“Actors have been overwhelmed during the rehearsal process, crying tears of grief.”
Speaking during his lunchbreak, theatre director Douglas Rintoul recalled the sense of excitement around his latest show Love Letters, which debuts at Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch later this week.
The artistic director and writer explained: “It’s such a lovely company, and everyone’s working really hard.”
Colchester-born Doug is keen to celebrate Essex’s music scene, which he said sometimes gets a “bad rep”.
"We don’t have a clear musical identity, like Bristol or Liverpool, but there is so much talent that has come out of Essex,” he explained.
“People are starting to wear the Essex badge with pride.”
Love Letters will be Doug's seventh show during the pandemic, and he explained the theatre has implemented a series of Covid-secure regulations.
“There is no close contact or kissing, but intimacy between characters is implied,” Doug explained.
“It feels like I'm doing a play in the 1940s."
The company has been rehearsing for around nine hours every day, as well as during some evenings and weekends.
“It’s a bit of a marathon,” Doug admitted.
“Actors are a bit like athletes - their muscles get out of shape.
“They are having to learn lines and do long days, which many hadn’t done in months.
“But everyone is pleased to be in the room, making something that’s hugely important to their identity.”
Actor Lucy Benjamin added: “I feel joyous, and the actors are all thrilled to be back.
“There was a sense of euphoria on the first day of rehearsals, but we also had the regular nerves that come with starting a new job.”
EastEnders star Lucy plays pub landlady Sheila in the new musical.
“I’m really pleased with it, this is a really great show,” she said.
“Because it’s brand new, there were teething problems and last minute changes to the script, but it has felt like a really organic and collaborative process.”
Reading-born Lucy moved to Gidea Park after meeting husband Richard, and said she now feels “very much like an Essex girl.”
Now that her children have returned to school in Brentwood, Lucy is enjoying being back in the theatre, where she feels most at home.
Love Letters runs at Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch from July 30 to August 21.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here