The musical theatre is not the place for every instrumentalist - some musicians enjoy it, but others may not enjoy the repetitive nature or the style of playing, and so choose to avoid it altogether. And yet ironically, it is far more accessible to the general public than perhaps an orchestral performance, and makes billions of pounds annually in productions which take the UK by storm, both on the West End and on tour. Shows such as 'Les Miserables', 'Cats' and 'West Side Story' have run successfully over several decades and remain as popular as ever, both for their compelling storylines, the visual spectacle of theatrical stage skill, and the beauty of experiencing live music which is so accessible. And with the development of television shows such as 'How do you solve a problem like Maria?', the world of musical theatre has opened its doors to a whole new audience and thrives evermore.

   Playing in the orchestra for a theatre production is a very unique experience - far more personal than recording music for films, completely different in style to playing in a classical ensemble, very much more soloistic than in a section in an orchestra, and yet far less exposed than as a soloist in your right. The role of a theatre violinist is to be confident, responsive, and accurate at all times, as well as being able to hold your own part effectively against what is often a predominantly wind, brass and percussion ensemble. Here there is no section to hide in - pit orchestras usually use only one violin per part - so the player must find their own confidence, performing with all the assurance of the lead violinist of any professional orchestra. And of course technical skill is paramount, as every performance needs to be spotless. Then there is the ability to repeat the same music many nights in succession, whilst maintaining the freshness and concentration levels of a first performance. And most importantly of all, a high capability as a chamber musician - able to interact with the other pit players, the conductor, the actors and singers, and possibly also a click track.

   There is also the social aspect of this type of playing. A theatre orchestra will work together daily for many weeks, often months at a time, in a very close environment, and it is essential that one can get on socially and professionally with the other players. This prolonged company brings with it a bonding of the ensemble which enables the most accurate performance interaction within the group, as well as close friendships which extend far beyond the closing of a production. The atmosphere in a pit orchestra is a lot more relaxed than many other performance situations, partly due to the fact that the players are usually hidden from audience view, and also to the friendships that build between players rather than merely being colleagues. This relaxed attitude, along with the upbeat nature of many musical theatre numbers, creates an extremely fun playing experience, however it also requires a very high level of professionalism and performance prowess that make this discipline so unique, challenging, and incredibly rewarding.