Act 3, Scene 1: Going Coastal

An Actor's welcome in Wales.

Approaching the final leg of the tour we sail into a feisty incoming tide on the coast of Llandudno hoping to seek refuge in its large arena theatre, Venue Cymru. It was a fleeting visit, just 2 nights. But we decided to make the most of it by getting the majority of the cast (except for those commuting to Manchester) checked into the world's most actor-friendly digs - the Can-y-Bae hotel on the promenade. For those unaware of the strange nightly habits of the lesser spotted Turn, accommodating the needs of a bunch of actors can be be hard for some in the 'hospitality' industry to comprehend. We're not  your typical 'on business' guest or quiet B&B type. We sleep in late, unable to rise for anything much earlier than brunch. We work till late, stumbling back from a show around 11pm, hungry, with a thirst on, and feeling the night is still young. We then sit around gassing till the early hours until the banter finally wears thin and we pine for our beds. Our hosts David and Michael at Can-ye-Bae were the first hotel landlords I've met that seemed to not only understand our needs, but actually relish them. Our angels in the night, and devoted patrons of the theatre, not only stayed up to welcome us back after the show, but they also opened up the cosy hotel bar (plastered with show posters and photos of the many famous faces that have stayed there). They plied us with some delicious home cooked curries, pulled pints of local ale on demand and settled in with us chatting away till the early hours. As we eventually trundled bleary eyed to our beds, they even allowed us a slightly later breakfast call and a promise for a similar night tomorrow, if we so wished. Bliss.

Venue Cymru

A town of extremes.
Who knew Llandudno was so famous? Home to 'the longest toboggan ride in Europe!' and 'the oldest  working cable tramway!!' as well as 'the longest travelling Cable Car in the UK!!! and not forgetting 'the longest Pier in Wales!!!!' Unfortunately for us, also home to 'the smallest audiences on tour, ever!' Venue Cymru is a beautifully equipped theatre and conference arena, set in the foothills of Snowdonia and looking out to the sea.  The theatre is a vast 1500 seat receiving house, often showing big musicals, concerts and plays on the no.1 touring circuit. The staff both front of house and backstage gave us a warm welcome and were sorry that tickets had not been selling better. "The comedians do very well here" we're told with a sympathetic smile. Once again, the irony of doing a play about the social importance of theatre and the need to keep our theatrical heritage alive is glaringly present. Nevertheless, our two performances went without a hitch, an excellent rig meant it was beautifully lit and I enjoyed having a large stage to gad about on.
Aside from the shows,  there was plenty of time to explore. Hoping for some adventure Chris and I headed off to check out the Toboggan slide that winds its way through the mountains, and the Ariel cable car. Both were closed due to weather conditions.  A walk along the pier and a blustery tram ride up The Great Orme sufficed, until "the sharp air from the Welsh Mountains made our noses drop" and it was time to scramble back down again. On Wednesday we woke to torrential winds and rain, and a breathtaking view of a fiercely turbulent sea from the comfort of the hotel window. The cast bade each other and our lovely hosts farewell and 'happy Easter' before I began making my way back down south for a well earned 10 day break in the tour. Next stop: the pearly gates of Eastbourne.


West end Wales to Eastbourne tales...

Affectionately known as god's waiting room, Eastbourne has a lot to offer the weary travelling actor. Stunning coastal views, beautiful walks along the summit of Beachy Head (and somewhere to throw yourself off if it all gets too much) and of course the well-loved Devonshire Park Theatre, complete with some of the friendliest 'Friends of the Theatre' I've come across. The theatre is another beautifully restored Frank Matcham, housed in a grade 2 listed building close to the sea-front. The 900 or so seat auditorium is well equipped and a good example of a traditional Victorian theatre, although I think slightly less ornate than some of the Matchams we've seen.

We arrived at the venue early for a line run of the play. Having not performed the show for nearly 2 weeks it was wise to refresh ourselves and get tuned in for the first show back. The actors brain seems to have an amazing ability to store vast amounts of lines, yet only retains what is essential at the time. I often find that even if I've been doing the same play for months, once the job is over and I know I won't be speaking that script again, the lines will quickly drift away making room for the next part. Retaining lines for TV is a different ball game altogether. Rather than having a luxurious rehearsal process to embed the words, you find yourself picking up newly edited scripts hot off the press, and then it's about learning the words quickly and shooting the scene. Those scripts will be completely forgotten by the next day when you're on to something else.
Back to Eastbourne and...the first night was a joy. After the dwindling numbers in Wales we had a wonderfully full crowd, making all the right appreciative noises and spurring us on for  what felt like a really 'fresh' performance for all of us. Just 10 days off meant that the need to really listen to each other came flooding back and I could rediscover some of Mary's moments anew. After the show we had a welcome drinks reception in the bar held by the friends of the theatre. It was lovely to chat to many of them and to hear about their observations or perceptions of the show. The 'Friends' are such an important to asset to many regional theatres. They are the guardians of our theatres. The support they give in helping to publicise events and organise crucial fund-raising is invaluable at a time when arts cuts are forever looming. We actors owe a lot to these people. I just hope  the next generation will follow suit to keep the cultural beacons of their communities alive.


The Battle of Whatley.

On Wednesday, Alastair, Adam, Chris and I headed off for an afternoon at Battle. We spent an informative hour or so exploring the site of the Battle of Hastings, followed by a brisk walk though Hastings Country Park down to the beautiful sea coves. As we headed back to the car for the journey  to theatre, Alastair's phone bleeped. It was Jess, our Stage Manager. John was stuck in horrendous traffic near Guildford and had been at a complete standstill since 5pm. He was not going to make it in time for the show. So, at last it was time for Alastair to make his understudy debut! He did a wonderful job, bravely facing Governor Phillip and John Wisehammer head on in front of a large and receptive audience. It certainly shook the bottle and I think we all stepped up brilliantly to the challenge of having someone completely new on stage. At the interval John arrived exhausted but ready to take back the reigns for Act Two. Alastair had done well, but being an actor down is a nail-biting time for the rest for the cast, and that kind of 'mucking together' in front of a live and paying audience does raise the stress levels somewhat. A well deserved drink in the pub afterwards and a pat on the back for Alastair ended a somewhat adventurous day for us all.


Next week. 
Can you believe it? It's the final showdown! We're all incredibly excited about performing our last few shows at The South Hill Park theatre in Bracknell, followed by an explosive finish (we hope!) at the Finchley Arts Depot. Watch this space for the final something about mary blog!


PS. My final Sneak Peak of the Week is coming soon...An Interview with Original Theatre Company founder, producer, director and (occasional understudy!) Sir Alastair Whatley himself!