Private Resistance: Perchance To Dream.....

Easter Holidays...We are actually more than half way through as my head starts to contemplate being unemployed at the end of May...This is what we like to call not living in the present...If it's not fear of the future, it's dwelling on the past...But the truth is, life will happen whether I worry or not so now I choose to take steps to ensure my self employed status remains employed. Last night I dreamt I walked on stage and had no idea what my lines were..classic. I was standing there and Fran (Frances Marshall) was feeding me lines and I was thinking...'That is not ‘Private Resistance' what is she on about...I've never heard these words before in my life...' Surely all stemming from the fact there is an agent coming on Thursday evening to Ipswich...The Drama continues...

I am listening to Ludovico Einaudi as I write this so forgive me if I become sentimental and fall into an abyss of appreciation for life and the wonderment it brings...

All the names and village halls and dressing areas are melting into one as I sit here trying to remember what has happened since I last wrote...I suppose I should start from the last and try and work my way back...

Norwich - Maddermarket... My God it was glorious, I felt like a Shakespearean actor treading the boards, despite the fact that the boards I am to tread are our touring set and it was creaking and squeaking like some botched laminate flooring job in East London...half way through the tour and the set is beginning to have a midlife crisis...Bolts are missing, puzzle pieces just don't fit as they were made to and felt flooring is hanging off like a bad 80s zombie graveyard...although the gauze is completely and utterly intact everyone who has seen the show will be pleased to know...those of you that haven't - you're in for a treat - Like the Easter egg hunt I used to have in my grandparents garden...You know all the Easter eggs will be the same because they came in a big bag but sometimes you get a surprise in there that inspires you to keep looking for more...like life...

Today being the last day we did ‘Secret Egg Swap' so all of us got a little something tasty for the weekend...

Creeting St Mary - Well the cake was everyone's highlight . ‘Lemon drizzle' - Pennys delight and ‘Chocolate Banana' - which Matt refused because it looked wholemeal and his belief - from my judgement - if you are going to indulge you may as well go for the full on gorge rather than the moderately healthy option - but in saying that when he did have a slice later he almost wet his knickers at the joyus taste explosion that filled his mouth! The bar in the hall treated us afterwards, something we haven't had since New Buckingham I think...I had a ginger beer - one of my favourite drinks of choice...teetotal and ginger beer excites me to no end - Especially really spicy Jamaican stuff..they know how to do Ginger beer the Jamaicans! I must visit one of these days - perhaps in years to come I'll be shooting a film there and demand ice cold ginger beer in my trailer at all times...in fact - yes...that will happen - now obviously I won't demand it like some Diva with ‘tude (attitude for those of you who aren't giggling in my head as I create my own version of ‘diva lingo') I will ask nicely if they can recommend any local brews otherwise I'll bloody get it myself on one of my exploration trips... Anyway enough digressing on my future endeavours - Fred and Matt cycled to Creeting St Mary - as it is such a close venue. Just as the van pulled into the village hall carpark we spot the two of them, pink faced and sticky with one foot on a pedal setting down on the gravel as the wind blew a gust across their faces. Fresh cold crisp air it was. Mighty Steve arrived not long after - A joy to see him as always and have the help with the get in. Unky Bri (Brian) came to help with the get out too...How lucky we were in Creeting St Mary.

South Woodham - William De Ferrers School.

An episode of Glee if there ever was one..School hall...Cheerleaders enter stage right, drama stage left, the kitchen of Jamie Oliver's nightmares - freezers filled to the brim with pizzas, chicken nuggets and chips...Inspiring? Well the stadium seating was certainly exciting! And the maze that took us to the dressing room was great fun - I danced all the way! And Penny treated us to Tesco's Finest Stem Ginger Cookies...Di-Vine!

Lowestoft - Seagull Theatre

MY WORD WHAT FUN!! They had their own costume cupboard...I loved it like a fat kid loves cake - I tried on a couple of costumes and I must say I could definitely play a panto dame - IN FACT the guy who worked at the theatre remarked if they were short a dame he'd call me...I'd be like Dame Edna but far more excitable...If that's possible...Fred and I discovered the musician ‘Shorty Long' on the way so I downloaded his whole album and played it while we did the get in...Thats just how I roll...Keep the troops grooving...

A word from the wise to finish my rant...

"Actors are some of the most driven, courageous people on the face of the Earth. They deal with more day-to-day rejection in 1 year than most people do in a lifetime. Every day, actors face the financial challenge of living a freelance lifestyle, the disrespect of people who think they should get "real jobs," and their own fear that they'll never work again. Every day they have to ignore the possibility that the vision to which they have dedicated their lives is a pipe dream. With every passing year, many of them watch as the other people their age achieve the predictable milestones of normal life - the cars, the family, the house, the nest egg. But they stay true to their dream, in spite of sacrifices. Why? Because actors are willing to give their entire lives to a moment - to that line, that laugh, that gesture or that interpretation that will stir the audience's soul. Actors are beings who have tasted life's nectar in that crystal moment when they poured out their creative spirit and touched another person's heart. In that instant, they are as close to magic, God and perfection as anyone could ever be. And in their own hearts, they know that to dedicate oneself to that moment is worth a thousand lifetimes." -David Ackert

With love and courage,

Bishanyia xxx