Beginners to the Stage, Please: Secrets of Life Backstage in London’s Magical West End

Have you ever wondered what really goes on behind the scenes of your favourite shows? Beginners to the Stage, Please traces Stewart Arnott’s progress from tearing tickets in his teens to becoming the stage manager for The Phantom of the Opera in the West End of London. Along the way, he explains various aspects of how the industry works, delves into the psychology of performers and audiences, and provides detailed descriptions of how shows are put together and run. The theatre is a world Stewart knows very well, having worked extensively in the West End over four decades: front-of-house, stage-door-keeping, crewing, set-operating and, most importantly, stage managing. This gives him an in-depth knowledge of individual shows, a global overview of the industry, and a breadth of experience that offers a perspective few others will have had. Peppered with personal anecdotes and a fair amount of (unabashed!) name-dropping, this story offers an insight into the nitty-gritty of daily life behind the scenes on some of the West End's most successful and well-known shows. So come with Stewart as he takes you through the stage door and into the rarely seen backstage world of London’s magical West End.