Tag: theatre

Behind the Blogger – Tag

My blog has been running properly for about nine months now and I have only ever done one blogger tag. So today, I was inspired (and tagged) by the wonderful SimplyAlexJean to try the ‘Behind the blogger’ tag.

This tag was originally created by Olivia Lucie Blake and is a great way to explore some interesting facts about the blogging community. The trouble is, I really had to scratch my head for anything remotely intriguing to talk about. Anyway, here are my four facts and I shall be tagging others at the end to join in with this tag, if they fancy.

I am a total theatre geek

Once or twice I may have mentioned my fascination with theatre but I don’t just love watching shows, I also am obsessed with knowing the intricate details about production. More than this, I absolutely love standing outside the stage door, waiting hopefully for actors’ autographs and selfies.

Although Idina Menzel never actually emerged for signings, pretty much everyone else I ever waited patiently for, did give me their squiggle. My stage door sessions have enabled me to meet the likes of: Nicole Kidman, Imelda Staunton, Jennifer Saunders, Roman Atkinson, Jim Broadbent, Samantha Spiro, Catherine Tate, Jane Horrocks and Imogen Poots.

I never knew my dad

This is a fact that doesn’t really upset me but, I like to think, it makes me who I am. My dad wanted nothing to do with my mother when he got her pregnant and was never there for me as a child. It made me much closer to my mum and grandparents as a result. Part of me wonders if I have any half-brothers and sisters but I guess I will never know. I did try dna testing to find relatives but everyone so far has shown up on my mother’s side of the family.

At school I played the cello

When we were at primary school the teachers gave us all a music test. I remember it being about rhythm and notes but had no idea at the time what it was for. It turned out that I scored the highest out of my year group and was offered free music lessons and the chance to join the local kids’ orchestra. Having a choice of violin, cello or flute, I opted for the biggest.

For the next year I found myself carrying this massive beast of an instrument on my back for my mile and a half walk to school. By the way, when I went to school, everyone walked with their friends. Nobody ever was escorted by their parents. (I think that helped make people a bit more independent)

My mum kept complaining that the cello was too noisy and I got fed up of tripping over under the weight of it. One time I fell and grazed myself all over so I decided enough was enough. I quit the cello despite being quite good at it and I honestly regret it to this day.

I’ve been an Extra

A few years ago I wanted to try going part time at work and finding time to do TV and film ‘extra’ work once in a while. It was such a fun thing to do and I am still registered with a casting agency today. The only thing that stops me doing it these days is the requirement to attend onsite covid testing a few days before each shoot.

Spending time on sets was fascinating for me. I got to pretend to be a mortuary assistant first of all in a drama called ‘White House Farm’. The thing that surprised me the most was the fact that even with such a small scene there were so many other people around the set. I remember thinking, ‘Where are all these people going to go when we start filming?’ As it happened, a lot of them simply crouched down during a ‘take.’

It was hilarious for me because I had been given some new green wellie boots which were extra squeaky. Being asked to walk back and forth in the back of shot sounded easy. In fact, everything was made quite tricky because there were so many technical people crouched down around the room. So walking in a straight line became a game of ‘avoid the crew’, coupled with ‘don’t let the wellies squeak.’

Thank you so much for reading these random facts about myself. I would now like to nominate the following bloggers to have a go at the ‘Behind the Blogger’ Tag.

Confidently Kayleigh

Unwanted Life

TheGrumpyOlive

I am grateful to have been included in this tag. For more blog articles about books, entertainment and the environment, please consider following my blog.

Theatre is Amazing!

One of my favourite things to do when I have the time is watch a live theatre production. Theatre was introduced to me as a child through pantomimes and small productions that used to drive around visiting schools. I was always in awe of real actors putting on a show right in front of me and my love for theatre has never since waned.

At Secondary school I remember going on my first proper trip to see a London show. It was a version of ‘An Inspector Calls’ which was the GCSE book that we were studying in English at the time and it was so exciting for us. This one visit to a London theatre stuck with me and created a bug for going back again and again.

Theatres need protecting

After several lockdowns and long periods without their doors open, so many actors, producers, technical engineers and front of house people have struggled to stay in the industry. Since they have reopened their doors again to audiences, I have been able to get booking again and am still looking forward to the Hammersmith production of Sister Act which was delayed from 2020 and should finally go ahead this year, sadly without Whoopi Goldberg as originally planned.

I hope that people get back into the habit (excuse the Sister Act joke) and keep returning to the West End and local theatres so that we can get the theatre industry well and truly back on its feet again. So much imagination and artistry is put into packaging these masterpieces. It would be a shame to see them dry up.

Notable productions

Here are some of my favourite shows that I have seen in London:

Gypsy (with Imelda Staunton) – watched three times – phenomenal. Got her autograph. Will cherish.

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat

Dr Doolittle (Philip Schofield and the voice of Julie Andrews)

Blythe Spirit (Jennifer Saunders)

Wicked

Billy Elliott

Follies

East is East (with Jane Horrocks) – selfie below.

Photograph 51 (with Nicole Kidman) – another autograph I will savour.

Under the Blue Sky (with Catherine Tate)

Wicked

The Play That Goes Wrong

The Bodyguard (with Beverley Knight)

Hairspray (with Michael Ball)

A Christmas Carol (with Jim Broadbent and Samantha Spiro) I was so happy to get a selfie with Sam.

As I was writing this I realised that the list could go on for pages.

Whilst in New York I got to see Idina Menzel in a wonderful version of If/Then at the Richard Rogers theatre. I really hope to see another Broadway play one day.

As you can probably tell, theatre means a lot to me and my friends. So I really wrote this article to remind people of the value and importance of theatre as a creative force. I very much hope I can urge you to consider checking out what’s on at your local theatre or think about popping to a London show soon and giving some support.

For a previous review of a West End show click here. If you enjoyed this article please consider following my blog to help me develop the site. My articles are also about books and films, as well as environmental subjects.