A theatre kid...

If you don’t know this about me already, I’m a theatre kid. Well, a theatre school kid. I went to Sylvia Young Theatre School from the age of 13 and that’s where I met my husband. Before starting there I was part of my local amateur dramatics group and I think there were only two professional productions I got to watch which started my fascination with live theatre.

The first show I watched was Grease: The Musical. I can remember being completely in awe at seeing Craig McLachlan and Shane Richie up there, wowing the audience with their humour. Then there were the big musical numbers with everyone singing and dancing - wow wow wow. Just so much fun. I thoroughly enjoyed being in that theatre, a space that felt so magical and alive. Plus, I LOVED the fancy binoculars that were available from where we were sitting. So decadent. Obviously we weren’t allowed to pay the £1 to use them, but thankfully our young eyes could take it all in perfectly anyway.

My second theatre trip was to watch Midsummer Night’s Dream at Regent Park’s Open Air theatre. So different to Grease, but OH SO WONDERFUL. We’d been learning about that particular Shakespeare play at school ahead of the trip, so thankfully we all knew the storyline and could follow along with ease, marvelling at how the story was being brought to life in front of us.

Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre is, as the name suggests, outside. Having birds flying around while the actors were at work was quite something. Another thing I was quite taken by (and please remember I would’ve only been about 8 or 9) was one of the actor’s corsets and her boobs. They clearly didn’t appreciate being contained and were repeatedly threatening to spill out… fair to say, the joy of live theatre where the unexpected can happen was discovered (and enjoyed) early!

When I started at Sylvia’s I got to go to the theatre more frequently thanks to producers allowing the school seats at a discounted price. Now I’m an adult (and the kids are older) I try and get to the theatre as much as possible. An important part of being an actor and writer is absorbing art and what’s being created in these spaces, but even for those outside of the profession it’s an incredible way to explore topics, feelings and themes. Earlier this year I got to watch Guess How Much I Love You? at The Royal Court and it was incredible to watch TMFR and all the grief, loss and guilt that comes with it being front and centre in theatre. It was difficult to watch as so many shy away from talking about such a painful process, yet it’s a production that I will never forget.

Some other bits I’ve seen and loved (that you can still get tickets for) are:

Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club - I’ve always wanted to see this but never got around to it – and I’m glad I didn’t. A little while ago my good friend Matt Willis started as Emcee and it was awesome to watch this production completely anew. I was blown away by the production, cast, casting, set, choreography, performances, design – ALL OF IT. The dark and twisted emotion was so moving! One minute you’re laughing and the next you’re anticipating something awful. I know I’m biased, but Matt was exceptional. So captivating to watch and he’s created something mind-blowing with his Emcee. So likeable, yet so rotten and broken.

Paranormal Activity. I’m rubbish at psychological thrillers. I’ve been in lots of them and love building that suspense and intensity needed for that genre, but watching them is a different matter. You’d think I’d know all the tricks and that having some sort of insider knowledge would free me from all the fear, but no… I have never been so scared as I was watching Paranormal Activity. This, for me, was next level scary, and I couldn’t cope. I held my friend Nat’s hand from the beginning and was willing the interval to arrive. Disturbing, thrilling and the scariest thing I have ever watched.

Titanique – from the scariest to the funniest. This musical is the retelling of the box-office-smash-hit film Titanic through the eyes of Celine Dion who, it turns out, was actually there and witnessed the whole thing. Camp, ridiculous and joyous.

If you like theatre recommendations then let me know and I’ll keep them coming!

Do you remember your first trip to the theatre? What did you see and how did it make you feel? Or maybe you’ve been to see something and want to shout about it? OR are you looking forward to seeing something particular this year? Let me know in the comments!