there’s one thing historic about acting on stage. There’s a magic to only coming down to those dressing rooms. Each time I cross that threshold on the steps, it’s so good to see everybody entrance of home and it’s pretty to be again within the within the theatre, however after I come into this area, it looks like an imaginative little den. I do know that as a toddler I might have been fascinated to return right here.” Morfydd Clark

The Tales of Hoffmann – Royal Opera Home

“I by no means put together myself for any performances as a result of my life is so full. I’ve 4 youngsters. Performing is my large love, however it’s my job. It’s simply part of my day. I do know many singers who’re like: ‘Oh God, I’ve a efficiency tomorrow!’ However I’m very simple with it. I do warmups for positive. It’s like with any sport: it’s important to heat up earlier than, in any other case you are able to do unhealthy issues to your physique. However I by no means heat up for like one hour. I simply do a number of workouts for 5 minutes and that is sufficient. I believe it’s a query of approach.” Olga Pudova

“I prefer to get up as late as I can. I sleep rather a lot when I’ve a efficiency. I don’t have breakfast or I’ve one thing actually mild, after which I’ve my foremost meal: quinoa with eggs and avocado and salad is one of the best for me. I begin singing some phrases, checking that the voice is there. After which often I stroll to the opera houseto get the air flowing. That is my favorite opera home. The those who work listed here are actually enthusiastic, particularly the unbelievable refrain. I’ve been coming to the Royal Opera Home since 1997.” Juan Diego Flórez

The Actual Factor – Outdated Vic theatre

“I get to my dressing room at 6pm and gasoline up for the present. One thing mild, as a result of I don’t like feeling full on stage, however I would like one thing in my stomach. Then I’ll go as much as my co-star James McArdle’s room and say hello. The present’s about our connection. We must be locked in with one another.

At 6.30pm, we go on to the stage and heat up. We do voice work, but in addition simply gossip and giggle. Then on the half, I’ll come again and do my make-up. I’ll hearken to classical music, as a result of part of the present is our characters’ battling over artwork and music: she’s an avid classical fan and he’s a pop fan. I’m actually into Debussy in the mean time!” Bel Powley

“I attempt to get as open and sociable as attainable earlier than the present. That is after I do my vocal warm-up. I sing, not properly! However everybody hears me wailing and I’m like: ‘yep, that’s me warming up!’ I attempt to create a little bit of a celebration temper – it reminds of how I felt after I was a child doing theatre. I have to know that that’s nonetheless out there to me. I even get requests for sure songs so I ensure, when everybody comes down the steps, that I’m enjoying their songs! As soon as I’m respectable I’ve my door open and folks come by, say hi there and have slightly dance on the door!” Susan Wokoma

Folks, Locations and Issues – Trafalgar theatre

“How I’m feeling concerning the play all the time is dependent upon my sleep the evening earlier than. I didn’t actually sleep very properly final evening as a result of I had a hen burger after I bought house. All I need is to eat actually unhealthy meals after I end.

When it’s a matinee, I eat hen and cheese Wotsits. After which I get into mattress right away and sleep, even when it’s only for 10 minutes. A disco nap. It resets me, after which I’ll bathe after which do the entire thing once more.” Denise Gough

The Satan Wears Prada – Dominion theatre

“My mum, Helen, got here to opening evening. The subsequent day I seemed into her eyes they usually had been yellow. Opening evening was on the first December, she went to the physician the 2nd, was within the hospital on the third and died on the twentieth. However she had her eighty fifth birthday right here. We had 140 folks fly in so not less than she noticed all her buddies.

In hospital she was like: ‘Don’t you’ve gotten a present?’ And I mentioned: ‘Yeah, Mother, I’ll be proper again.’ I didn’t miss a present. Mum liked me within the theatre and was so proud that I used to be doing the present, so I used to be truly doing it for her. December was simply the worst. However you’ve simply bought to get on the market and do it, after which you may collapse within the carry on the best way to my dressing room. So it gave me one thing to take my thoughts off all the things. I believe that helped.” Vanessa Williams

Dr Strangelove – Noël Coward theatre

“On the half, I begin doing my routine – shave, hair, brush enamel, moisturise, get all these garments off, put my undergarments on: shirt, sound straps and all that. They requested me to do three roles – Kong, Strangelove and Mandrake the officer – and I requested if it was attainable to do the President as properly. I believe that’s what’s made the play. The modifications backstage are very frenetic. They’re ordered, however they’re quick. Like a Method One pit cease.

In the beginning of final 12 months, I had lengthy hair and a beard. When that is over I’ll in all probability let it develop again. It’s a type of barometer for a way lengthy its been since I’ve had a job. I simply present my agent and if my beard and my hair is lengthy then I’m like: ‘you’ve gotta get me a job!’

After I’m the president I’m principally doing my Jack Lemon impersonation. After which after I do Kong, I’m form of channeling Invoice Clinton, that Arkansas accent. Mandrake is form of my inventory Hooray Henry, with some nuance, and Strangelove is only a camp Nazi, which I believed can be fairly good to take the sting off it one way or the other, and I don’t know, makes it much less distasteful? I attempt to do it slightly Andy Warhol-ish, form of like Studio 54 …

Usually, I begin with this… ah, ba, ba ba ba bum. Usually I sing, I siiiiii-ng to heat up the voice. I siiiiing! Wherherherherhere is love?’

I all the time stretch. At my age – 59 – you’ve bought to in any other case you seize up. I like this drink right here – it’s saved my bacon, frankly. It’s uncooked ginger, lemon, chilli and honey. You already know that feeling whenever you’re like: ‘Christ, I’m about to return down with one thing.’ I’ve had that a great deal of instances on this. I get that pre-flu feeling, and really feel my physique pushing it away, saying: ‘No, come again one other time.’

That is hardest factor I’ve ever carried out. I imply, I say hardest, probably the most demanding. All the opposite stuff I do is extra managed and you’ve got time to enhance. It’s simply demanding being right here daily to do it. I can’t consider I’ve carried out a hundred-and-whatever exhibits!” Steve Coogan

Shifters – Duke of York’s theatre

“I’ve practically misplaced my voice a number of instances, as a result of there’s an enormous climax on the finish. My vocal warmups assist to protect it, but in addition I actually just like the routine of, like: ‘OK, now I’m entering into my character Des – that is what I have to do to organize.’ It simply retains me grounded and helps with the transition from Heather to Des.

The transformation largely occurs within the hall backstage simply earlier than we go on. I contact this necklace as a result of it means rather a lot to Des and that’s the connector for me.” Heather Agyepong