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Actress Hannah Summers, who returns to the TF after first appearing here as the Red Queen in 2007’s memorable production of Alice through the Looking Glass, reflects on life just a week into the run of The Adventures of Pinocchio...

Wow. How is it possible that press night was a week ago? Cor. Time is really flying. I laughed out loud yesterday, when, as I left my digs to come in for the evening show, I said at about 5.30pm, “Right then, I’d better go to work”. Work! No one can call having this much fun every day, ‘Work’!

The reviews have rolled in and it’s so lovely to have all our hard work reflected back at us through them and through the fab audiences we’ve been getting. What a great team, cast and crew alike, and with the superb writings of Toby Farrow, beautifully illustrative music and fun from Pete Judge and the gorgeous designs from Harriet de Winton. Not forgetting the puppet master himself, in the nicest most lovable way of course, Andy Burden.

Andy has a gift for guiding you through the mayhem and madness, and you have so much fun along the way that you can’t believe it when production week comes and you don’t feel ready at all, but actually and surprisingly, you are, as I was. I couldn’t believe how easy the transition from rehearsal room to stage was.

Of course once you step off stage that’s where the mayhem resumes for a while. Naked actors running around in their briefs to find various bits of costume or props… it should be a play all of its own!! Very funny it is back stage… My own personal back stage journey includes tracking the whereabouts of the blue fairy’s wand, a rogue piece of donkey ear and some fake boobs… it all adds to the fun! I won’t spoil any more secrets, but perhaps you can look out for those things yourself when you come and see it! One last thing… I must admit, I do love playing the evil Coachmistress… I’m not really evil.. but I do quite enjoy scaring you all… Does that still make me bad? I guess it must. I do quite rightly get my comeuppance though! Never fear!