Jan Robotycki (Stage Management)

Biography

What’s been your highlight during your time at Guildhall 

I think I can’t name one event or one production I was involved in as there is so many of them, and every single of them is one of its kind, different, individual. I choose to describe the most important feelings/emotions that appear across most of them.

It was during closing night of the biggest opera production of the year I was working on. The process itself was challenging with many ups and downs. I was standing there in my wing sending performers on stage, silencing excited about closing night drinks chorus. Waiting impatiently to listen to musical beauty of scene VI, VII and VIII for the last time I realised how much I’m going to miss working on this show. 

The studio run of last operatic project of the year – Opera Makers. I was tired. We all were but I can say it was my 8^th week in a row working long days absolutely drained of energy at the end. We reached the last scene, so charged with emotions. It was easily relatable, sad but not hopeless, universal and individual at the same time, and musically sublime. 

I saw director crying, I saw conductor crying, I saw my colleagues crying, I myself cried. I felt like I am part of something phenomenal. I couldn’t get a better reward. 

What’s been your highlight in the industry? 

It needs to be working on St. Paul’s Opera Die Fledermaus as Assistant Director and Stage Manager. I discovered the power of community company and learned that good opera production doesn’t need to be big. 

What’s something you’ve learned that you feel will help you when you graduate? 

I have learned that production process is equally important as its final product. Without sustainable, safe, open-minded work environment the production can’t be called a ‘success’. 

I also have learned that working in arts is a job and should be treated as one without additional ‘spiritual’ levels to it. 

What are you most interested in working after you graduate? 

I tailored my time at guildhall towards working in opera/music-based performance, and I’d like to continue going this path. I’m interested in Assistant Director roles mostly in opera as music sometimes seems to me an easier medium to understand than spoken/written word. I’d like to develop further in Stage Management and work as Deputy Stage Manager.