Oliver!: Spotlight on Lindsey McAlister

Oliver! has sadly come to an end... hope everyone enjoyed watching the performance! In this next series, we’ll be speaking to those who were involved in the production. First up, we have… Lindsey McAlister, who was the fearless incredible and visionary director behind this fantastic show!

Lindsey, why did you pick to do Oliver!?
I have been directing musicals for 20 years and I have never directed Oliver! When I was looking for a musical that appealed to a family audience and involved younger kids…it seemed like a good choice! It was also the very first musical that I was ever involved in at high school…so it has a special place in my heart!
 
What was the process of moving from the rehearsal studio to the theatre like?
HELL!!! We get nice and comfortable in the studio, it’s cosy…and everything looks good because you are up, close and personal…then we move to a school hall…and the first time through is always uggghhh! Because of the bigger space, we have to re-space everything…but it’s good transition for the theatre (which can be a bit daunting for young performers…and exciting of course!!) Then we re-space it all again in the theatre…but slightly easier this time!!

What is the one thing you learnt from the cast that you can use for life?
Anticipating the needs of the cast (or people in general!) by putting myself in the performer’s shoes. I can then anticipate any problems they might have, questions they might ask. I always try to be one step ahead…not a bad life skill!!
 
What was your favourite scene/song and why?
Oh…tough question! Soooooo many great parts…I loved Jun & Giselle’s choreography so much…I always looked forward to “Who Will Buy” and “Be Back Soon”…but too many parts to mention!

What are you going to miss the most?
The Oliver! family…when we begin the process, the majority of people don’t know each other. Over 3 months, we create a caring, tight knit community…a very special and transformational experience for us all!
 
What are you usually doing 30 minutes before a show?
Around 30 mins before the show, we should be pretty much ready to go, as the house opens 15 mins before. Preparations before then include pages and pages and pages of notes to help the cast improve their performance, vocal and dance warm up, microphone check, check props, go over any dodgy bits from previous shows…

What was the most challenging thing for you about the show?
Definitely managing a cast of over 70 with nearly half under the age of 11!!! Been a while since I’ve worked with ‘littlies’ and been a while since I have had such a big cast!!! You have to be very organised and discipline is a biggie throughout the process!!
  
What are your top three tips for giving a good performance?
ENERGY, ENERGY and err….ENERGY!!!!

What’s next, now that Oliver! is over?
YAF has always got ‘the next’ project waiting in the wings…we are now gearing up for JUMP CUT 2015, Ocean Art Walk 2015, Hong Kong Jockey Club Community Arts Biennale… lots of exciting projects in the pipeline!! 
 
If you had one superpower, what would it be?
The power to make people do whatever I want them to do…OMG…so that's why I am a director!!!

How do you think we can raise the standards of art in HK, and to get more people involved?
Funding would be a good start!!! More money, more projects, more opportunities!
 
If you could meet any artist for a day, who would it be and why?
Isadora Duncan, the mother of modern dance, and Stephen Sondheim because I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE his musicals!

Rehearsal photos © Sam Inglis