Just as I was beginning to fall into my usual ‘post beginning of the year oh god there so much work to do to get out of the clubs and into theatres and why can’t I have a sitcom on telly etc etc…, suddenly I have lots of good things turn up.
Starting next week, I’m supporting Rob Brydon on his national tour. This goes all over the place, even up to Aberdeen, and will be another nice stint of playing big theatres. It’s great to be supporting, not just the best thing in Gavin and Stacey, but also a truly excellent stand up. I know this is appalling sucking up but, if he doesn’t read good stuff about him on my site, I might get fired. That’s the problem with being a support act on a big tour. You get the opportunity to play the really big venues yet still must remain disciplined and not get too carried away. The show is about the star who’s filled the venue, not the idiot messing about in the first 25 minutes. I went over by five minutes supporting Omid Djalili at Bristol Colston Hall in 2006, and he took the piss out of me about it from the stage when I was watching him on his next tour in 2008! They never forget! With Rob’s tour, I’ve got the first month and then, if everyone’s happy, I’ll do another month (fingers crossed). With a bit of luck I might be playing his London run and then, when that finishes, I will only be a couple of weeks off starting ‘Coming Up For Air’ at Trafalgar Studios.
The play is definitely booked in for a month at Trafalgar Studios. I say definitely but my manager has said it’s only 99% as nothing’s finally been signed, but the Orwell estate have given the go ahead and the money has been secured. I’m really excited about doing a run of the show again. Dominic Cavendish, who adapted the original, is adding 15 minutes to it and the second half of the evening is going to be scenes and readings from ‘1984′ and possibly other works. Basically, it’s going to be a bit of an Orwell evening so please come if you enjoy beautifully written but slightly depressing theatre – what an incredibly shallow way to sum up Orwell – you can tell I’m an actor, we have no real insight about anything but ourselves.
In addition, I’m still trying to write sketches for a TV show idea that a comic friend of mine is trying to get off the ground. If that happens, it will get very exciting. All in all, it’s suddenly become a very exciting year. Sorry this blog hasn’t been funny at all but I’m feeling strangely happy – which is a disaster for comedians.
2nd March, 2009 at 1:56 pm
2nd March, 2009 at 7:08 pm
5th March, 2009 at 11:11 am