Annus Mirabilis
Impossible to understand that it’s already six months since I last posted here. Cosmic Trigger is over, the might Flood project is over, I have MC’d for Bill Drummond and Jimmy Cauty for the Welcome to the Dark Ages 3-day event in Liverpool (July) and again for their more modest but equally anarchic Burn The Shard event just a few days ago (named for a central event in their novel 2023, the source of all – much of – these events). Somewhere in the middle there I squeezed in 3 sublime, candlelit performances of John Lyly’s The Woman In The Moon at the Sam Wanamaker Theatre. But Flood was so huge, such a massive effort and achievement for everyone involved, it’s the hardest to imagine gone. Hull, beautiful Hull (yes it is) became...
Read MoreAwfully Big Adventures
Since finishing the wonderful fun and games of Peter Pan Goes Wrong in tbe West End four months ago, I’ve been up in Whitby and Hull, getting underway with the first two parts of Flood, Slung Low’s year-long epic on floating platforms (400 air-filled barrels, boats, flames and the hardest-working, most dedicated team you can imagine. Heroes every one). Straight after Part 2 was done at Easter, I scooted down to London for a fuller, stronger reboot of Cosmic Trigger, at the beautiful in-the-round Cockpit Theatre. Magic is being made, and lives are being changed. What an incredibly lucky man I am to have these challenges, and these amazing people to work with every day. Plus a few weeks off after we’re done! Can’t...
Read MoreThe Sea
This spring and summer have been full of big changes. As I left for Yarmouth to perform The Tempest in a unique circus building,a lorry full of my family’s belongings left for another stretch of British seaside on the south coast – Folkestone. After the amazing adventure that was The Fairy Camp Portal in Stratford, I have had the great joy of spending a leisurely summer by the sea exporing my new surroundings, and new life. This autumn a new challenge – the wonderful farce Peter Pan Goes Wrong (back at the Apollo, where Showstopper! ran last year), through til January.
Read MoreA New World
March. After directing classical scene studies at Mountview Theatre School, and a one-woman play about Joan Littlewood, it’s more Shakespeare with a Love’s Labours Lost project (Mountview again) – then on to The Tempest in a flooded Edwardian circus building by the sea – http://www.nnfestival.org.uk/festival/all-events/the-tempest – followed by Malaysia and fairy portals in Warwickshire. Details to follow.
Read More2015
Some twelve months. This year I’ve road tested 2 new musicals at the St.James’ Studio; appeared in the epic Camelot at Sheffield Crucible (one of Mark Lawson’s Top 10 shows of the year) as well as 59 Minutes to Save Christmas; joined Showstopper! in its historical run in the West End, as well as our eighth Edinburgh season; taught in Texas and Istanbul, and for RADA, Drama Studio and others; recorded the second series of ‘Trodd en Bratt say “Well Done You”‘ and made my debut at the Abbey Theatre with War Correspondents. Among other things. Phew. And 2016 is looking pretty busy…
Read MoreBright Lights
Another glorious Edinburgh has been and gone, the eighth for Showstopper! – which now finds itself in a shiny new home in the West End, at the Apollo, Shaftesbbury Avenue. Opening night is tonight for the first ever long-form show in such a venue. History. Meanwhile plans continue for future Slung Low projects – 59 Minutes returns to save Christmas once more (this time at The Sheffield Crucible, full details here http://www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk/event/59-minutes-to-save-christmas-15/), and it’s side by side with the other SL family show, Emergency Story Penguin. As well as teaching for DSL and private pupils, I’m becoming a drama examiner for New Era and jetting off to Istanbul for my first ISTA event. All while juggling performances of...
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