Bob Clough

Bob joined the ‘Out and About Theatre Company’ in 1995, just in time to meet his first challenge as stage manager in having to construct a dividing wall for the play 'Something Borrowed'. The stage had to be split in two and one half was particularly difficult as it had to become a small kitchen comprising a sink with taps and draining board. Both the wall and the kitchen unit needed to be light for easy removal during the interval and for transporting to the different venues. Bob has been dealing with challenges ever since. Some which spring to mind are the ‘sawing a woman in half’ box for 'A Cut In The Rates'; he had no chance of ‘cutting corners’ so to speak! He also provided an evil looking saw, complete with blood stains. The hospital bed in 'Plaster' needed some clever construction to convert a normal spare bed into the framed hospital bed but he achieved this with the use of dowling and silver paint. Another challenge was producing a glowing goldfish bowl on a stand for 'Orca The Goldfish'. The finished effect was exactly right. In 'Last Panto In Wallasey' Bob had to construct a half demolished stage set; a task made all the more difficult by the fact that Barrie had to appear to have been trapped under it. 'One Down Three Across', needed a whole back wall with two doors, all self-standing for use at the Floral Pavilion. It had to be broken into small sections with quick-release bolts, made of cardboard on wooden frames and painted to look like wood, all for quick, easy removal because of the time limit imposed.

As well as constructing sets, Bob also has to look after stage furniture and properties, not an easy task when you consider we sometimes have to perform up to three different plays at three different venues in a fortnight. He’s always willing to have a go at anything touring theatre demands, whether it is fading the lights in and out or making sure the music comes on and goes off as doors are opened or closed. Sometimes he’s been 'front of house' dealing with programmes and tickets and he even appeared on stage in the spoof Victorian melodrama 'The Cobbler’s Ball' when he had to carry a sign across the stage. We had such difficulty getting him off that we’ve never asked him to ‘tread the boards’ since!

As well as working backstage with us, Bob was also loaned out to Claremount Road Church for the '9th/29th Beaverang Show' three years ago. He said it was rather hectic as there were some 60 children in the cast and he had to make sure they all got on and off the stage at the right time with the correct props and costumes. As a ‘thank you’ for his help Bob was made an ‘Honorary Beaver Scout ‘of the 9th Wallasey Beavers.

Bob’s daytime employment Bob is Project Officer with Wallasey C.V.S. Helping Hands. He has worked there since 1987 and took up his present post in 1993. He also does a lot of voluntary work with 'Helping Hands' during evenings and at the weekends. In 1995 Bob married Alison Wadsworth after meeting her at the Wirral Churches Ark Project, where they were both volunteers, helping with the homeless. His hobbies have included teaching archery, (he actually taught Linda Terris, now one of our theatre group members), and being the chairman of a C.B. radio club in the early eighties. He also spends a lot of time making craft items which he sells from his mobile craft stall at Fayres and Galas, all in aid of various good causes. Always a busy man, Bob finds the challenges of being stage manager an enjoyable change from the normal hurly burly of his daily work. We're sure there'll be many more interesting challenges for him in the future.

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