Episode 1: Curtains Up

The curtain rises on the very first episode of The Sainsbury Singers Podcast!

Join hosts Dean Davis and Kaz Grainger as Kaz takes the hot seat to share her journey with the Sainsbury Singers, her favourite productions, unforgettable backstage stories, and what it's really like in the director's chair.

Expect plenty of laughs, a quick-fire quiz, musical theatre chat, and a few behind-the-scenes secrets along the way.

Whether you're part of the Sainsbury Singers family, a musical theatre fan, or simply curious about life in an award-winning amateur theatre society, this is the perfect place to start.

So grab a cuppa, hit play, and let the show begin! ☕🎭

Transcript

SPEAKER_03 0:07

The Sainsbury singers have been entertaining Redim for almost 90 years, making us the town's longest-running musical theatre company.

SPEAKER_01 0:14

Contrary to popular belief, we do not work for the supermarket, but if you ever hear a perfectly harmonised checkout announcement, it might be used.

SPEAKER_03 0:22

Founded almost 90 years ago by a local music teacher, Frank Sainsbury.

SPEAKER_01 0:27

We've grown from a small singing group into an award-winning society.

SPEAKER_03 0:30

With a real family atmosphere, a loyal following. And more than a few nodor awards gathering dust on a shelf. Welcome to the Sainsbury Singers Podcast. Hello everyone and welcome to the Sainsbury Singers Podcast, episode one.

SPEAKER_01 0:46

Very, very exciting. Welcome, welcome.

SPEAKER_03 0:49

My name is Dean Davis.

SPEAKER_01 0:51

My name is Kaz Granger.

SPEAKER_03 0:52

And we are part of the Sainsbury Singers. So the the plan of attack is to uh meet uh those that are members of the society. I should change that actually, not just the members.

SPEAKER_01 1:05

No. Members and beyond.

SPEAKER_03 1:06

Members and beyond. Oh, I like that. So they could be uh people that help us backstage, which without them, we are nothing without them. Um past members.

SPEAKER_01 1:20

Um past, present, and uh well, past, present, and beyond. Exactly. I think that's probably the best way to say.

SPEAKER_03 1:27

Um but for the first two episodes, we want you to get to know us as your presenters. Um so episode one is you.

SPEAKER_01 1:37

It's me. Are you scared? Yeah, a little bit.

SPEAKER_03 1:41

We will do the questions and we'll see how you get on.

SPEAKER_01 1:44

Okay.

SPEAKER_03 1:44

So I suppose where to start is when did you join the Sainsbury Singers? And what was your first show?

SPEAKER_01 1:50

So I joined in 2013, I believe. Um, my first show was Carousel, and it was actually really funny. I had put in an email, I'd I had recently graduated um from university to do musical theatre. Um, just had my first child, Eli, bless him, he's now 14. Um and I just needed to do something musical theatre related. I Googled local musical theatre societies in the area, and Sainsbury Singh has popped up. I sent an email to Brian, who I now know who Brian is, um, and I then left it for almost a year. Didn't realise that his response went into my junk email, and then it came to November time of the same year, and I was like, oh my god, he responded. I feel like the worst person in the world. And so I replied really quickly and be like, Yes, I'm really excited to join. Please can I come along? And then the rest is history. And um, the first rehearsal I ever got into was a um a Carol singing rehearsal.

SPEAKER_03 2:47

Smooth.

SPEAKER_01 2:47

Which uh was intense.

SPEAKER_03 2:48

Fantasm of fire pose.

SPEAKER_01 2:50

It was intense, but um, it didn't put me off that much.

SPEAKER_03 2:52

So I have another question.

SPEAKER_01 2:54

Go for it.

SPEAKER_03 2:54

Um, it it's why did you wait a year? What happened?

SPEAKER_01 2:57

Well, I I thought he didn't respond because it went into my junk.

SPEAKER_03 3:00

I thought Brian ignored you. And no, you know Brian, you know that's that's not a thing. That's absolutely not.

SPEAKER_01 3:05

And he literally replied like a couple of days after I had sent my email in and then left it months, and so I'm surprised he um he let me come back.

SPEAKER_03 3:14

She ignored me for a year. Um we'll let her in. Um when you're not being a Sainsbury singer, what do you do day to day?

SPEAKER_01 3:21

Um who is cats? Um apart from being a wife and a mother of two, um, I work for an alternative provision, so I deal with spicy kids on a daily basis. Um trying to teach them maths and English. Um and we're based on a farm and in a forest provision, so you get to work with animals and horses, and it's how's your maths in English? Apparently good enough to teach children. Um, but I never thought I would ever, ever be looking at maths again in the capacity that I'm looking at it now.

SPEAKER_02 3:52

Wow.

SPEAKER_01 3:53

I nearly cried when I passed with a C. I was like, oh thank God, I never have to do this ever again. But at least I'm getting paid to do it. So smash in.

SPEAKER_03 4:00

Lovely. Um so what has been your favourite show to do with the Sainsbury singers?

SPEAKER_01 4:06

There are a few. I really well, I enjoy most of them to be fair. I really enjoyed Hot Makido, which wasn't very well received, unfortunately, but it was a really great show, really fun show to do. Um and then obviously you've got the classics like Shrek was a that was a no-brainer, of course. That was a made Adam's family, again, like classic. So yeah, I would say the the most fun I had was probably Hot Makaido, but then you know, you can't go wrong with the other classics that we've done.

SPEAKER_03 4:38

Lovely. Um, and who or what character have you played with the Sainsbury singers that was very close to you and very hard to say goodbye to? This is such a weird question for those that don't do musical theatre.

SPEAKER_01 4:51

We get very invested. Um I really enjoyed playing the part of Sylvia in Bad Girls. Um, I not that I resonated with her at all.

SPEAKER_03 5:01

She is award-winning.

SPEAKER_01 5:03

No, no, no, she is the opposite of me, the antithesis, if you like. But it was a really fun part to get stuck into. Like I love acting, I love voices and putting on an accent, and she was everything that that was everything, um, with her. So yeah, she was quite difficult to get over. It was a it was uh an emotional time for me to have to to hang up her uh Birkenstocks, um not Birkenstocks, what are they called? Doc Martins, Doc Martins, hang up her Doc Martins, um and say just imagine her in prison wearing Birkenstocks. I know to be fair, probably the only other shoe she would ever wear would be a Birkenstock.

SPEAKER_03 5:45

Um on to the next one. What musical theatre role would you love to do? Whether you've got the ability to do it or not, what role would you love to do?

SPEAKER_01 5:54

I really like how you added whether you've got the ability or not. That makes a yeah.

SPEAKER_03 5:57

Whatever dream.

SPEAKER_01 5:58

Um I mean, I would love to be Val McKelly in Chicago. Like that is she's just so cool. And you know. Um, so yeah, that has always been my dream role. And will always be until I ever get to do her, which probably well, you never know, actually. You never know.

SPEAKER_03 6:14

We're just on track.

SPEAKER_01 6:15

Yeah, you never know.

SPEAKER_03 6:16

Recently, if you didn't see it, you missed out. Um, what is your most unpopular opinion? I can't give you mine because mine is the next episode.

SPEAKER_01 6:27

If we're talking about with regards to musicals, anything. Well, I'll give you one regards to musicals. I don't like Mamma Mia or Dirty Dancing.

SPEAKER_03 6:34

Whoa.

SPEAKER_01 6:35

I can leave them alone, and if I never watch them again, I'd be alright with that. Yeah, told you.

SPEAKER_03 6:41

I am lost for words, which is hard to tell you.

SPEAKER_01 6:43

You might hate me even more. Another one, Hamilton.

SPEAKER_03 6:46

Uh uh I like Hamilton.

SPEAKER_01 6:49

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 6:51

But I am kind of with you. I have to put subtitles on following.

SPEAKER_01 6:54

Very clever. Um, I love the musicality of it. Well done. Congratulations, Lynn Manuel. Uh, however, I just I don't get the hype. I'm not with it. Sorry. Sorry, guys.

SPEAKER_03 7:07

Controversial in the comments at some point, I feel. Um, what is your favourite thing about being a Sainsbury singer?

SPEAKER_01 7:15

I would just say the community of it all. Like we're if those of you that don't know us already, the the thing that comes up a lot is we say Sainsbury singers are a family. Um, and as cheesy as that may sound, we are to a certain extent. Um, but I feel like it's not just about that, it's about the fact that this society has been going on for 90 odd years, and everything about the society, where where we've come, what we do, where we're where we're allowed to perform backstage, in front of stage, on stage, everything is because of a member of the Sainsbury Singers, and that it continues to this day. So I think that's really special. Yeah. And that's what I love the most.

SPEAKER_03 7:56

Nice. I like that. Currently with the Sainsbury Singers. Are you doing a show? What are you doing in the show?

SPEAKER_01 8:01

Funny you should mention, Dean. Actually, um, we are currently in the process of doing Come From Away. Um, we yeah, so I'm I'm actually directing that one. Sorry, I should probably add that in there, shouldn't I? Um so yeah, it's been lovely getting back into sort of being in front of the the hall instead of um being in and amongst it all. Um is this first direct or this is my second show that I'm directing with the Saints with Singers.

SPEAKER_03 8:29

Um and the first was?

SPEAKER_01 8:32

The first was Kipps, um, and uh I believe you were a little bit of a part of that too, weren't you?

SPEAKER_03 8:37

Yeah, I was.

SPEAKER_01 8:38

Yeah, do you wanna do you wanna let the audience know who you are?

SPEAKER_03 8:40

I was I was Chittalo, who was uh basically a failed writer essentially until the end.

SPEAKER_01 8:46

Spoiler.

SPEAKER_03 8:47

Spoiler alert if you'd never seen Kipps, it was available on SkyArts, but I've just spoiled it for you. Um yeah, he was a cool character to play, uh, very funny. Um didn't have as much to do as Bless Alex as Kipps.

SPEAKER_01 9:01

Oh yeah, he was on stage consistently.

SPEAKER_03 9:03

Yeah, a bit like uh Rosie as as as Elle in our recent production of Legally Blonde. I don't think they stepped off apart from changes.

SPEAKER_01 9:11

Well, Rosie didn't even step off half the time to change, did she?

SPEAKER_03 9:14

It's crazy news. Yeah, um so yeah, so that was your first.

SPEAKER_01 9:17

Yes.

SPEAKER_03 9:18

Come from away is your second.

SPEAKER_01 9:19

Come from away. So I took a bit of a break. I I kind of, you know, decided after Kipps, I was a bit like, oh, maybe I don't need to do this again. It was a really, really fun experience, but it was just a lot. Like you you underestimate how much you know a director actually has to think about um because ultimately you have to know the whole show from front to back. Yeah. Then people ask you a lot of questions, um, like what costumes do you want? What set do you want? How how much lighting do you need? And and I'm like, oh, oh yeah, I've got to think about that. Uh so this time around, I was a little less naive. Um I think I've been looking at the show for over a year now, uh, up until this point. So I feel more prepared and I'm ready. I feel a lot of pressure because Come From Away, if you don't know it already, is um it's a very well-loved um production uh about a real life story um based around 9-11. And yeah, it's just it's it's based on all of true accounts of what happened on the day and the day after in a small town in Canada, and it's a really lovely, heartwarming story. It's 90 minutes long, there's no interval, there's no scene changes, there's you know, it it literally just runs through and it's all completely underscored. Um, so me and Owen Lloyd, who's our musical director, we um have to work really closely this time. Um, incidentally, we were uh MD and director for Kits as well, which helped. So we know each other. Um, but I think we've definitely got a lot closer during this process because we've had to make decisions together. I couldn't just go, this is what I want, you can't have that, and vice versa. Um, so it's been a really good experience, a different experience. Uh, and actually, the c the casting process this time around was so, so difficult. Like it was difficult for Kipps, but this time round, everybody brought their A game, like genuinely, everybody brought their A game, and it was so difficult. Um we had the luxury of having quite a lot of roles to fill this time. Um so that helped, but yeah, it was genuinely very, very difficult. Um and I suppose we'll we'll touch on it in the next episode. But for those that um don't know, spoiler alert, Dean is gonna be Claude, which who is the mayor of um this little town in Canada.

SPEAKER_03 11:51

Gander.

SPEAKER_01 11:52

Gander. And uh yeah, oh I'm well obviously I'm impressed because I cast him in the wrong.

SPEAKER_00 11:58

But I'm very much looking forward.

SPEAKER_01 12:01

I'm very much looking forward to um to what he and the rest of the cast bring to this wonderful show.

SPEAKER_03 12:08

It's beautiful. Um I I did write down a couple of questions for you on on top of that. So I am not a director and never will I want to be a director as I sit here today. That may change in the future, but uh the the pressure and everything you guys go through hats off to you and everything you do. But preparation as a director with the Sainsbury Singers, not just with Kipps, but did you do anything particular with Come From Away to prep for it in the year before?

SPEAKER_01 12:36

Yeah, so I had no form of reference, similar to Kipps as well. I had no form of reference. Um, we were very lucky actually. So normally how it works with licensing, if you don't know, um, you get a list on the internet in some shape or form to say these shows are available for amateurs to perform. Um, Come From Away was not one of those for a very long time. When it did come out, um, the writers and producers were very um picky with who they wanted to um perform as amateur societies. So we actually got put on a waiting list. We had to sort of apply for the license as opposed to just say we want it, please and thanks. Um, and we got selected to perform it. Um, so we were very lucky, first of all, in that regard. Then after that, I went, okay, this is uh even more before you carry on with that with that pressure because they've said we would like you to do it in essence.

SPEAKER_03 13:30

Do they come and see us? Can you hear the element of nervousness in my voice?

SPEAKER_01 13:35

I don't know if the writer specifically, um, however, going back to what I was gonna say, but then also answering your question. Yeah, so during the sort of the research process, if you like, come from away, um, Simon, another member who we'll probably meet in this podcast um in the future, he managed to speak to the real Claude um in Gander, and apparently they him and his friend Brian have gone to see every single production around the world. It's not scary at all. So we don't know if they will turn up or not, but I'm sure um I'm sure they will uh try their best to come and make it. So who knows? Um, but I think that is part of the reason why it is so selective is because they they genuinely, and when I say they, I mean the members of Gander, they genuinely care about everything that's going on with the show, and it's been going on for years.

SPEAKER_02 14:32

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 14:33

Decades. Um, so that was part of the the research process, speaking to them. But then also I've you know read multiple books and watched most multiple like YouTube clips and stuff because we just need to make it right. Yeah, we're talking about real people, sure.

SPEAKER_03 14:46

So that's quite scary that he may turn up and I'm playing him anyway. We'll bypass that to another day. Um audition process.

SPEAKER_00 14:55

Yes.

SPEAKER_03 14:56

From a direct because obviously you've done both sides, you've you've performed on stage, you directing what are the obvious big differences, but is there anything that we don't know that's useful to know?

SPEAKER_01 15:11

I don't know. I think we just have to think about um the amount of people we've got auditioning and how long each audition piece needs needs to be. Um what we need to get from it as a director, and what um Owen would need to get as a musical director. Uh, because there might be things that he's not too worried about, and there might be things that I'm not too worried about. Uh that was very apparent, I think, in this particular audition process, because there's a few principal characters, for example, that have solos, so he's gonna want to hear them singing, I'm gonna want to see them acting. So it's just about finding that balance and then making sure that we're not sitting there watching people auditioning for hours because not only is could it get tedious for us, but it could get tedious for those that are waiting. If you've gone first and that's the only audition that you've done, you have to wait until the end. So yeah, but not much that I don't think there's anything that people wouldn't expect from the process.

SPEAKER_03 16:04

No, no, do you want to give a glint or fly on the wall for audition nights? So if if you're a member, you can actually go and watch these, yeah. Which it is it's utterly terrifying, and we often all of us say, Why do we do this? And then we get to show we can go, This is why we do it, it's incredible. As soon as the first applause happens, yeah. Um, of just what happens on an audition night.

SPEAKER_01 16:28

Yeah, so basic audition night, you come in, everyone sits down. Some people have designated seats that they sit in in every audition. Um, I'm one of those people. Um, and then you'll have a director and an MD sitting at the front with and then a non-partial um member of the society. So in our case, we have um a lovely lady called Becca, who we normally um find in the lighting box. Um, um she just becomes the impartial judge. So if the MD and the director can't make a decision, she will be there and she'll offer up her opinion and we go from there. There's normally a um running order that will get posted out into our little group chat so everyone can see who has to go when and to do what, and then everyone just comes up one after the other, do their thing. We don't clap each other because um, just for fairness, just in case you know, someone gets a slightly shorter clap than someone else, which may not be their fault at all. It may just be that we've been doing it for two hours and actually we we love you, but I'm tired. Yeah, um, so we just we don't clap, and then at the end we do a massive big round of applause for everybody. And then now it's the case anyway, um, everyone can go home, and then MD Director and Becca will sit and cast, and then the cast list goes out. So yeah, and then in in the the past, we used to have to all wait for that casting process, which was squeaky bum time to say to say the least, because uh yeah, you're sitting there waiting listening for that door to open.

SPEAKER_03 18:04

And the door used to open by someone just have been to the toilet, and you're like, oh, and you look really disgusted at the fact of just someone's come back in from the loo, it's not the director walking back in. Um, and and then while you're deliberating roles, uh I suppose you've only done it twice. Is there certain parts that for example well to be fair, you and Owen have both done Kips and come from away that you've ended up loggerheads over? Is it a flip of a coin? Is it just you both agree? What because I I've also wondered that from an auditionese point of view of how that I don't need to know the ins and outs, but the the intricacies of that conversation happens.

SPEAKER_01 18:46

Me and Erin have got lucky because we actually aren't dissimilar with our thinking, thus far, anyway, the two shows that we've done. There have been moments where I've I've either just got to go, so I'm happy with either or the out of the four people or whoever many people, but it may come down to a musical thing. So I'm like, you need to make that decision as such, the musical one. Yeah, who do you think um, you know, would would do the best job, or um do you think is the the right sound or that you know, because it's it everyone is good, so it no one's ever going to be bad. Yeah, yeah. But it's just about you know, I sp it could even be down to something silly as pairings, like looks as well. Um, for if you've got like a couple or something in in a show. But yeah, most of the time we actually we agree.

SPEAKER_03 19:42

So the the next feature we have, that they're all the questions. You you're you can relax now, you're not being drilled anymore. Um but the next bit is a bit more pressure, I think.

SPEAKER_00 19:52

Okay.

SPEAKER_03 19:52

Um it's quick fire questions.

SPEAKER_00 19:55

Okay.

SPEAKER_03 19:55

So we have some rules on this. Yeah. I say we, like who've not been part of this process.

SPEAKER_00 20:00

Dude, you could have kept the illusion going for a little while.

SPEAKER_03 20:02

Yeah, sorry. Um the the illusion, we'll forget all that last bit. Uh uh so quick fire questions, you're not allowed to um and are. Oh god. The answer's got first answer that pops in your brain, pop it out.

unknown 20:14

Okay.

SPEAKER_03 20:15

No, I don't knows.

SPEAKER_00 20:16

Oh, but I'm okay.

SPEAKER_03 20:18

It doesn't matter. Whatever comes out, comes out, as long as it's not rude or offensive.

SPEAKER_00 20:22

Okay.

SPEAKER_03 20:22

We'll edit that bit out.

SPEAKER_00 20:23

Okay.

SPEAKER_03 20:24

Okay. Right. And we've got ten of them. Quick fire.

SPEAKER_01 20:27

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 20:27

Quick fire.

SPEAKER_01 20:28

Go for it.

SPEAKER_03 20:29

Ready?

SPEAKER_01 20:29

Mm-hmm.

SPEAKER_03 20:29

Here we go. Pineapple on a pizza, yes or criminal offence.

SPEAKER_01 20:32

Criminal offence. Cool.

SPEAKER_03 20:34

Uh, what's your most useless talent?

SPEAKER_01 20:37

I don't think I've got one. Um uh line dancing.

SPEAKER_03 20:42

Line dancing? We're gonna see their rehearsals. When when this comes out, uh, next rehearsal, we need to watch Kaz's most useless talent. Uh three. Uh what completely normal thing gives you the ick?

SPEAKER_01 20:54

Um, oh, when people put their elbows directly onto a table, like skin to table. Don't know why.

SPEAKER_03 21:01

That's weird. Uh, what's your go-to alcoholic? What's your go go-to drink, alcoholic or non-alcoholic? Full fat coke. Lovely. Uh, what TV show or cartoon were you obsessed with as a kid?

SPEAKER_01 21:12

There were so many. Um, I'm gonna say Oh, the wild thornbury's. Wow.

SPEAKER_03 21:20

Uh what's the dumbest way you've ever hurt yourself?

SPEAKER_00 21:23

Oh, um, I've fallen upstairs quite a few times. Upstairs. And then up the stairs, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 21:28

Lovely. Pretending you're doing the travelator or gladiators, probably. Probably something like that. Um, not that I did that as ever as a kid. Uh if you had to swap voices with someone, who are you picking?

SPEAKER_01 21:38

Ray, obviously. The singer Ray.

SPEAKER_03 21:40

Oh, yeah. I thought you had a neighbour called Ray then. It's like it's a really nice guy, I like Ray. Uh, would you rather have to sing everything you say or dance everywhere you go?

SPEAKER_01 21:50

Sing everything you say. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 21:52

I thought you'd go the other one.

SPEAKER_01 21:52

You get so too tired dancing.

SPEAKER_03 21:54

Fair. Line dance all the way down the road. Exactly. Uh, what's your most awkward public moment?

SPEAKER_01 22:00

Oh god. I I can't remember specifically, but I trip over a lot, so I've probably tripped somewhere. Embarrassing.

SPEAKER_03 22:05

Fair. And the last one, what's your dream job as a child? Or what was your dream job as a child?

SPEAKER_01 22:10

Um, to be a nurse, actually. Was it? Yeah. Nice. Not so much now.

SPEAKER_03 22:14

See, that wasn't that stressful.

SPEAKER_01 22:15

It was, I'm sweating.

SPEAKER_03 22:16

You sweating.

SPEAKER_01 22:17

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 22:18

Lovely. We can smell heavy. Yeah. Um, lovely. So that's that's all the questions we have for you.

SPEAKER_01 22:25

Do you feel like you know me better now?

SPEAKER_03 22:26

I feel like I know you better. Okay, cool. More than I did know you, I think. Um we have uh a special question that we like to ask uh everyone at the end of every single podcast. What is your musical ick? Or it could be an annoying thing from a musical something that just bugs you about a musical.

SPEAKER_01 22:47

Um, well, I don't think I've got anything specific. However, the biggest the the the musical that gave me the ick the most was Jerry Springer the musical. It was a whole musical of icks, and I don't know how they got the go-ahead to do that. Uh when I think secondary school and a GCSC drama.

SPEAKER_03 23:09

Also it was a professional.

SPEAKER_01 23:10

It was on the West End, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. And I don't know how they got clearance to do even even back then, I don't know how they got clearance.

SPEAKER_03 23:17

I mean, Book of Mormons got clearance.

SPEAKER_01 23:19

Yeah, but that's that's like cleverly done. This was just icks, like you had tap dancing KKK members, you had Jesus dressed as a baby, like it was just vile.

SPEAKER_03 23:29

That is a valid ick. Yes, a very valid ick for a musical. Um so the last question.

SPEAKER_00 23:36

Okay.

SPEAKER_03 23:36

We're gonna end this on every single episode. We want you to pass on some Kaz knowledge on to the next guest, yeah, which is me. So lucky enough I get to hear it firsthand. Um if you could give me or anybody uh a piece of great advice or something to take to show week, yeah, what would it be?

SPEAKER_01 24:02

I would say if we're talking about like an unstage member, I would say hydration is key, but keep that voice hydrated and you can't go wrong.

SPEAKER_03 24:13

Smash him. Well, Kaz, thank you so much for joining me on episode one. Thank you. And joining me on the rest of the episodes. Um Thank you everybody for joining us. Uh we are going to be back with episode two, and you'll have the delights of knowing me a little bit more. Thank you for joining us.

SPEAKER_01 24:30

Thank you for having me. Till you then. Bye-bye. Thanks for listening uh to episode one. Join us next time for episode two when I put Dean in the hot seat, we find out all about his wicked ic, and discover that he is in fact a Marvel hater. Who knew?