These recent times have been some of the hardest challenges we've faced and as a community, it hit us pretty hard. However during these difficult times, here at Pocket Size Theatre, we wanted to spread a little positivity and share some peoples experiences because we are all in this together. Each day we'll be speaking to our friends in the industry to share their experiences with you all so take a read and see how people are getting through these hard times.
Let's stick together, share the love and get through this as a community!
Darren Carnall is the associate choreographer on Back to the Future the musical and also the choreographer for the UK tour of Friendsical. HE works as a Choreographer with credits including The Ruling Class (Trafalgar Studios); The End of Longing (Playhouse Theatre); Friendsical (UK Tour); Associate Choreographer on Kinky Boots (UK); Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (Savoy) and The Christmasaurus Live (Eventim Apollo) and Resident Choreographer on Ghost the Musical (Piccadilly Theatre). His performing credits include Viva Forever (Piccadilly); Legally Blonde (Savoy); Lord Of The Rings (Drury Lane); Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (Palladium); A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum (National); Guys & Dolls (Piccadilly); La Cage Aux Folles (Playhouse); Saturday Night Fever (UK Tour); Witches of Eastwick (Prince Of Wales); Chicago (Adelphi) & Fosse (Prince of Wales).
Let's stick together, share the love and get through this as a community!
*Some information mentioned in this article may be out of date due to the progress of the current situation. Please keep that in mind when reading*
Darren Carnall is the associate choreographer on Back to the Future the musical and also the choreographer for the UK tour of Friendsical. HE works as a Choreographer with credits including The Ruling Class (Trafalgar Studios); The End of Longing (Playhouse Theatre); Friendsical (UK Tour); Associate Choreographer on Kinky Boots (UK); Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (Savoy) and The Christmasaurus Live (Eventim Apollo) and Resident Choreographer on Ghost the Musical (Piccadilly Theatre). His performing credits include Viva Forever (Piccadilly); Legally Blonde (Savoy); Lord Of The Rings (Drury Lane); Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (Palladium); A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum (National); Guys & Dolls (Piccadilly); La Cage Aux Folles (Playhouse); Saturday Night Fever (UK Tour); Witches of Eastwick (Prince Of Wales); Chicago (Adelphi) & Fosse (Prince of Wales).
On Monday 16th March 2020, The Society of London Theatre announced the closure of all Theatres in London. This followed suit with regional venues. Where were you when you found out and what was your initial reaction?
I was home in London having just got back from Manchester at the end of the previous week where we opened Back To The Future The Musical which I am Associate Choreographer on. I was supposed to head back up to start understudy rehearsals on the Tuesday and never made it back as the show was closed in accordance with the advice from the Government. I just felt so sorry for the cast and backstage team as they had worked SO hard during the rehearsals, tech and preview period and they were just about to be able to take a breath and just enjoy doing the show. They never got to do that but I’m SO relieved that we managed to get Opening Night done just before the closure.
Can you tell us anything productive you’ve been doing?
I have been doing workout classes with Barry’s Bootcamp on Insta Live every weekday morning to keep my fitness levels up but I haven't given any classes myself. Not saying I wouldn’t but at the moment I’m trying to just focus on getting through each day and actually enjoying spending some time at home with my husband and dog. I was away for a lot of the end of last year putting Kinky Boots on a cruise ship and the start of this year up in Manchester with BTTF so it’s nice to actually be at home! I have discovered that I LOVE jigsaws, as I think a lot of people have! It’s such a great way to focus your mind on something else during this time.
