Trish Montemuro (1952 – 2022)
Graduating RADA in 1981 with the Killick Award for Stage Management, Trish started her career in fringe theatre and the West End before joining the National Theatre’s Stage Management team in 1982. Over the next 29 years, Trish worked on more than 50 productions, spanning The History Boys (2004) to Hamlet (2000) to Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1988). Trish also toured with the National Theatre across the world – from New York to the ancient theatre in Delphi, Greece – and collaborated with writers and directors including David Hare, Tony Harrison, Richard Eyre and Tom Stoppard. Trish left the National Theatre in 2010. Overcoming cancer, Trish went on to become an avid amateur sailor while occasionally guest lecturing at RADA and published articles about her work and correspondence with writer Tony Harrison (Postcards from a Well-Travelled Poet). Trish passed away in London in 2022.
In Trish’s own words:
"…I would never have imagined I would be a stage manager at the National Theatre. I emigrated to England from Canada…[and]…No one in my family was involved in the theatre, apart from my grandmother, who was an actress before she was married and moved, with my grandfather, to a tiny town in the prairies where they raised a large family…I went to university and did a humanities degree, and by accident really, I started working in the equivalent of fringe theatre in Ottawa. I used to read the plays, try and work out what they would need, and collect the props in my flat. Through this I met a couple of people who had worked in London, and I decided to come to the UK, initially for six months. I applied for a place on the technical [theatre] course at RADA and was amazed I even got an interview. I thoroughly enjoyed my time at drama school. We learnt about all aspects of technical theatre from set building to sound and lighting.
Very fortunately when I left RADA, I got work very soon at various fringe theatres and in the West End. One of my early jobs was as a stage electrician on My Fair Lady at the Aldwych theatre, and in fringe resident stage manager at the Tricycle Theatre. After this apprenticeship I went for an interview at the National, and I got a job as an Assistant Stage Manager. From then on, work never stopped being exciting.” [Taken from Backstage Stories, edited by Barbara Baker, 2007].
RADA is honoured to be able to pay tribute to Trish’s memory through Stage Management Journeys, our annual roundtable Q&A with stage management professionals. We would like to express special thanks to Satoko Yamaga Macdonald for their generous support.
