“Snap! The Job's a Game”: Behind the Scenes of Mary Poppins

In every job that must be done, there is an element of fun, and nowhere more so than backstage on Britain’s biggest touring musical. Behind the scenes of Mary Poppins, you’ll find a treasure trove of smoking chimneys, colourful costumes, unusual umbrellas and wonderful wigs – all expertly maintained by a dedicated crew of over 100 people.

When the Disney and Cameron Mackintosh musical extravaganza drops in to Birmingham, it will arrive at the Hippodrome carefully packed into a total of eighteen 45ft trailers. From that point on, it’ll take the incredible crew up to three full days of working in two shifts, around the clock, to get everything practically perfect in every way before the show opens on 9 March.

“Moving it is such a military operation,” said Company Manager Neil White. “Everything is labelled beyond belief.”

Work doesn’t end with the get-in, either. On matinee days, the host theatre is a hive of constant activity between the hours of 8am and 11pm, packed with busy cast and crew members who never tire of ever buzzing to and fro. The wardrobe department certainly have very little time to rest, beginning the washing and ironing first thing in the morning and spending much of the rest of the day darning stockings. Three washing machines and four tumble dryers tour with the production and, according to Neil, get through roughly as much washing in a single week as an average household machine washes in a year. Clean clothes – including three of each item for the main cast and 19 separate outfits for each of the six swings – are stored in an extensive “village”, where everyone can find their costumes quickly.

“It’s not a show where anyone has an easy ride,” he said. “It’s exhausting, but every time you do a show like this everyone is really proud to get people in to see it.”

With so many complex mechanisms involved in pulling off the show’s spectacular effects, health and safety is also vital, and a full inspection is carried out before every performance – including between the two on matinee days. The electrical department also has plenty to keep its hands full, with smoke machines, haze machines, foggers, followspots, 58 motors and 97 moving lights to keep track of, and that’s before we even get started on sound! Since much of the equipment runs on rechargeable batteries, someone’s got to be responsible for ensuring everything remains fully charged. Then there’s the plethora of props and truly breathtaking sets: as Neil himself asserts, from the countless chimney brushes to the beautiful two-ton nursery, “everything looks as good up close as it does out front.”

If it’s tiring work – and backstage, it certainly looks it – you’d never know it from the auditorium. Everyone is on top form 100% of the time, and thanks to the team’s hard work and the creatives’ careful eye for detail, there’s barely a hair out of place.

“Cameron is a whirlwind when he visits: he can spot a moustache out of place or a light that isn’t quite right… It really keeps you on your toes!” Neil exclaimed.

Mary Poppins flies onto our stage from 9th March and will be here until the wind changes (on 23 April). Tickets are available to book online or via our Box Office on 0844 338 5000 (charges apply).