Esther Stanford

This week on Conversations With Creatives I am joined by the brilliant Paul Read — West End dresser, actor and writer.

Paul has worked with some of the biggest names in theatre and entertainment, including Sir Ian McKellen, Paul O’Grady, Diana Rigg and David Schwimmer. But what exactly does a dresser do? And what does it take to be the person standing just behind the curtain, making sure everything runs smoothly?

We talk about how Paul found his way into theatre from a young age, and how his life as an actor and writer sits alongside his work as a dresser. It turns out that the job is about so much more than getting someone into their costume. You’re a confidant, a counsellor, a keeper of secrets and, at times, a bit of a butler. You have to know when to talk, when to listen and when to disappear quietly into the background.

We talk about working with some extraordinary personalities, navigating egos, the importance of discretion and what happens when the pressure backstage gets intense. Paul is refreshingly honest about the exhausting side of the job, the possibility of being bullied, and the extraordinary experiences that make it all worthwhile.

We also talk about his show Dressing Them Up, in which he takes audiences behind the scenes and shares stories from a world most of us never get to see.

It’s a romp of a conversation, full of brilliant stories, backstage revelations and fascinating insights into the people who make theatre happen behind the scenes. Because for all the glamour on stage, there’s a whole other world going on backstage.

Watch over on YouTube @marchhousecreative
Link in bio

Hope you enjoy!
Esther x

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