fortnum & mason

fortnum & mason: piccadilly since 1707

in preparing Act I, scene iv, of Howard Barker's CLAW

for two weeks' time

a visit to the tea room earlier today was - officially - research

unofficially: research

we wanted a cuppa tea

my budget - of course

not the production's - of course

but I had kinda wished it had been a production expense!

but that would have been wrong: very wrong

it was a luxury

but so, so worth it

the darjeeling tea brought back some incredible memories

of india in '98

the service was impeccable

the service was - seriously - impeccable

the cakes are actually served as scripted in the Barker

to have that choice...

to be able to keep the menus

great production elements

idiosyncratic but good

the elevator - wow: cosy

my Dad was a lift engineer

a beautiful afternoon: researching

our friend, Anna, would have loved it

Anna loves tea...

I love tea

first flush tippy golden is the best

darjeeling tea

saturday nights' story

1982

It rocked the 70's now we activate the 80's

Our strap-line for the production of Godspell I was in back in the eighties.

Unity Players

Windsor Arts Centre

13-18 September 1982

I was 16, had just sat my O levels, and that summer of '82 was a dream: my first swimming pool party; my first sauna; my first jacuzzi; my first 'real' kiss; pints of larger and lime (!) at the Duke's Head; cycling across Slough to The Rotunda to rehearsals; everyone trying to get my bike in the back of their cars at 11.30 at night after the pub to get me home; working at C&A during the day; and my first proper, and perhaps even last, musical theatre experience as an actor / performer.

My solo in the show: We Beseech Thee ...

The first part of this last weekend was spent with people I hadn't seen for 27 years!

One of our company, a rugby man AND a musical theatre man, Carl Smiter, died of a heart attack earlier this year and we all re-united, revived most of the musical numbers from the show, added a lot more besides, raised some cash for the British Heart Foundation, reminisced, enjoyed the nostalgia, celebrated his life with his family and friends, and told many stories.

It was good to see you all: to laugh; to remember being 16 again; actually being 16 again; and to once again be reminded what it is like to sing, dance, act and perform.

My second time 'on stage' again in just two weeks...

Gary, Roma, Helen, Denise, Annie, Steve, Peter and Liz et al: thank you for some wonderful memories and for reminding me where it all - kinda - seriously began.

PEACE BE WITH YOU

in celebration

Co-directing

The Desborough Suite

Maidenhead Town Hall

Raising money for the British Heart Foundation

In memory of CARL SMITER

the blanket play 2010

The Rock

(Fragment of a Ritual)

unmoved

from time without

end

you rest

there in the midst of the paths

in the midst of the winds

you rest

covered with the droppings of birds

grass growing from your feet

your head decked with the down of birds

you rest

in the midst of the winds

you wait

Aged one

[adapted from Alice C. Fletcher and Francis La Flesche, 'The Omaha Tribe', in Twenty-seventh Annual BAE Report, Washington D.C., 1911]

disposable-performance-cameras

three goldfish missing...

Photos: Daniel Austin