Beginners to the Stage, Please: Secrets of Life Backstage in London’s Magical West End

by Stewart Arnott

Have you ever wondered what really goes on behind the scenes of your favourite shows?

Beginners to the Stage, Please traces Stewart Arnott’s progress from tearing tickets in his teens to becoming the stage manager for The Phantom of the Opera in the West End of London. Along the way, he explains various aspects of how the industry works, delves into the psychology of performers and audiences, and provides detailed descriptions of how shows are put together and run.

The theatre is a world Stewart knows very well, having worked extensively in the West End over four front-of-house, stage-door-keeping, crewing, set-operating and, most importantly, stage managing. This gives him an in-depth knowledge of individual shows, a global overview of the industry, and a breadth of experience that offers a perspective few others will have had.

Peppered with personal anecdotes and a fair amount of (unabashed!) name-dropping, this story offers an insight into the nitty-gritty of daily life behind the scenes on some of the West End's most successful and well-known shows.

So come with Stewart as he takes you through the stage door and into the rarely seen backstage world of London’s magical West End.

Genres: Memoir

335 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 28, 2025

Reviews

[Zazine · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Beginners to the Stage, please" is a memoir about Stewart Arnott's career in musical theatre that doubles as a guide for anyone interested to take a look behind the curtain of theatre productions.

I found out about this book shortly after The Phantom of the Opera opened in my home town. When I read on the back that the author was one of the stage managers for the production, I thought it would be interesting to learn more about what happens backstage.

What really drew me in was this perspective of a man who's responsible for the whole show, who has to coordinate between different teams, take care that the complicated stage settings and the technical stuff work together with the actors and music to make something truly magical.

I found out through the book that Stewart worked in a lot of amazing productions: Miss Saigon, The Hunting of the Snark (by C. S. Lewis), Crazy for You, A Tribute to the Blues Brothers, Peter Pan and, of course, The Phantom of the Opera.

The book begins with his first real contact with theatre where he's an extra in a community theatre play. Here he has the chance to see the effort and care that goes into a production, to be "standing right in the middle of it as it was being created". He's fascinated with the idea that all the people backstage (and those on-stage) are in on a secret, a whole world that is hidden from the audience.

Stewart is quick to realize that his interest isn't in acting, but in what's happening behind the scenes. And I really enjoyed and appreciated that he takes the time to walk you through all the terminology. From the flydoor and flymen (having to do with flying props), to the geography of a stage, to what everyone does, with lights, set design, or the difference between staff and company and lots more. This book is truly a gold mine for anyone interested in the technical aspects of a theatre production.

This being first and foremost a memoir, we get to see a lot of famous singers and actors. Stewart admits that ”the story of my career is peppered with the names of famous people”, but he's also quick to explain that not all of them became his friends. "The closeness usually only lasted as long as the production." Most of the actors are professionals through and through, with the obvious exceptions of a few divas.

I liked that he doesn't pretend they were perfect just because they're famous and, also, that he's quick to forgive show-breaking mistakes. I found the story about "drying" very interesting - when an actor forgets his line but the music has to keep going. You'll have to read the book to find out who.
Stewart also tells us about his show-stopping mistake and how you have to own it and move on. "If you let it live with you, it can stop you concentrating and you can make more stupid mistakes further down the line."

The one thing that the book really lacked was images. I really liked the patience and the detail that went into explaining how certain set pieces worked, but I had to search for images or videos to get a better picture.

In the end, this was a book I really enjoyed and I wasn't surprised when Stewart said that the idea for the book started as a podcast about theatre. His tone and storytelling is really like a relaxed chat with someone who loves what he does. And just like a magician showing you how a trick works, this only makes you appreciate it even more.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the ARC.

[Andrew J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like looking through the magical curtains of the theatre, Stewart’s book is almost encyclopaedic in its generous delivery of knowledge, stories, anecdotes, and the humility of a career that spans well over four decades.

Reading every page, I get the sense that the awestruck teenager never left the man he became. To have a career that fulfils your dreams, hopes, ambitions, and so much more is truly a celebration, and that comes through constantly.

I described the early pages of this book as invitational, almost as if you are given a free ticket to step into his world, a world he describes with thoughtfulness and real consideration for the reader. Yes, there are technical passages, but everything is explained clearly and never in a patronising way, which would have been easy to do for someone so technically gifted.

The gossip is there too, and it carries that wonderful sense of “I’m going to tell you this, but don’t tell anyone else,” which keeps you hooked from page to page.

Above all else it is Stewart’s humility that makes this book so special. Rarely do you find pages that carry such a constant nod to those who went before him and gave him so much.

Want a career in the theatre? Read this. Love the theatre? Read this. Want to understand those mysterious jobs that appear in every programme? Read this. Need to know what it takes to survive in this industry? Read this. And finally, if you just want a true life story that will lift your spirits and make you feel better about the world, read this.

Deserving of its five stars, this book should sit proudly on many bookshelves, a fine invitation to the theatre.

[Rachael · Rating 4 out of 5]

[ARC received in exchange for my honest review]

4.5 stars

Anyone who knows me knows books, musical theatre and ice hockey are my three favourite things in life, so when I was given the opportunity to ARC read Stewart’s memoir of his life behind the scenes in some of the UK’s most famous theatres and working on some of my favourite musicals, it couldn’t have been more perfect.

Starting right at the beginning of Stewart’s introduction to theatre as a teenager in an amateur opera production with his mother and working all the way up to his current role as stage manager on Phantom, this was an utterly wonderful look into the technical side of theatre and I feel like I learned so much along the journey through Stewart’s career. I’ve always been amazed and in awe of what happens behind the scenes, but hearing it from the horse’s mouth made me appreciate these incredible people even more!

This book reads almost like chatting with a friend, and is perfect for any theatre lover and definitely for people considering a career behind the scenes in the West End and beyond.

A huge thank you to Stewart and the wonderful folks over at Troubador for the opportunity to read this one early.

[Clive Chenery · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stewart's insightful and revealing book, is required reading for anyone with interest in working backstage in London's West End. Full of insider information and explanations of Theatrical terminology, Stewart sprinkles his Journey from Ticket Tearer to Stage Manager on Phantom Of The Opera with true life stories of his many productions, from rehearsal to opening and closing.
It bought back happy memories of meeting Stewart when he worked on Crazy For You.
It's a very entertaining read about our Business Of Show.

[J.M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

{ARC}

This book is an absolute delight. Arnott takes us through the stages of his life, from his first theatre experience in childhood, to learning stage management, to working in the West End. The writing flows with ease and wit, and you feel you are being given a backstage tour with VIP access. "Beginners to the Stage, Please" is a must-read for anyone interested in a life in the theatre.

[J R · Rating 5 out of 5]

interesting, effective and unique memoir about the west end and life in theater there. would definitely recommend. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me about 25% of this book to get absorbed in the story of the author's life, but once I did, I couldn't put it down! I wish the first chapter was a sneak peak of the journey to come rather than a start at the beginning and continue to the end of the retelling of his life. For any theater fans, I highly recommend this book. I like to learn about how things work behind the scenes and I feel like I absolutely did with this, even as a recovering theater kid. This is a 4.5 star read, rounded down because of the slow start. Thank you to the publisher for this ARC; this review is my honest opinion.

[Fran · Rating 4 out of 5]

Memoir of a Career in the West End

Having ended his career in theatre with the COVID pandemic, Stewart Arnott reflects on about 40 years' worth of shows, people and backstage magic.
Opening his account with his final job of stage manager on Phantom of the Opera in London's West End, Arnott traces his CV from his humble beginnings as an usher and stage door keeper to his 25-year stint as Phantom's SM.
Along the lines, many an anecdote and famous name makes an appearance and (almost) all the intricacies and technical details that make theatre such a specific sector are revealed, explained and contemplated.

As a fellow stage manager (who did not go to Mountview but knows many who did), this book to me initially sounded fantastic. I hoped to learn a lot about the craft, get some tips and tricks and maybe a fun fact or two.
I was somewhat disappointed for myself by this book, since there are few technical details I did not know yet. For people not part of this world, this book will be a treasure trove of knowledge about all things stage management and technical. There are a few craft books out there, but Arnott conveys through this memoir what they don't: it takes grit, knowledge and networking to make theatre a long-term career.

For fans of British musicals, especially of the 80s and onwards, this book will let you relive some of the excitement and revisit some of the characters both on and off the stages at the time. For aspiring stage managers, this is a good account of the recent history of the profession and there are many lessons to be taken from Stewart's own career path. Bits like physical CVs and visiting producers are less of a thing nowadays, sadly, but it is heartening to hear that what counts most is how you apply yourself and learn on the job.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

[Kate Henderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book! I adore anything theatre related, especially hearing about all the backstage antics! Stewart Arnott's book is a must-read for anyone with a passion for theatre - whether that be performance, technical aspects, or just being an audience member.
The stories are so informative, and it was a real eye opener! I didn't want this to end.
Really really loved it!