Oh what fabulous glorious fun (as well as hard work) playing Davina is in The Wedding Party Immersive Dining Experience. This time, Davina went with pink hair (temporary hair putty – fabulous wash out stuff) – and honestly, this was the best ever. It’s probably 80% improv and there is nothing quite like the thrill of not knowing what people are going to say to you, and responding in character. The amount of work we all have to do to build our characters behind the scenes is insane – stuff that never gets seen really, except to become the character like a second skin.
I love Davina and I love playing her. I love that she’s looking for at least one date at her daughter’s wedding, constantly on Tinder, thinks her daughters are the best people in the universe and would do anything for them – see there, that’s the only thing we actually have in common! She is so very far away from me and yet I adore playing her, the permission I get from everyone in the room to be as outrageous and larger than life as I can. It’s not unlike that one time I dyed my hair blonde and got away with so much – because people expected it. For that six months in my life, I had the best time – and I can assure you, blondes definitely have more fun.
The feedback we got this time was out of this world. We had 5 birthdays, and one 38 year wedding anniversary – we made a point of singing happy birthday to them and congratulating the couple. We always make a fuss of special occasions. A man celebrating his 65th birthday said it was the best night he can remember in years, and one of his favourite things was us all going round the tables to talk to people – I adore this part of it myself. It makes them feel involved, valued – not just as audience, but as participants. Talking with them and engaging them is so special – I always talk about the “hen night” that the ladies on the tables were on, talk about falling out of the taxi… I make up the most outrageous hen night that I can think of and they all join in, add stuff, and always always laugh. Love it.
Here’s some dressing room shots for your delectation!
Me as DavinaDavina and the GroomMother and DaughterDavina and Bridesmaid KarenWaiting to go on!
I’m beyond excited to be putting my play ‘Duty’ on at the Brighton Fringe. The actors are inhabiting their characters, they bring the script to life and make these people live. I have to say, it’s really perfect casting. Perfect. Matt Vickery brings such intensity to the character of John, it’s riveting to watch, utterly compelling. Jordan Southwell’s creation of Harry is absolutely brilliant: the perfect foil for John to butt heads with: cheeky, innocent, and so loveable. Jake Marchant is so still, calm and poised as Joe, pouring oil on the waters of their friendship with beautiful diplomacy, tact and intelligence. And between them they create this very real friendship that just feels like they have been friends forever, with their humour, their way of behaving with each other and the grounded dynamic. Sam Nixon as Mags, John’s mum, adds so much to the melting pot and gives us a huge insight into not only her relationship with her son, but in their interactions together we get to see so much more of John, and how others see him, his internal thinking, struggles and motivations. It’s quite simply a joy to watch them all work.
Had a brilliant time at Gladrags looking for World War One soldier uniforms for my upcoming play “Duty” at the Fringe, plus clothing suitable for working on a farm. Gladrags is like Aladdin’s cave, a treasure trove, filled to the brim with all manner of clothing, sometimes overwhelming and some spaces you can hardly move in! Jordan Southwell, one of the actors, was amazing at finding suitable clothing and trying on different sizes and combinations.
It was something else to see him in a First World War uniform.
Even in socks.
Brilliant.
Tickets are going fast – don’t forget to book! Tickets are available on both Brighton Fringe and The Lantern Theatre so if it’s sold out on one, there might be tickets on the other.
I am stoked to be bringing my new play to Brighton Fringe this May. Rehearsals are under way. It’s going to be brilliant. I’m positively fizzing with excitement.
So 11 days later – I’ve not been as busy reviewing. Why you ask? Because somewhere along the line I have to prioritise time to rehearse my own show of course! Oh, have I not mentioned it? Really?
As to Brighton Fringe, there has been less these past 11 days to rave about but there have been some true gems.Great Britons (reviewed for Broadway Baby) from The Foundry Group are always superb – they have a unique style that is hilarious, but not just meaningless fluff, it’s really rich writing. I will continue to go and see every show they put on because they are always brilliant. Always!
Another amazing show – so packed and so informative – is The Empress and Me (reviewed for Brighton Source). From the same people who bring us The Ballad of Mulan and the same actress: Michelle Yim – who is rapidly becoming one of my favourites to watch.
We also went to see Born and Bread as a family – developed by Brighton People’s Theatre with real stories of food and nurturing and nourishing and belonging. And bread and soup. We all loved it, Mia loved the movement and singing and all the coloured lights. Found myself nodding, lighting up, and then crying at the end (in a good way). I always love being moved.
AND GREAT NEWS!!! Magpie – that I went on and on about – and am still going on about – is returning for two more shows at the Lantern Theatre. Here is my review again, and here is the booking link. Just go, honestly, just go see it. You’re welcome. In fact, on 30th May you could come see Loyalty (click for booking link) at 6.45 for an hour, then pop up to the Lantern to see Magpie at 9.00. You know it makes sense!
First of all – thank you everyone who attended the Brighton Fringe press panel event and everyone who wrote inviting me to your show. I’ve now programmed in 21 shows to see in 3 weeks as a result.
I had hundreds of emails so if I didn’t reply please don’t be offended – it doesn’t mean your pitch wasn’t good or that you won’t get reviewers – it simply means that I couldn’t fit it in.
I wish everyone putting shows on in Brighton Fringe the best time and a great run!
So here is my show – collaborating with the fantastic Sam Nixon from Gin Palace Productions, with “Loyalty – Lady Montague and Lady Capulet”:
What happens after ‘Romeo and Juliet’?
Lady Montague waits for Lady Capulet – a long standing family rivalry hides a long forgotten friendship. What happened to them? What have they become? And is there any way through this minefield of feelings, trying to remember who they are, versus what is expected of them as wives and mothers?
A play about loyalty: to family, to your children, your partner – and most of all to yourself: what you know and feel to be right. A poignant, sometimes funny, sometimes tragic look at the lives of two women who we know so little about.
Wednesday 29, Thursday 30 May, Saturday 1 and Sunday 2 June
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.
Since last Summer I’ve been involved in all manner of Theatre shenanigans, including winning the Publicity Award from Brighton and Hove Arts Council for the publicity for “Taking Sides”, produced in October by Wick Theatre at the Barn Theatre, Southwick, nr Brighton – which I am seriously proud of.
In January, I directed the wonderfully eerie “The Exorcism” by Don Taylor, from TV’s Dead of Night, also at the Barn Theatre for the Wick. That was an amazing production and the reviews were astonishingly good. My cast were fantastic, the set was incredible, the special effects made the audience jump – and we had real Christmas dinner cooked fresh every night by one of the cast members!
Shoreham Herald Review – click here. There is also a review from NODA – the National Organisation for the Dramatic Arts, on the theatre page as a PDF file.
I’m now busy planning a new production of one of my plays in the Brighton Fringe in May with Twilight Theatre… busy busy…
I’ve just updated the acting and directing tab with Macbeth, and it reminded me how much I miss working on this play. It was an utter joy from beginning to end. The most expressive, professional, flexible and fun group of actors and a magnificent show that blew the audience away.
Jacqueline Harper as Lady Macbeth and Guy Steddon as Macbeth
Trying to schedule everything in this crazy Fringe bubble is tricky – well actually it’s impossible. I couldn’t see everything I want to see.
Helen and I went to see “Sisterhood”: a 3 hander, one was the fabulous Jules Craig. Set in Tudor times, 3 very different women through a few hours contemplating the same fate that awaits them all, interspersed with true tales of their own modern lives. It affected us so profoundly we had to go and sit and have a cup of tea afterwards. It’s so incredibly sad that in some ways things are very different but in others: attitudes towards women who “go their own way”, attitudes to women as objects – not much has changed. So moving, lump in throat trying to hold on to tears and gulping. One that will haunt me. And I’m glad about that.
Then I navigated the mad mile to get to the Box Office for my ticket for “a joke”. Which was so very far away in a completely different part of town. Didn’t look that far away on the map… so this was a play in the Assembly Rooms Ballroom – and yes it was a ballroom. With chandeliers.
“a joke” was with famous actors, one Robert Picardo who I remember as the cantankerous doctor from Star Trek Voyager and then Star Trek films. Also Sylvester McCoy. So I saw a play with a member of the Star Trek cast and a previous Dr Who – or 2 doctors, actually. It was a brilliant production. And so much so say about life. It was such a multi layered play it reminded me of “Waiting for Godot” in that at first, you leave the theatre and wonder what the hell you’ve just seen and what it was about. Is life a joke, with a punchline, or s story and in that case tragic in places? And many many other questions and musings. “Sing and the music will come” is a mantra that will stay with me. Which is pretty much how I live most of my life.
Then I bumped into Robert Picardo in the foyer and had a picture with him, he was just heading out the door but he waited which was nice. Must be a bug bear to live ‘normal’ life and be famous. But hey! Here we are!
So I was round the corner from “The Ivy” which had been advertised on Facebook so I thought I’d give it a go, especially as it was chucking it down. I only wanted a snack. I thought it was a café. Turns out it’s uber posh, there’s me in my hoodie and backpack. I had some beautiful messages from friends on Facebook when I posted that, made me feel like a million.
Blackened cod. Rosemary lemonade. Then a cranachan (we are in Edinburgh after all) with white chocolate. Which came looking like a little globe, then the waitress poured hot whisky sauce on it and the white chocolate melted, missing with the icecream , raspberries and everything else inside. Oh my god it was so lush. I’ve only seen that presentation on Masterchef, it was so great to experience it.
I walked chuffing miles on Friday – the play was miles over the other side of the city! Nice to get around a little bit!
Antling was brilliant of course. After that we went to Bristo Square (we love it there) and got flyered by a New Zealand woman in a 50’s dress for a comedy show “Ladylike”. But I think that actually happened on Thursday… Antling had a crowd in that laughed on Friday evening which was fabulous. One guy who is also performing at the Fringe talked to Helen after and we went for a drink – or rather he took Helen for a drink and I toddled behind very much like the third wheel. Made me smile. We ended up in a private bar though talking to the owner and the members of the cast and crew (and the son and daughter of the writer) which was really lovely, hobnobbing with professional actors and everything…
Saturday. 2 Michael Morpugo plays. You can take the girl out of – oh who am I kidding. I’m just interested in history, especially in the first and second world wars. So we went to see “An Elephant in the Garden”: a one woman show which was so brilliant. I loved it. Especially her body movements of the elephant – so clever. Then “Private Peaceful”, a one man show which was an incredibly powerful performance, standing ovation at the end. That made everyone gulp and tears were free.
My last Fringe show I went and found the Sweet Venues and bumped into the lovely JD and had a quick catch up. Unfortunately, my last show of the Fringe, something I was reviewing, was the worst thing I’ve ever seen. I had not thought I could ever give a 1 star. I was wrong. It was just the most hideous puerile crap I’ve ever had the misfortune of having to sit through. One person got up and left. I was jealous.
This was in yet another different part of the city and what a beautiful place it is.
The last night of Antling. What a crazy adventure we’ve had. We met Elaine (who taught at ACT) who came to see it and then 4 of us then 3 of us went for a drink at Bristo Square again. We ended up standing bopping to the strangest eclectic mix of music ever.
This morning we went for lovely breakfast – veggie haggis! – at Spoon before heading off separate ways.
