IT TAKES A lot of water to make it rain during the Cork Opera House’s new production of Singin in the Rain – but it’s specially heated to make sure the dancers don’t get colds.
We went behind the scenes to find out what it takes to put the whole thing together:
In this original production – based on the Gene Kelly movie of the same name – there are two rain showers per show, the first lasting four minutes and the second lasting two minutes.
A total of 500 litres of water pours onto the stage per show, making it a total of 15,500 litres for the whole run.
The water is 40 degrees Celsius to make sure the dancers don’t get sick.
How do they heat the water? With – you guessed it – an immersion.
The water flows through eight valves above the stage, and they’re specially set up to come on together at the exact same time.
But won’t the dancers slip? To combat that, a new stage floor was specially designed to allow the rainwater to drain off.
A drain and trough collects the water from the stage into 1,000 litre tanks under the stage.
They had to paint the stage and parts of the set so that the tap-dancers don’t slip.
The conductor of the orchestra does get a little splashed, but a net over the orchestra pit protects the rest of the members.
As for the audience, if you’re in the first row you get warned that you might get a little splashed too.
Singin in the Rain runs until 16 August at Cork Opera House. Tickets cost €20 – €30 or €70 – €100 for family tickets.
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