The Stage

Chit Chat - Stubbing out the habit

Published Tuesday 26 June 2007 at 10:45 by Tabard

While puffing on my pipe - rather like Gandalf, Tabard does like to indulge occasionally - my mind turned to the impending smoking ban.

How shall I cope, come July 1, when I am no longer able to strike up in the theatre bar of an interval?

Well, Ambassador Theatre Group has given me a novel idea to cure my nicotine urges. The theatre operator has appointed ‘life coach’ Georgina Burnett, who will be using a combination of ‘neuro linguistic programming’ and ‘life coaching techniques’ to support employees in the transition from smoker to non-smoker, concentrating on lifestyle habits and positive behavioural changes. Whatever that means exactly.

To begin with, ATG’s group head of building services, Richard Kiernan, will undergo sessions with the lovely Georgina. His progress will be monitored over a three-month period, and if it goes well, other staff will be offered similar classes.

One has to wonder whether authorities in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland will be employing similar techniques when it comes to convincing actors to stop smoking on stage while in character. I for one struggle to imagine Noel Coward’s many nicotine-loving stage character’s being convinced to give up through ‘life coaching’ or Jimmy Porter being talked into stubbing it out. But maybe it’s worth a try.