Spinelessness

I resume blogging after a rather lengthy break; the past few weeks has been filled with filming, line-learning, rehearsals and performance.

Following my work on Matt Hilton's The Day, I was cast in a one-woman short play as part of the project Theatre Uncut Lancaster. Spine by Clara Brennan tells the story of Glenda, a library-robbing, senile widow who lets a room to Amy (me), and the carer/patient, mother/daughter, best friend relationship between the two that ensues. I spent the best part of six weeks learning this four-page monologue, which I performed at Lancaster's DT3; a converted church hall which now serves as a small theatre. During this piece, we learn of Glenda's late husband's antics with lingerie catalogues and 'tousers round his ankles'; her obsesion with pastry and tins of fruit cake; Amy's growing love of literature, and Glenda's heartbreak at her beloved libraries being shut down by councils all over the country.

This was, without a doubt, one of my favourite roles to have played so far. Overlooking Ms. Brennan's dubious attempts to write as a teenager (with the inclusion of gems like 'rock up' and 'weird-ass'), the script was emotional, intelligent, funny and heart-warming all at the same time. Everything I've dreamed of in terms of performance.

In other news, I have finally managed to get some professional standard headshots taken (as opposed to off-the-cuff accidents taken by my boyfriend at parties and such). This time, at the hands of the talented Mr Gnosill (director of The Day and cameraman for The Wedding Dress).

In rehearsal for 'Spine'; two days til cutain up.

I must also express my love for a new-found masterpiece: Quills by Doug Wright. After having been introduced to the 2000 film version starring Geoffrey Rush, Joaquin Phoenix, Kate Winslet and Michael Caine, I pursued the original 1995 play. I hoped upon hope that it would be an American work; wanting desperately to use it for my dissertation, as it tells the story of the Marquis De Sade's time at the Charenton Asylum. Lo and behold; I wasn't disappointed. If you liked Amadeus, Elizabeth, Shakespeare in Love and From Hell; this is defintely one to watch out for. 

A still from Doug Wright's 'Quills' (2000)

So, October and November have been exhausting, but deeply satisfying - one couldn't ask for more when it comes to experience.

Flaunting said headshot.

Day to Day

Here I am again after a bit of a break from blogging. 'Why the break?' You ask... Because I'm too busy being a diva on the big screen, of course! Seriously, though, I have rather had my hands full with actress-related duties in preparation for my role in Matt Hilton's The Day; a new independent film being shot in the North West.  

Trying not to give too much away, this weekend I finished my first two days of shooting, both on location at Carnforth aqueduct and in a house in Sandbach. Once we'd got all of the dog-walkers, cyclists, long boats, persistent children and HGV vehicles out of the way (who'd have thought such a beautiful patch of countryside would be busy on a perfectly sunny day?), I shot my first romantic scenes with my 'husband', all the while unwittingly burning my shoulders, chest and back in the midday sun. It's just not fair that the one day in the North West bright enough to actually give me sun burn, I was simultaneously freezing to death in a flimsy nighty-esque garment bought by our director. Tip: don't allow a man to take charge of these things. Another exciting feat of the day was having a blag a toilet break out of 'Jack the rower', seeing as the only buildings besides the rowing club for miles were some sort of factory and a housing estate. This came second to having the entire crew suspend a green screen over a car in order for me to get changed discreetly. For future reference, the above does not equal discretion.

Just one of my 'romantic' costumes. This was the main offender when it came to simultaneous sunburn/pneumonia.

Day two: arguing, Bibles and blood. As I said, I can't give too much away, but once my character - Clare - was 'home', she proceeded to bicker with her husband, Matthew, and cling to her beloved Bible for comfort. This is before she develops a hefty nose-bleed which proves to be the crux of her - and the film's - fate.

Applying 'my blood'.

So, two shoots down; two to go. My showreel is also, to my elation, very much underway. Even if things are looking fairly drab for Clare, they're certainly looking quite good for me. Do keep checking back for all the back-stage gossip (we even have a documentary in the works).

NB: Don't work with skittish cats if you don't want your tragic moments to be disturbed by a distressed  'meow'.

Edinburgh Festivities

So, as promised, I return from north-of-the-border with tales to tell. Trains were ridden, drinks were drunk and shows were seen.

My friend Amber and I set off from Manchester Wednesday lunchtime, to arrive in 'Burgh just before 4pm. No longer than ten minutes of getting off the train had I bumped into several university peers; all members of the student theatre group, promoting their play. Rucksack and sleeping bag in hand (or on back), I wasn't prepared to chew the fat for too long, so we bought some toothpaste - which we'd both coincidentally forgotten - and settled down in Rabbie Burns cafe on the Royal Mile. Note, if ever you find yourself there, the eerily life-like (at first glance) mannequin in the window, leaning into the seating area, apparently making some sort of geographical discovery. Things could get messy after a few whiskeys.

The first show we saw was Mark vs John; a sort of stand-up meets showdown variety act. Mark does stand-up...John does stand-up...they fight to the death in any context suggested by the audience. In this instance, a rap battle (Mark won, just out of interest, and I'm assured that the score now stands at 6-4). I could recommend this free event to anyone looking for bargain entertainment at the Fringe; topics covered included bisexuality, interactions with children in theme parks, sharing a birthday with one's 80-something grandmother and the fun that can be had when changing the meaning of certain acronyms.
Next came Edinburgh University's 'review' sketch show. It's worth going just for the comfort of the old school cinema style seats, and the fun orienteering exercise when it comes to navigating The Banshee Labyrinth pub. This was what it says on the tin; a sketch show devised and performed by some of Edinburgh Uni's creative students. Hit and miss, but mainly 'hit'.

Me brandishing a tag from one of the posters I found caught on my foot in C Venue. I thought the description fairly accurate.

Thirdly, The Late Show. Slightly more high-brow, this was an Underbelly event (you may be familiar with that big, purple cow). The artist who attracted our attention this time was Henning Wehn, a satirically patriotic German comedian who explores both his native and British culture, occasionally slipping into the surreal. The other comedians on that night didn't disappoint either. I was glad to have seen The Boy with Tape on his Face, who proved to be groundbreaking in his fusion of mime, audience participation, puppetry and classical slapstick. I was almost disappointed to clock a wedding ring on his finger. Then again, I could only see two thirds of his face.
   

Brief encounter

Films. Music. Edinburgh Fringe. 

Seeing as it's been a while since I last updated, here's just a quick run-down of where I'm up to. 

At the time of my last post, I'd just started reacquainting myself with my guitar playing. The principle things I've learnt between then and now, however, are that my boyfriend's guitar's strings are far too hard for me to impress him with my picking - or even strumming - abilities, and that my nails grow far faster than I'd ever realised. These things take time.

The development on the film front (Matt Hilton's The Day) is that I've seen the final design for the posters...I think I speak for all actresses when I say that one's dream has just about been realised when your face dominates any kind of promotion for a motion picture. When I've secured permission, I will reveal all ('all' being a horizontal shot of myself in profile, with mine and my co-star's names as the header).

One of the dresses chosen by our director for me to appear in, in The Day

Vanity aside, news of the week is that I have booked a last-minute trip to Edinburgh, right in the middle of the Fringe festival. I sampled the festival for the first time last summer, and fell in love with both it and the city. I'd pretty much given up on the idea this year, when a good friend of mine told me we'd been invited by another friend to annexe a student flat for a few nights next week. Last year we wangled our way into two free BBC recordings for Radio 4, and I was - at one point- about a foot away from David Mitchell. I failed to catch his eye and shuffled off with my tail between my legs.

Me (almost) at the top of Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh

My collection of leaflets/posters/tickets from last year's Fringe

Old habits die hard; new films start soon.

Along with having my name in print, I now have a confirmed start date for my new role in The Day. Until then, I've decided to brush up on some of my old skills. 

Being in possession of 4 guitars of all shapes and sizes back from when I took lessons, as well as desperate to keep up with my ridiculously dedicated and adept guitar-playing boyfriend, I've made an executive decision to say goodbye to my long nails and hello to my old six-stringed friend. In a past life, I played lead guitar at several school concerts, 'battle of the bands', Manchester Art Gallery and a charity gig at Manchester's Band on the Wall in aid of the Haiti appeal. Not having properly played my Tanglewood, Fender or Yamaha in over two years, I think it's high time I polished that item on my CV. I'm doing 20 minutes' practice a day to begin with; tonight I strummed my way through Karma Police, The Drugs Don't Work and There Goes the Fear. We'll see how long this pursuit lasts without the discipline of a teacher.

Me playing my boyfriend's guitar in his old flat.

The most exciting news this week is that there seem to have been real steps in the pre-production of The Day; the film in which I am to play the protagonist's wife. The director tells me that the official start date for filming will be 25th August - less than a month away! This doesn't mean I will start filming then - I'm awaiting confirmation of when I'm needed. I hear some of my costume has already been bought; a first in my experience of film-making (usually I double up as wardrobe co-ordinator). Exciting still, the film's director has kindly agreed to help me to make a showreel once my scenes are filmed. Once I have those, my copy of The Wedding Dress and another of my films, The Mirror Group, I hope I'll have at least 2 minutes' worth of material to showcase my abilities. Irritatingly, however, the one film in which I played the lead was - as I understand it - deleted off the computer system it was transferred to. Fortunately, 2012 has turned out to be a blessing film-wise, and I'm more than happy with everything that's come of these projects so far.

A teaser for 'The Day', featuring my name on the top row.

Hazard, 24:7 and more...

As I predicted, as soon as my feet touched Mancunian soil, my week was filled with excitement and busyness.

First came 'Hazard', a one day arts festival organised by the company Word of Warning. My job was to wander around the square in the glorious - and unanticipated - sunshine, adorned by a bright yellow tshirt, offering the public information on the event and generally keeping an eye on things. To my surprise, there were some familiar faces doing the same job, and it turned out to be a unique, worthwhile afternoon. Initially, I was 'stewarding' an artist who had buried herself in sand in an effort to recapture her childhood holidays to the beach, and later I came across a mermaid fishing rubber ducks out of the fountain; a large scale game for adults involving answering stray mobile phones and attacking their opponents with clothes pegs, and a man who could talk just like a bee (if bees could talk).  

Today's task was to join the front of house team at the 3 Minute Theatre for my first shift at the 24:7 Theatre Festival. Given today's weather and my complexion, I was eternally grateful for this being an indoor event. Theatre lovers really should get themselves down to there, or to New Century House, to sample some new writing and acting talent all this week.

And just because all that wasn't quite enough, I now have to prepare for my interview at The Lowry on Wednesday, to see if I'm suited to being on their FOH team...and then it's back to 3MT come Thursday. 

I could get used to this.

Recuperation

I'm not long back on home turf after a weekend away for a friend's birthday, and it's all systems go in the arts department.

Upon checking my emails when I got home, I discovered I now have my shifts for the 24/7 Festival beginning in about a week's time. I've worked at this event twice before; in 2009 and last year, and it's provided me with some of the best theatre I've ever seen. The two plays that stuck in my mind are Exit Salford (2009) and The Crimson Retribution (2011), the former a gritty, kitchen sink drama about a recurrently unlucky bachelor trying to find his feet amid the social upset of Salford, the latter a black comedy about a comic strip superhero come to life. I know a few of the writers and directors personally this time around, and have - unsuccessfully - attempted to get involved a little more practically. We all have to start somewhere though, and I'm sure I won't regret playing my small part in the festival's execution.

Secondly, I've been sent further details of my 'loud personality' audition next week; I have a time slot and an extract to look at. I also have to prepare a monologue of my own. For my last audition I used 'Woman' from Cartwright's Two; a non-descript customer musing to herself as she waits for her lover in the bar. I think this goes fairly well in this case, whilst being different enough to the advertised part as to 'showcase' my abilities. I'm also a fan of Rame/Fo's A Woman Alone for female monologues. Anyone got any suggestions for possible texts to use?

Finally, and possibly most excitingly, I've been offered a part in another film. It's called The Day, and the director thinks I'd be perfect to play the protagonists's dead wife (I'm assured that she's not dead for the film's entirety). The film is directed by the cameraman for The Wedding Dress, which just reaffirms my belief in the importance of networking - it really is an honour to be 'head hunted' like this, and I have no doubt that projects such as these are vital in an actor's 'climb' up that artistic ladder. Anyway, I won't harp on about this too much until I'm more clued up; there can be complications in filming schedules and things can fall through, but I sincerely hope it all goes to plan.  

A Question of Sport

Having just had a moderately 'sporty' week; playing tennis* with my boyfriend twice, and swimming with my friend Stevie last night, I begin to wonder which sports are the most valuable for the theatre/film industry.

On my CV, I have listed 'fencing, boxing, archery' as the sports in which I'm proficient. Fencing is always a fairly obvious one to go for as an actor; to name but a few, we all remember The Princess Bride, The Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, The Mask of Zorro and Kenneth Branagh's Hamlet. Granted, it was mainly the chaps doing the fighting, although I do seem to recall Catherine Zeta-Jones and Knightley both having a go at one point (?), and let's not forget the contributions of the stunt artists. I'm also reminded that fencing as a sport is rather different to 'stage' fencing, but surely having a few parry ripostes under your belt isn't a bad idea for a performer?

Returning to the subject of sport in films being the blokes' domain; when it comes to boxing and archery, we're surely forgetting a few examples...

1) Hilary Swank in Million Dollar Baby - probably one of the most famous boxing films ever made, even if it did put people off the sport all over the world. I actually started to box after having seen it.

2) Maid Marian in practically every Robin Hood adaptation ever made - I can't be certain that she actually joined in the archery fun in Prince of Thieves, or whether she just famously blew in Robin's ear. All I know is that a stunt like that would have got you in serious trouble at my club. Again, one doesn't actually need to be a great archer to undertake such a role; a perfect shot can be edited in. However, anyone who's even tried arching should be able to identify a poor 'reference' when they see one; if the fingers, string or elbow are in the wrong position, there's no way that gold will have any credibility.

Me bearing my bow at an archery competition in York.

 So, all in all, I don't think I've made a bad choice in my selection of sports to develop as an actor. There's certainly more sword-fighting, fist-fighting and good ol' fashioned warfare on the stage and screen than there is Kendo, canoeing and power-walking. 

 

My friend Kate and I after having beaten Liverpool Uni's team at fencing

* Our first 'game' really can't be described as tennis...more time was spent digging the ball out of bushes and trying not to drop our racquets than actually hitting the ball. The second time we would have at least passed as beginner, as supposed to remedial.

Silver Linings

Question: would you rather A) take a road-trip up to your cousin's idyllic, picturesque farm for a mid-week getaway to enjoy nothing but fields, fresh air and sheep, or B) wait in all day until an evening audition on the other side of the city for a part that doesn't really sound up your street?    


Option 'A' is of course what I'd had planned for next week, in an effort to break up the monotony and frustration of summer home life. The possibility of auditions is, clearly, always good news. As young performers, we really can't afford to be picky with these things; I can't complain about being out of work if I never go for the positions offered. However, this casting call requests a 'trophy' girlfriend type with a 'loud personality'. Not exactly my forte. That said, I did once play a raunchy burlesque performer in Feydeau's The Lady From Maxim's, so who knows? 

The only thing that bothers me about this, really, is the timing: I'm going half insane living in my parents' house whilst the majority of my friends seem to be abroad, so I figured a small retreat up North might do me some good - cruelly, the two audition days happened to be the only days I was free to do this (and my under-26s railcard was still in date).

Anyone else sometimes find themselves in situations such as this?

To finish, I'll illustrate my mild upset with a picture of my cousin's beautiful farm:

Rejoice!

Success as my One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest script by Dale Wasserman finally arrives in the post! 

The very copy that Amazon have been kind enough to provide me with, in excellent condition too. 

As well as my being a massive fan of both the play and the film, this is also a very relevant text for my dissertation. Can't wait to get stuck into this, as well as Williams' The Milk Train Doesn't Stop Here Anymore and Miller's All My Sons. I've had a lot of fun in second-hand book shops this month. I'm in two minds about whether I should continue the search during my shift at Oxfam Books this afternoon.  

Initiation

While the weather is supposedly bright, the world's theatres are typically 'dark'. This time of year is always a bit of a killer for us thesps, so we have to try harder than ever to keep ourselves busy and get ourselves noticed.

Other than appearing in The Vagina Monologues at the Nuffield Theatre, my greatest feat this year has to be my participation in The Wedding Dress; an independent feauture film we hope to take to the London Film Festival. I played 'Rebecca'; the protagonist's best friend who tries to convince her that spending 24/7 in a wedding dress isn't the healthiest of ways to get over one's ex. Really can't wait to see how this one turns out.

Cast and Crew of  'The Wedding Dress' at Williamson's Park in Lancaster. Me: bottom right.

Cast of 'The Vagina Monologues' all gathering onstage at the Nuffield Theatre. Me: top left somewhere. 

Now that that's over, however, I find myself at a bit of a loose end in terms of film-making, casting and creative opportunities altogether. In the pipeline for sure are a few theatre festival jobs at the end of July; Hazard @ Word of Warning, The 24/7 Festival and an interview to work at The Lowry. After dodging some fairly questionable correspondence via Talent Circle about 'full body shots', I have so far applied to appear in another film taking place somewhere in the UK...the roles were advertised as 'various', so what will become of that one is anybody's guess. That said, it looks like exactly the sort of project I'd love to be involved with, so does 'break a leg' apply here?