Wick Theatre Company’s Production of Frankenstein

It’s been an amazing journey in support of this fabulous production. I have some really good friends in the cast, among them Phil Nair-Brown playing the Creature, and Sam Razavi playing Victor Frankenstein. These actors are incredible professional actors, super talented, and also super lovely humans. Their scenes together are electric – they positively sizzle.

So if you’ve seen any publicity on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, that will be my doing. Or press, for example this lovely article across the Worthing Herald Group of newspapers thanks to Phil Hewitt: click here. Or if you see the show and like the programme, thank you very much!

I’ve also been part of creating the lighting for the show, and I will be running lights (and there are a lot of changes) during the show. I don’t expect you to notice necessarily unless you are involved with theatre yourself – it’s there to add ambiance, to improve your theatrical experience – so people usually only notce if it’s wrong or jarring! Which is the same for sound of course. It’s been full on, lighting tech until 1.25 in the morning, then back in the Theatre 2 days later as there seemed to be issues (which it turned out there wasn’t) but changes and tweaks were requested: another 3 hours. It’s all worth it if it looks amazing, and it does.

And working with some brilliant friends while you do all this? Priceless. Absolutely priceless.

Multi-coloured Reindeer

Just painted this, for my sister-cousin’s birthday, who I hope doesn’t read it before she gets this through the post… of course I’m late with it, with best intentions, but at least I sought out an inspiration photo and painted this entirely with her in mind. I hope she likes it, I definitely do!

Oustanding Contribution to the Arts

Wick Theatre were so kind to nominate me for the 2021 “Outstanding Contribution to the Arts” for which I was awarded a Commendation. It was so gratifying to hear that the calibre of entries had made it very difficult to choose an overall winner, and that the quality was so high, each of the nominees received a Commendation.

It’s amazing to be recognised, very unexpected, and huge thanks to Wick Theatre for their nomination and to Brighton & Hove Arts Council for the Commendation. But – these things are never in isolation, there were loads of other people that committed time and effort and skills to all the projects I’ve been involved in or led on. I couldn’t have done any of it alone, so massive huge thanks to all of those people: Wick Committee, all the people who contributed films to the Wickanory project and to Ghost Stories for Christmas. Special thanks in equal measure to Phil Nair-Brown, film maker extraordinaire, and to Guy Steddon, horror story officianado and curator of the Ghost Stories.

It’s important to celebrate achievements! Here we are:

New Backstage Roles

I continued my Lighting Design training with the brilliant Martin Oakley for Wick Theatre’s Pygmalion in January. It was brilliant to be able to use my maths and logical brain for the computer part, and my artistic brain for the actual lighting design, including creating a wonderful sky colourscape for big scenes set in a conservatory: I loved every bit of it!

I also ran lights during the show and was able to amend and add things that needed it on the fly, during a show, which was amazing.

Plus – never one to shirk a challenge, I did the Deputy Stage Manager: DSM role. At Wick Theatre, and some others I’ve worked with, the DSM runs the show: following the script with a detailed eye and calling all the cues: lights, sound, projections, haze, actors to the stage and anything else that’s going on. This did give me sleepless nights as so much was depending on me but I also loved every second. I benefitted from training from Julian Batstone who has been part of every Wick production since he joined, and is our most experienced DSM. I couldn’t have done it without his support.

It was really cold in the Lighting Box, by the end of the week I had brought in scarves and hats and blankets and so had the very lovely Doffey who was running sound – also for the first time! We had a great time in the box. A lovely friend had just made me fingerless gloves and I wore them throughout!

I also organised the publicity campaign of course! But it was amazing to learn 2 brand new roles in theatre. You’re never too old to learn new things or develop your skillset.

Onwards and upwards! What’s next!

Clue! On Stage!

October 2021 I was at last back on stage performing. It was truly brilliant to be back especially with a sell out show which made so many people so very happy!

Not only do I love “Cluedo” having grown up playing the game both in English and in Swedish, but I adore the film “Clue” with Tim Curry: in fact, it’s my all time favourite comedy film. I’ve been quoting Madeline Kahn’s lines as Mrs White since I saw the 1985 film. So I was thrilled to get the part of Mrs White – I had to fight for it though! I was the only actor who had a call back! And I’m so grateful to Director Julian Batstone for trusting me with the role. I was also producing the show, but I would still have been Julian’s production manager even if I hadn’t got the role (although I would have been extremely sad and disappointed!) I also had the opportunity to train as lighting tech with a full 96 channel board and learn from the hugely talented Martin Oakley. It was fantastic.

We were also recognised in the Brighton & Hove Arts Council Awards with 5 nominations and 2 wins: Best Actor went deservedly to Guy Steddon for his incredible performance as Wadsworth the Butler, and we (the cast plus 1 stunt double) won Best Stage Crew for the funny and in character way we moved the set around.

I also had to tango with Guy, which I’m sill not sure he’s forgiven me for… I seriously learned steps for it and everything, and practiced at home in front of a very bemused Andy.

Promotional photos and dress rehearsal photos courtesy Miles Davies Photography.

Link to the Promotional Trailer: click here

Back at the Theatre!

Actually saw a couple of shows last week. Both were at the Lantern Theatre and so interesting. The first one – not having been out in ages, I just wanted to enjoy it. The second: “Duty”, was so good, I wanted to write about it.

Written by Bomafabia Wokoma, directed by Laura Rinati, Bomafabia Wokoma and Lenette Randall, and Produced by “A Little Twisted”. Here’s my review on Broadway Baby – enjoy!

Reasons to be cheerful – part 1

At the beginning of this lockdown I was worried about my lovely little girl who was getting quite down. Even though lovely Mia has multiple special needs she is not currently able to go to school, which she adores; she can’t see her friends and she’s a very sociable outgoing little ray of sunshine that loves people. So, suddenly not seeing people, alongside not having the regular routine, is very hard.

But I’ve realised since that it was also really affecting me, and she was also picking up on my mood. Being restricted, being told what to do by people who I don’t respect: it was making me slightly crazy. I became quite down, trying to deal with being angry at a situation where I feel powerless and have no control… but. There are things that you can control. Of course there are. You just have to realise that in any difficulty, in any challenge: there is also massive opportunity.

Opportunity to push yourself out of your comfort zone, or think a little differently about something, or try something a bit new that you wouldn’t have tried before.

I cut my own hair. The ends were really fuzzy so I thought about how I could trim the ends when I have some hair scissors and have cut people’s hair before but never been trained and I’m not a hairdresser..! So I made 3 bizzare ponytails and cut the ends of my hair and thinned it out. The result is actually one of the best haircuts I’ve had. Which I’m sure is accidental, but there is no way I would have tried this had I not been exactly where I am right now.

And wearing odd combinations of things. It’s no secret that I love colour, but I do usually go for things that I know go together either in texture (like not wearing a jumper with shorts) or colour. I am currently wearing blue striped crop trousers and a spring green top – which I never would have done before; but I’ve discovered it actually looks nice. Who knew?

Third example – I had a sudden thought that instead of waiting for the right moment when my husband would have time to drill holes in the wall, I bought some sticky things to put things up on the wall that I’ve been wanting to do for over a year. I now have my four masks (I love masks) and two Macbeth daggers in a lovely (albeit a bit strange for anyone else looking at it) arrangement on my wall.

My little girl’s mood is lifted alongside mine, we are finding so much to do at home it’s really wonderful spending so much time with her. I’m reminding myself to wear jewellery even though the only person that notices it is me. I tell myself even though I’ve put on weight during this lockdown (who hasn’t?) that I look nice (if you have nobody that does it you need to do it for yourself: trust me, it helps).

Even when the world seems to have gone mad, there are always reasons to be cheerful (thank you Ian Dury for inspiring the title). You just need to remind yourself to look. And if you can’t find anything, look harder. Even if it’s a small thing: it may make a massive difference.

Brighton Fringe Postponed

Twilight Theatre was due to be bringing you my latest play in the Brighton Fringe. Cast were in place and in rehearsal. I know it’s absolutely necessary that this has happened but I’m still absolutely gutted!

Still, we will be bringing it to you when the Fringe is rescheduled, so all is not lost. In the meantime, stay safe and keep healthy, be sensible and don’t stock pile, and be kind to one another.

Suse x

Playing a nut job

Hubby Andy wished me good luck being a “God bothering nut job” for my role in Alan Ayckbourn’s “Neighbourhood Watch”, produced by Wick Theatre at the Barn last week. That made me smile. A lot.

It really was great fun rehearsing for this quite bonkers play and John Garland was a fabulous director. Of course that doesn’t mean it was plain sailing, it never is, there are always tense moments towards the end of the rehearsal process but there were some evenings where I was literally crying with laughter. There was even one evening where I had to stop myself laughing on stage. There were pieces in this which were hilarious from the word go and still funny three months later.

I think my character: Hilda Massie, is possibly the most far removed from my own personality that I’ve ever played. It was hugely educational getting under the skin of a type of person I have never understood – those that don’t value honesty, but think it’s rude. They have such a skewed view of the world and themselves that they are seriously deluded, but would vehemently deny this to the end. I’ve previously found this incomprehensible but I had an “aha!” moment during my character preparations and research that really helped me understand. Fascinating. And very sad. There was seriously only one thing we have in common – we both value arnica. And yes, it comes up more than once in the play!

So in short – farewell Hilda, you bonkers manipulative right wing evangelical nut job, I’m re-embracing myself. Acting tab is updated with our brilliant reviews from NODA, Brighton Argus and Shoreham Herald; plus show photos. It’s always so important to receive feedback and so lovely when it’s positive!