Two for Tuesday!

I've had a lovely day in Barnsley.. ahem, I mean BAHHHHHNS-LE!

That's better. Two lovely and lively schools, very reactive audiences, teachers clapping and singing along. That said, I got a very odd feeling of déjà vu during our second show. I'm convinced that every school in that particular city has the exact same hall design. Right down to the climbing frames and kitchen dividers, the halls were identical. On the plus side, it meant we knew exactly how to set up the second time round.

Dinner was good ol' Domino's, shared with Grace, and now I'm becoming wide-eyed watching people falling over on You've Been Framed. So far, tour is treating me well.

Never a Dull Moment

Well, Hull's school system has had a taste of Peter Panto and the feedback has been lovely. Bit of distance between Wakefield and Hull, which made for a very early call time and rather a surprise when I woke up as the van was passing the Merchant Navy Hall (it should be noted that I had no idea we were going to Hull). The memories came flooding back, weekends in town, perusing Prince's Quay, the railway station, the Toys R Us. That excited me the most.

Oh and the shows went well. Almost flattened two of my co-stars by tripping into our set, but they didn't notice so no harm no foul!

Like Greased Lightning

On the road again... I'm so glad to be on the road again...

Yes today we have taken to the road in search of fame, fortune, and our first school performance tomorrow. Since we have a lengthy journey to get through, I thought I'd give an honest testimony of my time with M&M up to this point. It goes without saying that these are my opinions and don't necessarily reflect the views or opinions of anyone else.

The experience has been on of the most exhausting, physically challenging, emotionally charged ventures I have ever undertaken. The bags under my eyes would incur excess charges if I tried to board a flight and my body aches in places I didn't know could ache. All of those things, and many more, have made it a truly incredible experience. Gruelling, yes, but absolutely worthwhile.

Rehearsals over, I cannot wait to start performing to the intended audience. What's our call time tomorrow? 6:40am. So I have to wake up at around half 5. Why am I still awake?!

And, Relax

Rehearsals are done. The past two weeks have been nothing short of life-changing. Not in a spirit-quest, take some strange pills and talk to God kind of way, but in a we-just-put-a-show-together-in-two-weeks kind of feeling.

Tonight we drink, tomorrow I'll talk more about the whole experience. Post-final-dress rehearsal (in front of the entire company) I'm a bit knackered.

One Day More

Tomorrow is our final day of preparation before we hit the road on Sunday. I can't deny that I'm nervous. We've been together rehearsing this show for a grand total of 11 days, and on Monday we will be taking it into schools around the country and that will be that.

Who are we kidding, I'm terrified. And the adrenaline is a-mazing.

The Time Draws Near

We finished it. We finally bloody got to the last page of the script and the end of the bloody show. Now, we have to add the costumes in, make sure the lighting changes are all at the right speed. Oh and we've just been given a new soundboard so we're learning how to play with that on the final days of rehearsal.

Our final dress rehearsal is on Saturday, the final of all the dresses, the one which everyone will see, and which many outsiders shall be witnessing. But no pressure. None at all.

So Near, So Far

It is rather scary to think that it is a matter of days before we are sent out onto the road with our little show. And today is our last full rehearsal day. Nervous is a bit of an understatement. This company has completely streamlined this process, which makes sense as they've been doing it for years. The result is a combination of exhaustion, fear and pride, and I just hope that it's all worth it in the end.

Look Out, He's Got a Sword!

Yesterday was long. Far too long to actually write anything. I apologize. And today I'm bloody knackered still so I'll keep it brief.

Today I was handed a rapier. 30 seconds later, I was clashing it against another rapier in a simple but extensive battle routine. We got halfway through today and we'll finish it. Overall rehearsals are going well.

What, you want clandestine wit and charm every day? Go read the metro. Sometimes you will just have to accept that I get tired. I'm only human! Stop demanding so much of me! I'm just one (incredibly talented and marvellous) man...

The Day Off

To be frank, this wasn't a day off we deserved, it was one we required. More of a necessity after a week of gruelling work than a reward. Granted, the reward was last night's drinking shenanigans.

Whilst the rest of the team spent their whole day lounging on the sofa and watching Friends, I was much more active: after five hours of watching Friends and eating leftover pizza, biscuits and anything I could fit into my hand - and then my mouth - I strolled to the beach for a swim. Which was more of a paddle as the water was no more than knee-deep and cold enough to make a snowman shiver. Still, saltwater makes my hair look bloody fabulous.

One of Those Mornings

Yes, one of those mornings where you wake up with little recollection of actually getting to bed, a massive half-eaten pizza lying on the dining table, and two missed calls plus a voicemail on your phone.. and then it slowly begins to trickle back to you. The wine, the beer, the Sex on the Beach bucket, tequila, vodka and coke, yet more tequila, it's all there in the back of your mind. But through it all one thought permeates the fold: what a night.

Luckily today is our day off.

Buttery Biscuit Base

Any show that can include Masterchef Synaesthesia in the track list gets a huge thumbs up in my book! And as such, Peter Pan is getting that thumb stuck right up it's review pipe from me. Today saw one of my - and the whole team's - busiest days, including the show's biggest scene change, the introduction of the Captain himself! Finally I am allowed to get to grips with one of the most recognizable villains of literary, cinematic and theatrical history.

And he is fabulous.

He Can Fly!

Today the grand adventure became a masterpiece magnificent enough to make Da Vinci blush. We made Emily fly without any wire at all, we made a fairy fly with plenty of wire, and Grace fell up the stairs. Twice. It was a feat of utmost poignancy and grace (pun intended).

And then there was the set. Good Lord I haven't done so much manual labour since I moved house in America.. I swear if I'm not actually built like Chris Hemsworth by the end of this tour I'll be demanding my money back... From someone... Maybe East Coast trains...

Everything is Awesome

For some unfathomable reason, Joe doesn't like this particular part of our show. Unfortunately he is forced to sing it with yours truly, a man who not only has the song on every media device he owns, but often uses it as a ringtone and alarm. Who sings it in the shower, in the car, and in all manner of inappropriate situations. Ah well, Joe's a good sport and a damned decent manager.

Sunrise starts and sunset finishes will surely take their toll by the end of the week, but for now I'm happy, energetic, and eating rather better than I have done for a long time! If I ever end up in my less-than-ideal 9 to 5 work environment, at least I'll be content in the knowledge that I can cook daily meals with little to no effort on my part. He says, having done so for two whole days.

In the Mood for Dancing

Today, something incredible happened. I danced. For the first time since.. well if we consider that nothing I've ever done in a dingy club would count as 'dancing', then the last time I danced was 2008. Needless to say, today was an experience.

And yet, somehow, I actually managed to pick it up with relative ease. I was jumping, swinging, side-stepping my way through Pitbull's "Timber" with very few mistakes, at least after the 7th conservative run-through. And singing all the while. All in all, a very successful second day.

Oh, also, I cooked dinner and not only are they all still alive, but they actually seemed to enjoy it. I shall have to add more anthrax next time...

The Old Library

Whilst this could be an excellent title and setting for some sort of horror short story, it is, in truth, where I find myself this morning - waiting in the registration area for the staff who run the registration to appear. Yes, that's right, I managed to arrive at the venue before the staff who run this venue. Clever me.

Although I must say it is rather spooky in here in its own right. Bits of set leaning against all available wall space, half of the room divided off by a maze of black curtains, and an eerie scilence cut through by a buzzing light fitting to really drive the mood home.

And so begins my latest theatrical journey.

Welcome to Scotland, Here's Your Smack

Am I making a reference to the rampant drug abuse or the violence which comes with the territory? Either way I'm seteotyping, so I'll let you make your own opinions on that one.

You know, many people say many things about acting; it must be difficult, it sounds exciting, never a dull moment. But there is one dull moment.. one moment of such unfathomable tedium that every actor puts it off, usually to their detriment. That moment is the simple act of line learning without a scene partner. Gods it is so dull.

You sit, for example, on a train, crammed into your seat by a snoring businessman beside you, unable to speak aloud because you journey partner would probably take offense, reciting lines in your head. Lines which mean nothing without a voice or an audience or the second half of your double-act! Nothing but you and your head, which is why I cannot wait until tomorrow, when I'll meet other people with the same script, and hopefully none of them will be falling asleep during scenes.