We chat to the General Manager of the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre as the venue celebrates it's third birthday - all his answers are in threes of course!
The Bord Gáis Energy Theatre celebrates its third birthday this week. Based in the heart Dublin’s Grand Canal Dock the theatre has gone from strength to strength firmly establishing itself as one of Ireland’s best-loved venues.
General manager Stephen Faloon has been at the helm since the theatre opened on March 18 2010 with a performance from The Russian State Ballet.
Since then the theatre has welcomed over six million visitors with everything from musicals, family shows and dramas to concerts, comedy, orchestral and operatic performances.
We gave Stephen a bell to wish the BGT a happy birthday and for a quick-fire interview in which all his answers must come in threes – in keeping with the theme of course!
What have been your three favourite shows at the BGET?
1. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
2. Sister Act
3. Tristan and Isolde
What three shows would you like to see come to the BGET?
1. Book Of Mormon
2. Matilda
3. Glyndebourne Opera
What three music concerts would you like to have at the BGET?
1. The Blue Nile
2. The Staves
3. Robyn
Tell us three things you do every day as the general manager of the BGET?
1. Wax lyrical about (musical) theatre
2. Procrastinate about work things that never seem to get done
3. Pray that each performance will be ok
What are the three best things about being a theatre manager?
1. Getting to see so many wonderful shows
2. Talking to customers after said wonderful shows and listening to their reaction.
3. Working in the most incredibly beautiful building means that it never feels like a job
What are the three best moments you have had at the BGET?
1. Opening night in March 2010 (though in fairness I barely remember it)
2. Opening night of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. The producers cried, I cried, we all cried.
3. The big scene change in Phantom of the Opera when the Phantom brings Christine to his lair from the stage. Breathtaking sets that even after watching over 20 times did not lose any of its power to leave me speechless (and that, I can tell you, is a very hard thing to do).
Who are your three favourite guests you have met at the BGET?
1. Aimee Mann – was completely star struck to the point of nausea
2. Samantha Barks – She played Nancy in Oliver at the same time Les Misérables the movie was realised in which she played Éponine. She is unbelievably talented and will be a massive star
3. Derren Brown – Not only is he a mind-bendingly brilliant magician but also a very nice guy
What are your three favourite treats to have at half-time of a show?
1. Popcorn
2. Ben and Jerry’s
3. Fish and Chips from our circle club
Tell us three things that happen backstage before a show starts?
1. Warm up
2. Panic
3. Nausea
Tell us three mistakes/problems that have happened in a show that the audience did or didn’t notice?
1. First night theatre opened the conductor of orchestra disappeared and could not be found. Luckily we had a replacement for the last act
2. Opening night of Grease one of the keyboards didn’t work. Cue three minutes of delay while we tried to wire a new plug
3. Only last month the lead actor in a show ate some prawns 20 minutes before curtain up and had a strange allergic reaction and ended up in hospital. Cue blind panic as the poor understudy had five minutes of warm up before going on stage and playing to a packed house
To coincide with their 3rd birthday Stephen also told us about a trilogy of brand new shows coming to the theatre this year. First up one of the longest-running shows in West End and Broadway history, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cats will play from August 21st to September 7th, followed by feel good international sensation Priscilla Queen of the Desert which opens on October 15th for two weeks. And finally, Heartbeat of Home the long anticipated sequel to Riverdance will have its Irish premiere in September at the theatre.
For more information all events and to purchase tickets check out www.bordgaisenergytheatre.ie
