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INTERVIEW
WITH INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY TAKING PLACE ON 8 MARCH, TPMEA SITS DOWN WITH FOUR OF THE INDUSTRY’S TOP FEMALE TALENTS TO DISCUSS GENDER EQUALITY IN LIVE EVENTS.
POPPY BALLON, FREELANCE STAGE MANAGER What sparked your interest in the industry? My ‘wow’ moment was when my mum took me to see The Lion King for my birthday. Becoming totally immersed in the production, I decided there and then that I would be working backstage on this show one day – and, sure enough – it was a great moment when I finally got to realise that ambition. Before coming to Dubai, I enjoyed a 13-year career in the West End, working on some of the biggest and longest running shows, including Buddy Holly, We Will Rock You, Cats and Phantom of the Opera, where I worked on the audio team. There was a lot to learn – from dealing with the mics to mixing – but I put in the hours every week and finally getting to mix with an audience
ME
was a hugely satisfying achievement. Once word got out that I was mixing, I was offered the number two sound role on the UK tour of The King & I. I then did Ghost the Musical and Sister Act back on the West End, before my first international tour with Mamma Mia, starting in Shanghai and ending in Eastern Europe. Although I loved the theatre environment and had achieved my original ambition of working on The Lion King, I knew that audio wasn’t my ultimate destiny. I felt pigeonholed and I wasn’t really fulfilled. I wanted to get into stage management. When I arrived in Dubai, just over eight years ago, I knew that this was my opportunity to explore pastures new. I didn’t know anyone here,
but I did my research and found a wonderful guy who we all know and loved – Nigel Beaton – who was willing to teach me everything he knew about stage management. He was the greatest mentor I could have wished for. I took copious notes on everything he did, trying to overcome the doubts of how I could live up to his standards. It was the greatest career decision I ever made! Tell us about your scope of work… I now work mainly as a stage manager, but I’ve also broadened my scope of work to cover production and artist management on various occasions. My very first stage management role was the NYE Sandance, on Atlantis Beach
