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.