Not Just A Doctor's Dilemma

I was very kindly given tickets to see the new production of A Doctor's Dilemma, at The National Theatre last Thursday directed by Nadia Fall. I took along a theatre buddy and avoided reading anything about the show in the lead up in order to be as open minded as possible.

We had fabulous seats and were both instantly struck by the beautiful set design (designed by Peter McKintosh), which revealed itself to be increasingly impressive throughout the show.

On the whole, I am not familiar with George Bernard Shaw's plays however, I am aware they generally explore moral dilemmas, social hypocrisies. A Doctor's Dilemma, originally staged in 1906, certainly does that. It questions how we can determine the value of an individual and more directly, if you can save the life of only one man, how do you choose who deserves it most?

David Calder, Aden Gillet, Malcolm Sinclair and Derek Hutchinson

Tom Burke as Dubedat and Genevieve O'Reilly as Jennifer Dubedat

It is an interesting dilemma but I had my own to battle with in regards to this play. On paper this is a fascinating debate yet in practice/production I just could not engage with it.

Although superbly acted by a wonderful cast it simply lacked in impact for me (despite often being very funny).  The production was beautiful, the performances on a whole were great - I particularly enjoyed Tom Burke's Dubedat. But I just didn't care about the dilemma, the stakes weren't high enough for me and more importantly I could not work out why this play was relevant for today.

There were fleeting moments of resonance, wry remarks made about the dubious agenda of the drug industries and an insight into the questionable morals of the private medical profession. Some of the doctors involved were motivated by money, others by fame. Very few, if any, by a desire to simply heal the sick. But these points really were sporadic and so, on the whole, I just couldn't understand what I was supposed to take away from it.

Plays aren't just put on, particularly at The National Theatre of England, they are programmed. Classic pieces over new commissions, are one assumes, specifically chosen. The Artistic Director feels they have something to say, a debate to ignite, a relevant point to make. I can only suppose I was meant to understand and appreciate the importance of the National Health Service, our publicly funded healthcare system which is increasingly under threat due to government cuts and policy.

The National Health Service's system ensures that no Doctor has the opportunity to choose who he treats over another, there is treatment for all....in theory. I'm not going to go into the waiting lists, the postcode lottery of treatments. The NHS treats one and the same as best it can despite cuts, policy changes, targets and mounting pressure from all sides.

So maybe that's what I was supposed to feel, but I didn't. My fellow theatre buddy in turn didn't either, instead she felt angry. Angry that what this theatre wanted to say to a modern audience wasn't instead given to a contemporary playwright to say in a more emphatic manner with a new commission. Maybe that choice came down to the fact that The National Theatre has a responsibility to achieve the right ratio of classic to new pieces...maybe not.

I won't pretend that I am not a New Writing enthusiast but I do feel strongly that a lot of classic plays can often make their points with more emphasis when it comes from a period we don't think, based on appearance, we can relate to anymore. An issue that resonates can be far more effective when coming from an unexpected place. Classic/Period pieces often makes me better understand that humanity is not affected by tailcoats and hoop skirts. Times and society have changed but ultimately we are all people trying to muddle through as best we can.

I was pleased I got the opportunity to see the production and oddly it has made me want to become more familiar with Shaw, I want to explore his other moral dilemmas and find one I can more directly engage with...let me know if you have any recommendations!

Do let me know if you have seen the National's production, I am happy to debate and discuss alternative viewpoints. After all that's the beauty of theatre, it gets us thinking and talking.

“Life does not cease to be funny when people die any more than it ceases to be serious when people laugh.” 

-George Bernard Shaw, A Doctor's Dilemma

Date Night: Noises Off

The Big One and I went on a rare and lovely date night last night. He's increasingly busy with work so I really appreciate the time we do get to spend together especially if we can do something fun.

Last night we went to see Noises Off by Michael Frayn at the Novello Theatre, I had a friend in the cast and I had only ever read it, never seen it. It was great, just honest good farcical fun! Quite often I go to see thought provoking pieces which I adore as they provoke brilliant conversations and leave me thinking about the issues stay with me for days but every now and again, you just need a laugh!

It started at The old Vic in December and then transferred and will close on Saturday. Not much time left but if you can, I do recommend going to see it and having some good belly laughs. It has a great cast and they all work incredibly hard especially in Act 2!

We met my friend afterwards and had a lovely dinner with him and a musician friend of his who was also in the audience.

A truly lovely night all round!

"On we blindly stumble!"

-Lloyd (Noises Off)

Rock'n'Roll is Alive, Kicking and Very Entertaining

This week I was invited to watch Rock of Ages, the relatively new musical in the West End starring Shayne Ward and Justin Lee Collins. Musicals aren't generally my bag but I was intrigued and tempted by the idea of taking the lovely Phyllis (blog name) with me for a night of fun. He loves (yes Phyllis is a he) a bit of musical good times so I knew we'd have fun.

Now to be perfectly honest with you, I went with fairly low expectations. Mainly because I don't enjoy the generally large performance style of musicals. I also wasn't tempted by the fact the show markets itself so heavily on it's celebrity cast. I totally appreciate the inclusion of celebs put a lot of bums on seats but my tosh ain't one of them. I respond to having seen and appreciated performers of that genre before. Kerry Ellis for example, I saw her in Wicked and was bewitched (pardon the pun) by her voice.

I also couldn't understand the concept of the show behind the posters on the tube, it seemed like a new version We Will Rock You?

So needless to say I wouldn't have gone without being invited but I am so glad I did!! We had so much FUN!

I would like to just clarify at this point that when I was invited, I asked if they, the show, were inviting me on the agreement that I write a positive post - which I don't do. They replied saying no, they just wanted me to see it and write about it. Whatever I chose to say was entirely my choice. They have not asked to read and edit my post before publishing so the following are all my own (and Phyllis') unbiased opinions.

The plot line is really just a filler for the big rock anthem numbers which are impressively sung by the leads and chorus. As I said I don't go to musicals often at all and I couldn't help but be blown away by the talent we were exposed to live right in front of you. After many Saturdays flicking through X-Factor it certainly puts a few things in perspective!

The whole cast had really great voices and it was amazing to hear such big songs sung so beautifully and with such ease, the only odd thing was a lot of the songs being Rock I found it peculiar to hear songs designed to be raw, sweaty, Rock and Roll songs sung in such a commercial setting. A West End musical is a long way from the sweaty, pumping, crowd surfing masses packing Rock clubs but you could argue a lot of the songs, from Bon Jovi, Pat Benatar, Poison etc were always commercial. There are also a full live rock band on stage the whole time who certainly looked like the genuine article.

The show is really a big celebration of the 80's in general with dubious fashion trends, a lot of hair and plenty of tongue in cheek jokes. The comedy was the part I was most surprised by, it is seriously funny. This is in large part down to the FANTASTIC Simon Lipkin. He plays Lonny who is also the narrator. He has a lot interaction with the audience and was absolutely hilarious. He sang and danced brilliantly with the rest of the cast but he was a complete show stealer for me. Effortlessly upstaging the celebrity comedian cast member Justin Lee Collins.

Simon Lipkin



Simon Lipkin  &  Justin Lee Collins

In fairness to Mr Lee Collins his part was bizarrely dull considering his casting. If you're going to market the show on him I didn't understand why they didn't give him the funny part but I'm so glad I got to see Simon Lipkin - he's someone I would skip all the way to see in another show.

Shayne Ward was also funny (loved his seduction song) and sang really well. Both the celeb cast mates were given peculiarly low profile intros in the show. There was no opportunity to applaud their much anticipated arrivals in the story. Justin Lee Collins' entrance is in sunglasses meaning that even from the stalls Phyllis and I didn't realise it was him until about 10 minutes later. Shayne Ward's entrance is on a video screen and his live entrance is in the shadows and by the time the lights are up the story has moved on. In hindsight though I enjoyed that they were members of the company as opposed to stars of the show.

We saw a Tuesday night performance and although by the second act (and a few beers) the audience were considerably more vocal both Phyllis and I could totally appreciate the show would be at it's best with a full and energetic audience. Having said that though I cannot praise the cast enough for their energy, it was intoxicating and I was up on my feet with the rest of audience by the finale.

I would like to mention Oliver Tompsett who plays the male lead, Drew, not the most likely looking leading man, his singing talent was incredible and both Phyllis and I were rather smitten by the end of the first act....

Oliver Tompsett

I almost exclusively go to the theatre to see new writing or straight plays. I enjoy plays that provoke debate on the way home and in my head for a few days after but I learnt an important lesson on Tuesday night. Sometimes a night of out and out frivilous fun is incredibly refreshing. Both Phyllis and I bounced out of the theatre chattering away about our favourite parts.




All pictures courtesy of Rock of Ages



There are huge rock anthems, serious laughter (I was crying with laughter at the exchange between Oliver Tompsett and Simon Lipkin at the end of Act One), lots of gyrating ladies in suspenders (if that's your thing) and you get glitter bombed to within an inch of your life.

If you have the dosh and fancy a genuinely fun filled night of entertainment then I recommend it. I have been laughing over memories of the show for 3 days now. In fact I wouldn't mind seeing it again!

Thank you Rock of Ages - I had a blast!

"Ladies love him, guys want to be him, his band hates his guts,

but he's a star and stars are undeniable, like herpes."

- Lonny

P.S I should mention that you can see Rock of Ages perform on Children in Need this weekend.

A Week of Actors

c/o Auliya

This week just gone I spent most of it in an audition room, but on the other side...oh yes! A director I worked with recently, blog-named Portia, asked me to read opposite the actors she was auditioning for an all male cast. I was delighted, we have worked together a couple of times and have become mates so it was lovely to see her, hang out and of course it would be fascinating to be on the other side of the audition table.

And oh blimey it was an eye opener!

I learnt a hell of a lot for future auditions and in some cases was incredibly shocked by the way some people presented themselves.  Manners cost nothing but are worth so much, said somebody's mother! We met lists and lists of actors and it was great to get to read with so many people.

I had a great time and she'll no doubt put together a first class cast eventually. As for me I can't wait for my next meeting to try out some of the top tips I learnt from observing.

Spaghetti Arms is back to being London based again and I am DE-lighted! Last night we both went to see Playboy of the Western World with some of his friends, we both had mates in the large cast. It was great to finally see such an Irish classic staged, the set was amazing, the music great and the play, well the play wasn't my favourite but I could see why it has stood the test of time.

So that was my week....how was yours?

"There are five stages to an actor's career: who is Herschel Bernardi? get me Herschel Bernardi; get me a Herschel Bernardi type; get me a young Herschel Bernardi; and who is Herschel Bernardi?"

- Herschel Bernardi

Thank You Note

Dear Belfast,

Thank you so much for having me again. I have enjoyed my time here immensely. I'm sorry I didn't get to see all you have to offer, particularly the Lisburn Road vintage shopping and the markets but judging from how hard it has been to pack everything I have acquired maybe it was for the best!

I particularly enjoyed spending my birthday here and with such lovely friends and eating such lovely food! It was one I will treasure and smile at the memory of for a long time to come.

I love your new theatre, I think it is something to be treasured and cherished and I will be eternally proud that I played there in it's opening season. I am only sorry that I will miss the immensely talented HawkandFallow perform there as I know she will be incredible. Look after her for me then send her home safe back to London because I know it misses her while she's away.

The weather was on the whole pretty nice and it was great to see you all sunny and happy as opposed to last time when you were quite frosty.

Anyway, time to go. Going to stay with Scotland for a bit then head home. Thanks again for having me, it's always special and never taken for granted.

Hope to return one day!

Lot's of Love,

Paper-Rock-Scissors xxx

Cards and Flowers Galore!

We are open! 

The Belfast and Scotland leg of the run is officially open. It was opening night last night (Wednesday) and the audience seemed very responsive. The bar was rammed afterwards and as the playwright said, 'it's always a good sign after a play that people don't want to leave'. The tables of the bar area were filled with people discussing and debating the themes of the show which in my eyes, is a result!

I had the lovely HawkandFallow in to cheer me on and I was inundated with lovely cards and unexpected bouquets from supporting friends and family to boost me on to that stage to do my thang.

Hugely appreciative thanks to Mama Mooskin and Ee (new blog name entries), Patch & Tache, HawkandFallow, The Big One, Spaghetti Arms, Arfur, and My Lovely Dad for all your kind messages, cards and flowers. I felt loved.

From Mama Mooskin & Ee

From Hawk&Fallow

So now we can just get on with doing and enjoying the show. We're here for another 10 days then off to Scotland then...the big London run!

"We do not go to the theatre like our ancestors, to escape from the pressure of reality, so much as to confirm our experience of it."   

~Charles Lamb

Cos He Loves Me

It was the first preview last night and it seemed to go well, we had an almost full house (390) which was huge for a preview and they were a great audience. Very responsive and engaged. There were a few drinks afterwards to celebrate but the big night is yet to come. Wednesday evening is press night and the big opening night so keep those fingers crossed for us til then!

I got into my dressing room yesterday afternoon to find a HUGE and BeAuTiFuL bouquet of flowers waiting for me, sent by The Big One. It made me beam inside all day, filled me with happiness and that lovely feeling of knowing you are loved.

"A flower cannot blossom without sunshine, and man cannot live without love."

- Max Muller 

Hello Old Friend

Yesterday we started and finished the tech for the show I am here to do in Belfast. Tech's are traditionally a long, arduous, stressful and, did I mention long, experience. This tech lasted for a smooth 4 hours!! Mainly due to the fact we've done the show before, and it's style is not overly technical but still, it was the stuff of legend!

Teching the show also means that we have now officially left the rehearsal room we have been in for the last month and have relocated to our new dressing rooms and of course the theatre.

I am the only original cast member in this production and it was a lovely homecoming to step back into my costume and to be back on the set I love so much.

It was also lovely to be back in a dressing room, the show I just finished in Manchester took place in a large but old Victorian Cotton Mill. It was very 'on location'.

The theatre here is state of the art and brand-spanking new, it opened in May having been being designed and built over the last 3 years. So my dressing room is pretty swish, but then again I'm just delighted to have a room, lights, a shower and a show relay!

It will be my new home til early September when we transfer to Scotland and then to London where we will run til October.

Wish us luck!!

"I regard the theatre as the greatest of all art forms, the most immediate way in which a human being can share with another the sense of what it is to be a human being."

- Oscar Wilde 

London Press Night Outfit

It's the Belfast opening night first (24th August) but this is the outfit I have planned in my head to wear for our London opening night in September....what do you think? 

And - which shoes!?

"I love acting. It is so much more real than life."    

- Oscar Wilde

Back in Belfast

Well Belfast, I have arrived, and you are looking gorgeous!

I am back in Belfast to do a beautiful play, I was in the original production here in early 2010.  It was snowing then and freezing cold. I had a great time, made some fantastic friends and so I was delighted to be asked back.

This time it's summer and it's roasting. Belfast looks so lush and green! 

My view as I reach rehearsals

I arrived yesterday morning and went straight to the meet and greet. It was lovely to see so many familiar faces and I'm so excited to be a part of this great production once again.

Last night after unpacking I met up with a great chum of mine, Spaghetti Arms. He was also in the original production but is waaaay busy doing telly and all sorts now. It was so brilliant to see him, we've kept in touch since 2010 and he's now a member of my extended family.

We had a delicious dinner in one of my favourite restaurants here, Barking Dog. It was divine, the company, the food, the vino. Awesome-ness!

So I'm in rehearsals for the next few weeks, hanging out with Spaghetti Arms when he's about and HawkandFallow is coming over in a couple of weeks to rehearse and perform in the same theatre I'm at. 

Big grins all round - best Belfast return ever!

"Never look back unless you are planning to go that way." 

- Henry David Thoreau 

And We're Open!

Last night was opening night and I was spoilt rotten with cards and flowers! I had a beautiful and enormous bunch of lilies delivered from The Big One, a stunning bouquet from Barbarella, 'Hai Yah' (yes L - that's your blogname!) and Alfredo and then a gorgeous bouquet of a dozen roses, red, white and pink from HawkandFallow!

The show seemed to go well - everyone seemed happy with it and so at 10:20pm once the show came down, we got out of our Victorian finery as quick-smart as we could and headed to The Castle, a Victorian pub down the road with a late license. The theatre had arranged delivery of more pizza then I've ever seen and of course the drinks flowed.

I was in bed by 2am, perfick!

"Drama is life with the dull bits cut out."

- Alfred Hitchcock

Sold Out!

Second week of rehearsals this week, so far I have been struggling a bit. The language is so different, almost like Shakespeare and I've found it hard to sight read and be able to play and explore the scenes whilst still relying on the script. I need to learn them so I can get on with it but it had kind of knocked my confidence a touch, plus the material is so dense. I'll get there but I hope it's sooner rather then later!

Last week we were taken to see the venue. This is a site specific production and it's taking place in an old Victorian Mill. The space is incredible and I feel really excited to be a part of what looks like potentially a truly amazing production. Other people must think so too as we found out on the first day of rehearsals that the entire run is sold out!

Here a few sneak peek pics I took last week.

The play will take place in real time as the sun goes down which means it'll be mainly naturally lit but also means it'll be cold! I have already requested thermals...

Costume fitting tomorrow!

"It takes very little fire to make a great deal of smoke nowadays, and notoriety is not real glory"

- Louisa May Alcott

Manchester: P-R-S has Arrived.

So I am here, in Manchester, for my next acting job which starts tomorrow. I arrived in my digs today and luckily they are lovely, the girl I am renting from, a fellow actress, has been really warm and welcoming. I am unpacked and my groceries been delivered.

Top digs tip: pre-order your groceries online, delivered to your door so no need to traipse about trying to find a supermarket not too far away so you can still lug back enough food to last you.

The older I get the harder I find it to relocate, set up a temporary home in someone else's and walk into a room of new people on the first day. I am spending the evening working on my script trying to prepare for tomorrow. First days are always like the first day of school except you have to read in front of everyone and hope no one thinks 'how the hell did she get cast?'.

This time in order to feel at home while away I have brought my knitting and my cross stitch and of course my trusty laptop. I have to say being able to blog helps, makes you feel less far away.

Another thing that is helping is my brand new delicious Diptyque Mimosa candle - an incredibly generous and wonderful present from my temp job boss and friend who I shall blog name Barbarella. She knows of my love for scented candles so got me the Ferrari of them all as a good luck present. It is lit and emitting it's gorgeous scent. What a treat!

Wish me luck for tomorrow!

“We're supposed to be perfect our first day on the job and then show constant improvement.”

-Ed Vargo

New Forms of Excitement

Once I got back from Sydney, actually the very night I landed I started a writing course at The National Theatre Studio curated and hosted by Tonic Theatre Company. They wanted to equip actors with the basic tools to start writing as they believe actors' instinctive sense of drama would potentially, if developed, make them good writers.

I really enjoyed the course, it was 8 weeks, once a week and there was so much to be inspired by. They brought in writers of all different genres to tutor us and for once I was incredibly enthusiastic about homework which we had weekly in time for the next class.

In the meantime, a friend of mine recently set up a new writing theatre in Hackney and they have been introducing themselves to the theatre community with a series of scratch nights and cabaret evenings. A few weeks ago he sent me the details of their next wedding themed scratch night and asked me to pass it on to any writers I knew who would consider submitting a short piece for consideration. I was about to forward the email to some writing mates when The Big One pointed out that I should have a go. What was the harm he said, why not try and write something and see what happens. 

So I did. 

I then decided, after encouragement from TBO to send it to the panel under a pseudonym from a fake email address. I didn't want my friend to feel in any way obliged to give me censored feedback. I wanted it to be considered objectively and hoped for some feedback.

On Sunday my fake email inbox had a message addressed to my fake persona from one of the producers. They liked it and wanted to perform it as a rehearsed reading for an audience on their upcoming scratch night!! I was bouncing off the walls I was so excited! I could not believe it!!

I decided that I had to own up as I didn't want to have to make up a fake biog for my fake persona...it was all going to get rather deceitful.

I called my friend and confessed. He found it hilarious and told me that the panel had loved it and were really excited about the piece.

So...today I had an email from the director who will be working on it and we arranged for me to sit in on one of the rehearsals before it's performed (as a rehearsed reading with basic staging) next week.

I am so excited and nervous, I can't wait to hear it being read and performed! I hope the actors like it! Wish me luck!

"Writing is a socially acceptable form of schizophrenia." 

~E.L. Doctorow

Well Hello There Stranger!

via weheartthis

Wow it feels like a loooong time since I last blogged. It has been so mega-cra-cra busy! I had a fortnight of back to back auditions - which is great but means there was so much work to be done, I had to be super efficient with my time on top of working (3 jobs = reality of a jobbing actor), doing my housework, garden, general blah blah and of course spending time with The Big One...

I still feel there are so many people I still haven't seen properly since getting back from Narnia and then Sydney - I have one lovely 'oyster shelled' friend who returned from 3 years in Barcelona while I was neck deep in Narnia and I still have not seen her once!  

Life has felt like constantly catching up on myself since mid February.

So quick catch up, went for lots of jobs got 4! One of them I couldn't do cos it clashed with one I had already accepted. It never rains, it pours!

I have filmed one job and in less then TWO WEEKS I'm off to Manchester for 2 months then return to London, a couple of weeks later I am off to Belfast for 6 weeks for another play then back to London for a 4 week transfer. How very exciting is that!?

So there is a whole lotta work to do to prep in next to no time!

In other news: The Big One and I celebrated our anniversary last weekend with the most incredibly beautiful mini break in the Lake District, the next blog will have all the photos. It was amazing.

A charming woman is a busy woman.
- Loretta Young

So I saw this show at The Sydney Opera House....

Yes that's right I actually saw a show at the Sydney Opera House, none of this just posing tourist nonsense for me - I know people - who know people - who give tickets to actually see things there!

Rich had hooked us up with some tickets to see Soap at the Opera House, it's a cabaret style show that has been developed from an act in La Clique. The show itself was...meh. Some incredibly talented performers in it, no doubt about that, but as a show it just wasn't particularly well put together. The concept wasn't fully realised and it just didn't flow together.

Sydney Opera House - SOAP

We both left with much the same opinion and headed straight to see another show Rich had got us into, which happened to be the hottest show in town - 'Smoke and Mirrors' in the famous Speigeltent.

It was part of the Sydney Festival and had already played there, in Edinburgh and in the Adelaide Cabaret Festival to huge acclaim and apparantly the tickets to this current run sold out in under 2 hours so it's bloody lucky that Rich is someone with connections because otherwise I would have missed an enormous treat - he'd seen it 6 times previously and really wanted me to see it.

It was A-mazing!

Dark, disturbing, funny, gasp inducing. It was a must-see.

Should you EVER get a chance to see it, RUN, RUN ALL THE WAY THERE!

“Performance stands out like a ton of diamonds. Non performance can always be explained away.”
- Harold S. Geneen 

Congratulations!!

The Irish Times Theatre Awards 2011

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Laurence Kinlan – Mossy Lannigan in Christ Deliver Us!, written by Thomas Kilroy and directed by Wayne Jordan for the Abbey Theatre
Joe Hanley – as Fluther Good in The Plough and the Stars, written by Sean O’Casey and directed by Wayne Jordan for the Abbey Theatre
Ronan Leahy – as Tutor/Messenger in Medea, written by Euripedes in a new version by Robin Robertson and directed by Selina Cartmel for Siren Productions
Conor MacNeill – as Lyokha in Plasticine, written by Vassily Sigarev and directed by Pat Kiernan for Corcadorca Theatre Company

BEST DIRECTOR

Selina Cartmell – Medea, written by Euripedes in a new version by Robin Robertson, produced by Siren Productions
Jo Mangan – Slattery’s Sago Saga, written by Arthur Riordan, produced by Performance Corporation
Wayne Jordan – Christ Deliver Us!, written by Thomas Kilroy, produced by the Abbey Theatre
Rachel O’Riordan – Over the Bridge, written by Sam Thompson and adapted by Martin Lynch, produced by Green Shoot Productions

I was lucky enough to work with these two last year and we've stayed mates so had to do a lickle blog shout out for them.

Well done chaps! - Amazing stuff!!

 

Lookie Lookie!

New Banner time! I made this one all on my ownsome - I wrestled solo with the tech monster that is Photoshop and (with the help of YouTube) I did it!

It's not my favourite banner so far but I am ruddy proud of it! If you look closely into the words you'll see the images are of Paper, Rocks and Scissors but not necessarily in that order....oooh! Somebody tell Gaga she ain't the only faux-alternative in town.

So other then that today I have done.... nada! It is my one day off and so far I have planned a date with my sofa and self- knitted blankets, the latest commission on my needles and a lotta green tea. That is it, I intend to be as outrageously lazy as possible today. The only reason I'm going to get dressed is because I have a friend dropping by to pick up some lights we borrowed, even then I'm only going to go as far as leggings, Uggs, a big tee and my snuggliest loooong cardie. 

Next week is 6 days of final and technical rehearsal hell. This show is absolutely huge and scarily reliant on technical aspects like; set changes, stair width, lighting changes and a raked stage. Next week we get into the the theatre and start 4x12 hour tech days in a row. I shall be holding a knitting workshop for my cast in order to stave off the inevitable boredom that techs cause. There will be a LOT of stress too so I intend to be as prepared as possible and try and be productive with the time I'll have.

Week after next - we open. 

Good God. 

“The greater the obstacle, the more glory in overcoming it.”

-Moliere

Room for Thought

Last week I took part in a fascinating consultation evening for a new theatre company.  They had invited a group of 15-20 actresses of all different ages and races but all with a strong theatre background to discuss their ideas of how to address the gender inequality issues within our industry.

They wanted to hear and discuss with us the situations we continually came across where we felt there was gender inequality, whether that be a lack of decent parts for women  - generally speaking there are very few opportunities bar the mother/daughter/sister/cop show sidekick or the many rape victim parts used to inject instant drama into a piece, situations where actresses feel they must diminish their feminity (and/or parental status) in order to be considered equal....the list and experiences went on.

This particular theatre company have chosen to put a clause in their manifesto that all their productions whether community or professional are to have 50% of the creative team (writing, directing, acting) male and 50% female. Sounds so obvious doesn't it yet it hardly ever happens here in England unless it is under a political umbrella of feminism, which we all know has broadly become a dirty word.

It wasn't an evening of moaning and whining but it was an invaluable opportunity to share experiences that were all too often incredibly common. However the point of the evening was to start thinking of ways in which we can resolve and address it. The artistic directors themselves had plenty of ideas that they wanted to float by us for consideration and feedback.

I have been very lucky and have had a great career so far but last night I realised, mentally scanning through my CV, how few jobs I have had where I wasn't the only female in the room. That's not necessarily a bad thing but it does make a statement doesn't it about the level of gender inequality in terms of the material being produced.

I have been in 11 pieces of performed theatre in my career so far, in 7 of those I have been playing the only female part. 

Some people may argue that there just aren't enough good plays out there with 50% female parts, please don't misunderstand me, last night we all agreed that the play has to be great in order to go on, it can't be produced simply because there are loads of female parts in it. Their artistic directors would disagree that the problem is lack of decent material as they have recently read a library full of plays and have found over 60 pieces featuring an equal division of male and female parts so far. However even if that were the case, why is that?  Where are women's voices in mainstream theatre? A voice that isn't defined by being simply a mother/daughter etc.

One of the many ideas they raised was to increase the amount of female writers and they floated a suggestion to offer writing workshops to actresses who have an interest in writing - all of us put our hands up to having tried but due to lack of confidence or understanding of structure haven't pursued and developed our ideas. They explained that as we know theatre and good characters it makes perfect sense to see what we come up with.

They also explained they'd like to address general gender inequality issues by putting on plays in schools where, for example in a play about global warming, one scientist is played by a woman and the other scientist by a man. I think that is the smartest and most direct way. Re-educate and re-programme society's ingrained perceptions.

Nobody likes being preached to and certainly nobody, myself included, wants to see a play about women,  purposefully played, written and directed by women because that's not a balanced view of our world.

It's not a women's world, but it's not a man's world either.

I am really looking forward to watching their development as a new theatre company who happen to want to address this issue along with many other important topics. I know they were looking to have many more and varied discussion evenings. For my part, I really enjoyed being in a room with so many different actresses, as you saw from my theatre career maths it's been quite a rare experience!

“Without wonder and insight, acting is just a trade. With it, it becomes creation.”

-Bette Davis

The List of Fear

Yesterday a seemingly innocent piece of paper arrived in the post for me.

Yet it struck fear into my very soul and I have had to hide it away and reside in the land of denial.

 It is the performance list for my next lined up job. I shall be singing in this show, for the first time professionally, and these lickle pieces of paper confirmed that I shall be performing 2 shows a day, 6 days a week for 6 weeks.

O.M.G

That's a whole lotta singing I gotta prep for!

I just have to remember that the fear will subside, I'll start the prep and before I know it the excitement of this new challenge will set in....any day now....

“Always do what you are afraid to do.”

- Ralph Waldo Emerson