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Whilst in Eastbourne, Paul, Victoria, Meg and I went on a trip to visit The Long Man. It was a lovely trip. And here it is for you to see:




Enjoy!

The van and what spring brings...

The van is a strange beast. When sitting in the cab round the front, one gets the impression that it's massive and that all those driving alongside you are inferior. You start to believe that you are a trucker with tatooes and muscles. You believe that you are part of that elite group of burly, bearded men. You know, the ones that stare down at you as you drive past in your tiny car, the ones you were always scared of pulling faces at when you were younger. However, it's only when you reach your destination and get out that you realise how small it really is. Compared to the huge brutes that you see on the motorways, that is. For the size that it is we are able to get a remarkable amount of stuff in it- the entire set as it turns out including costumes, props, the majority of Alastair's mobile and ever growing home and Trish's yoga mat. It is a feat in itself. It'd be nice if it was a touch more comfortable and had a little more selection on the radio (HEART FM grates on the mind) but you can't have everything.

After the get out in Buxton last night we had a rather hairy drive back to Nottingham where Zac lives. Meg forced herself to sleep in the hope that if unconscious, she wouldn't have to witness what can only be described as 'the swaying' of the truck as we tackled the many twists and turns of peak district roads... in the dark. And mist. It reminded me of when I went on a sailing holiday once and feared capsizing on a rough sea. Except this time we didn't have a weighty hull to stop it actually happening. But we got to Zac's in one piece and as I write this I am sitting at home, with the sun pouring through my window. Spring is upon us and it feels nice.

It also means that we are fast approaching the final leg of the tour. This last couple of weeks has been tiring for all with lots of one day-ers and hardly any time to stop and catch our breath. It is at this point that we all begin to look to the end but as Alastair rightly pointed out to us all last night, this is when we must up the energy and build up to a fantastic finale in Glasgow- it would be a shame if we fizzled out into tired nothingness. Something tells me that won't happen but it's worth being aware of it.

I hope to upload a video or two soon. For the next couple of days I'll be mostly doing that and sleeping.

One Day [show] More!

So I'm pretty tired at the moment. Thankfully, today has been a day off in between Loughborough and Huddersfield but still, that one day affair in York really got me. And then yesterday in Loughborough. It's really taken its toll.

Let me explain a one day-er to you. The get in starts at the usual time of 9.00 but right from the off things are just different. I suppose it's the expectation of a show and a get out happening on that same day that changes things. It means that lunch and tea breaks are regularly shortened or worse forgotten about as we strive to get the set up and dressed, the lights focused and the costumes washed, dried and ironed. This normally has to be all done by 5 at which point the actors are free to walk the set and take note of their entrances and exits (these differ depending on the theatre.) Then the show goes up and if I'm lucky I get a window of about ten minutes for a quick power nap and a ready meal before various curtains must be opened and certain actors must be humoured. The show happens and then we're faced with the get out. Which is always mental. Zac gets in his get out mood where words seem to escape him; I'll ask him what he wants packed onto the truck next and he'll say:

'I'd like all the... er... long.... you know the flat... everything that can be packed into... all the...'

'Brooms and small bits?' I'll say.

'Yes, those.'

I call it 'get-out alzheimers'. It couldn't come at a worse time. The two one day-ers we've had so far have gone quite smoothly, however, and I think this is mainly down to the wonderful crews we have had on these days. Both in York and Loughborough the technicians could not have been more friendly and helpful and as you can imagine it makes a huge difference. Communication is crucial when getting a set in and out and so being comfortable with one and other is important and makes a massive difference to how things pan out.

I am currently chez Zachary Holton whilst the rest of the company bar Victoria, Daragh and Paul have gone for a day of relaxation at a spa somewhere. Meg seemed excited about this last night- I've never seen her in such a good mood for a get out. I got up at midday today. It felt gooooddd.

Loud Irish heckler- you know who you are. And please return the 7up.

We have a busy stretch of touring coming up. It looms on the horizon like an evening haze against an orange, dying sun.

To be honest, I'm not too fussed. It's just that within the space of about ten days we have about 6 get ins to do, many miles to be travelled and much unhealthy food to be guzzled down us. At this point in the tour I start eating in Wetherspoons which is NEVER a good sign although I'm sure Zac would beg to differ. The set went up nicely in Bracknell partly because we had a day to get in with no show in the evening to taunt us and put us under pressure. It means things don't need to be so rushed. We then had a lovely evning off which Zac and myself spent at mine whilst Meg went back to London. I watched Waking The Dead with my Mum; I have to say, it was pretty ridiculous. Something to do with scary couples appearing in funeral attire. Odd.

The actors then arrived the next morning as we opened with a matinee performance. This is unusual in itself. What was more unusual, however, was that only 33 people turned up for it. It wasn't a great way to start in Bracknell but by the evening the audience figures were looking much more positive.

All around the stage there are curtains or masking which, obviously, prevents any backstage goings on from being viewed from the auditorium. At this venue (and for the first time ever), Alastair insists I hold the curtain for him whenever he goes on stage and then subsequently whenever he comes off. I think he imagines his entrances as some regal ceremony where as I just see it as a bit of a chore to be honest. No-one else in the cast requires quite this much attention.

We had another vocal member in the audience last night. Although this time we know him. He was in Journey's End. The one who brought in the food- remember him? Adam Best is his name and ridiculous, over the top laughing is his game. Well, I say laughing. It's more a short outburst of noise. It caused all sorts of problems on stage. And when Zac, Meg and myself did the interval change (in full view of the audience as there is no safety curtain here) Adam insisted on shouting my name every 2 minutes as I wiped down the stove and reset the flowers. He might have said a rude word at some point but I may have imagined that. Excitement.

See you soon and wish me luck. x

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Ironing in Guildford. It's Paul's (aka Gerry's) shirt.

The more mundane side of life with The Original Theatre Company.

What's this, what's this?!?

Eastbourne has public wifi!

This excites us all. It means we can connect to internet easily in the theatre. And I guess anywhere.

That is all I have to say.

Apart from the fact that very few people are coming to see us here in Eastbourne. If you're reading this- do come! x

Sea, chips and DRAMA.

(Last week you were treated to a picture of Bronagh and I in our pants, this weeks pose comes from the cliff tops outside Eastbourne starring...BRONAGH.)

We're by the sea in Eastbourne. The beach is being dug up by diggers and that. We can hear seagulls during the show- it's amazing.

I've been told that those who read this blog (all 5 of you) prefer it when I write about mistakes that have been made or problems that we have encountered during the shows. I don't really know whether that's a good thing... it suggests that your enjoyment comes from our misery.

Anyway, during the matinee we encountered one of these little problems. I had been placed in charge of 'giving clearance' before the show begins. This involves making sure all the actors are in the right place and ready to go on stage. Having done this, I then have to give the thumbs up to Meg who presses some buttons, barks some orders and begins the show. I gave this clearance without fully understanding what it entailed (to be fair, it hadn't been fully explained to me but perhaps I'm biased). Anyway, Siobhan was not present stage left and just as I noticed her absence, the music had started the lights had gone down and all hell broke loose. THE SHOW HAD BEGUN. I ran to the dressing rooms screaming for Siobhan as if my life depended on it. I heard a door slam, a muffled squeel and rapid steps coming in my direction. Then she appeared, pale as a ghost and, understandably, aghast. 'I didn't hear anything...' she breahtlessly cooed. Before I had time to respond however, she had run on, breathless and terrified. All was well again. But it wasn't ideal. It seemed like it lasted a lifetime but in fact it only went on for 15 seconds.

Now the smoke machine seems to be making a lot of noise. Alastair is fussing and fretting about it. I'm not sure whether fussing and fretting will solve the problem. It certainly didn't earlier. Keeping calm and carrying on was essential.

Other than that not much has happened. Or if it has, you won't be interested- It's all good news and smooth runs. All you want is the DRAMMAAA. Rest assured something exciting will happen again soon. And when it does, you'll be the first to know!

Guildford. It's near London.

(The photo is me looking at Bronagh's bottom- but maybe that is self explanatory)

Bonjour! Here we are in Guildford where it seems jolly cold. All the same it is nice to be staying at home for a bit- I live half an hour away. Most of the others are staying at their homes in London. We haven't had a huge amount of excitement really as you can probably tell by what I have just written. Oh, we were visited by Graham Seed who came to see the show. That was exciting as was his colourful scarf. It wasn't quite as exotic as Daragh's however.

Our assistant director has been in a couple of times to watch the show and let us know things which, perhaps, we have grown accustomed to and thus not ammended during the show. When you're on tour sometimes you get set in your ways so it is always good to be reminded of these things occasionaly. And Chris is very good at that. As I write this our lovely Choreographer (who we all miss) is in. It will be

interesting to hear what she has to say about the dance and how it has developed and changed. Since Basingstoke it has turned into a very different beast.

We also had to share the stage this week with another show. It was called Bear Hunt. So for three days we had to clear half our set away after every show in order to give the space for theirs. It was interesting but on the whole went very smoothly; the crew here are really very helpful and good. It also meant that for three days there was a MASSIVE, furry bear backstage... looming like a monster. It really was rather surreal but then we are in a theatre- what do you expect?!

Apart from that, I have nothing else to give you. We are all well... having said that, Trish is feeling 'rough' (her own words) and Victoria also says 'she thinks she is getting a cold again' (her own words, ish). Touring tends to tire you out a bit. I'm going to go and hold the curtain for Chris and Gerry now as they dance off down the lane to 'Dancing in the Dark'. Then I'll probably fall asleep. On the floor. No shame. Zzzzzzzzzzzz.z.z.z.z...z......z............z.....