By Mikayla van Loon
Long Covid is the relatively unknown and rather uncommon result of contracting the virus but for Lilydale Athenaeum Theatre set designer Merinda Backway, it’s very much a reality.
The 34-year-old tested positive for Covid-19 in March and knew then “it was more than just a cold.”
Since then, she has been bed ridden, suffering from fatigue, pain, muscle weakness, nausea, lack of appetite, tremors, headaches and cognitive issues or brain fog.
The three jobs Merinda once held in the entertainment industry, she has had to step away from.
“I can’t stand or walk for more than a few minutes at a time. I tried to keep working at one of my jobs just doing a few hours a week but had to give it up at the start of June when I kept having serious setbacks,” she said.
“My life now looks nothing like what it used to, which is hard to come to terms with.”
Having volunteered with the Lilydale Athenaeum Theatre for 13 years, Merinda is still working on the set design for the company’s third production for the year, ‘Cosi’.
Albeit different to her standard hands-on work, Merinda said she has been able to work from her laptop to design the set.
“I was able to complete the design in 3D software to provide the builders with a reasonable level of detail and some basic plans – not quite the level of detail I usually provide but enough that the experienced set builder team could work from,” she said.
Knowing the team quite well, Merinda said she has full faith in the builders to construct and design the set to her specifications but will always prefer being hands-on.
“It’s certainly made me think through every aspect of the design a lot more. Particularly with how it will be finished.
“I’ve had to consider how I can make it easier for someone else to paint the set. Breaking down instructions into stages, where normally I would just paint intuitively.”
While still being able to work from home has shown Merinda how she can do things differently, long Covid has impacted even her ability to think clearly and use programs she is extremely familiar with.
“At times due to brain fog, I had to look up how to use parts of the design software I have been using for over 10 years.
“I needed to take regular rest breaks as even computer work is exhausting. Normally I would be down at the theatre regularly during the build process, checking in with the builders and doing all the scenic painting myself.
“Currently I spend most of my day in bed, occasionally making it to the couch.”
Trying to look at some of the positives, Merinda said the team working on the set have “done a fantastic job” and “have really taken on the challenges.”
“It’s certainly been a good exercise in how our theatre community comes together to support each other.”
Merinda said because Cosi is set in a burnt out theatre, “without wanting to give too much away, I think our audience will feel quite at home with this cheeky set design.”
“I love creating scenes that transport the audience into another world so perfectly that they feel they are a part of the narrative.”
Hopeful she will be able to pop into the theatre closer to the opening of the production, Merinda said she will have to schedule “small, carefully managed visits” but will mostly leave “the finishing touches to the amazing Lilydale ATC team.”
“When I first contracted Covid I never thought I would still be sick over four months later but long Covid has a very long and excruciatingly slow recovery period.
“It has been good to be able to work on the Cosi set design, giving me a bit of normality and something else to think about.”
