All Good Things...

... must sadly come to an end.
But that's life. Last night, the Magdalene Players put on our final performance of A Tomb With A View. It's a strange feeling - more than 4 months of preparation and rehearsals are suddenly over after 3 nights. I feel like we should have done a longer run, but perhaps it's better that we went out on the high that we did. What a thrill - it's been such a fun summer being with these guys and rehearsing this play.

Hand on my heart, out of all the various plays, musicals and operas I've been involved with over the years (in various capacities), this is the one I'm probably most proud of. It's my first show in 2 and a half years, my first show in London, and the first show I've done since pulling myself out of the black hole I was in.

I was wonderfully supported by many friends and family, for which I'm very grateful. It was nice to have them there, almost so that I could say "This is what I've been doing for the last 4 months!" (I'll find some pictures to put up - there are plenty!)

A short break and catching up with friends, but then onto the next production!

The show must go on!

A Good News Story (for a change!)

Amongst all the crap and depressing news you read in the papers these days, some good (nay, great and long-overdue!) news: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11481906
Finally, a step in the right direction for the very brave men and women serving abroad to help them re-habilitate when they return. It is despicable and wrong that so little care is currently available - the suicide rate shocking. What a lot of people don't seem to realise is that unless these measures (and further action) is undertaken now, over the next 5-20 years we're going to witness the tragic suicides of many of these dedicated people (just as following the Falklands conflict almost 30 years ago). Mental health service access for the average Joe Bloggs on the street is pretty poor as it is, and so I'm very glad that at least the armed forces have recognised that change is needed.

The biggest killer of young men in the UK?

Drugs? Drink-driving? Gang-related murder? Nope. Suicide.

That's right. Suicide. When you think of it like that, it makes you wonder why so much emphasis is placed on making kids aware of the dangers of, say, drink-driving, when the biggest killer is left unspoken about. Well, there are many social, historical and political reasons why, but it's not good enough.

I can't wait for the day when mental health is viewed in the same light as physical health - when we can talk openly about these issues in society without brushing them under the carpet. For years I've been planning to do some kind of volunteer work for a charity like Mind... Once A Tomb With A View is done (scarily, in a week's time! How did that creep up on me?!) I plan to do so...

I can only hope that these new measures actually do come into effect, and that they make a difference to those that need them so badly.

Onwards to a brighter future!

Kerry Ellis

I was fortunate enough to meet Kerry Ellis yesterday - probably the biggest name in musical theatre in the world! She's taken the West End and Broadway by storm, having appeared in My Fair Lady, We Will Rock You, Wicked (in the UK and USA) and now Oliver!

She's just released an album, produced by Brian May (after spotting her in MFL and suggesting she audition for WWRY). I can't recommend it enough - the mixture is just right between musical numbers, rock ballads, Queen songs and some new material: http://www.kerryellisweb.co.uk/

She's incredibly talented, passionate, confident and beautiful - pretty much my ideal woman! What do you think - reckon I can get her to come along to A Tomb With A View?! Hmm.... perhaps too optimistic!

Good luck to her in the future - I know she'll go far! Or rather, even further!

J

The Pope

Hmm.... I haven't really felt the usual strong emotions over this unquestionnably important event... Usually I get very righteous about things like this (maybe even self-righteous at times).

Without a shadow of a doubt, the Pope (and by default the Catholic Church as an institution) has had a very negative impact inareas of the world - whether that's by denouncing condoms, gay people, or the ordination of female bishops. He is indirectly responsible for a lot of human suffering and even deaths. But the religion he epitomises has done tremendous good over the many centuries - giving billions of people hope and comfort, and promoting love and compassion.

I don't know - maybe I'm just too cynical these days, but we see corrupt and pretty nasty politicans, heads of state and dignataries visit the UK all the time. Is there a massive protest every time a Saudi politician visits, organised by those concerned by women's rights? No.

Maybe that's what I'm concerned about. I fully support the protestors in rallying against a lot of what the Pope stands for - I just wish we stood up for a lot of other stuff as well, rather than the fashionable issue of the day. I'll always remember visiting the huge rally in Trafalgar Square protesting over the Israeli invasion of Gaza in December 2008 - it was a big affair I recall; thousands attended. I went for a quick walk over the road, passed the Zimbabwean Embassy. Only 10 or 20 people were protesting outside.

I think this is important - whilst the situation in the Middle East is beyond a disgrace and travesty of justice, we need to remind ourselves that there is an awful lot to get angry about that ISN'T reported every day in the press, but which shouldn't be forgotten about or brushed under the carpet.

Good luck to everyone this weekend - whether you are Catholics seeking a glimmer of His Holiness, or protestors trying to make your voice heard. Let's just remember that - come Monday - the world will still be turning, and there will still be too many people in the world needing a voice. Let's give it to them.

A Tomb With A View

Right, so I promised to mention the show in my next post... Here you go!

For the last 5 months or so, I've been undertaking a big new project in my life - acting in a fantastic amateur production of "A Tomb With A View" by Norman Robbins. We always describe it as a mix of the Addams Family and Agatha Christie - a comedy thriller that will have you thinking you know the answer one moment, and then leave you baffled the next.

It's such a thrill to be involved in theatre again, acting in particular - there are few things that give me such a rush. More so in this show, as the cast and crew from the Magdalene Players are a great bunch of guys n' gals - I'm sure we'll stay in touch once the show is done. Our ever-patient Director, Chris, is doing a fantastic job of discovering new ways of doing things which we - as actors - perhaps wouldn't think of, as we're maybe too close to the characters.

With less than 4 weeks to go until opening night, it's all starting to feel very real and close! But I'm incredibly excited about it - on the one hand, the usual nerves are creeping through about will I f**k it up somehow, but on the other hand I know we're well-prepared, and I can't wait to get up on the stage and just do it! We've been working hard for so long; I want to show everyone what I've been doing (and neglecting them for - sorry folks!)

Anyone wanting to come along can get more info (and tickets!) here: http://www.magplayers.org.uk/current.asp

You won't be disappointed!

Times a changin'...

Ok, so another busy weekend... No sooner do I feel like I've just come back from Alec's stag do, than I'm writing about his wedding. Time has a funny way of screwing with the mind...

It seems like only a year or two ago (in some ways) that I met Alec - both young and probably immature and inexperienced teenagers who suddenly met and found some kind of direction in school plays and amateur dramatics. In reality, it was about 13 years ago... And we're still pretty immature and inexperienced! In some ways I think Alec and I (and the other guys) are more like brothers - we've spent our entire adults lives together, we laugh, we share, we cry together. And so it was with a mixture of joy, happiness, wonder, amazement and also contemplation that I had the honour of being one of his 4 Best Men.

It didn't actually hit me that he was getting married until Saturday - the big day - as the five of us were preening ourselves (looking pretty dapper, I've gotta say!) Even at the reception venue, where we met before going to St Paul's Church in St Albans for the ceremony, I don't think it was real to me. It was only when we were stood at the front of the church, and Alec turned and saw the beautiful Ruth, slowly but gracefully walking down the aisle, that it got to me. They stood opposite one another, looked each other in the eyes, and I could see the love they shared - and how what they were promising to undertake that day was without doubt the right thing to do. I'm very happy for the new Mr and Mrs Sammon - whatever life throws their way (good or bad), they will have each other, and a special love that can never be broken.

The usual merriment, ceilidh and cheesy disco followed - including downing a bottle of Prosecco with Dan to relieve the nerves following our speeches (still being prepared the night before!)

As per, pics will follow as soon as I have some time to upload them from phone to laptop.

Have spent tonight hanging out with Lucy from the Magdalene Players - a good friend I know I'll stay in touch with long after the show. A real fun person to spend time, and very sweet too. She's got a very positive outlook on life - something I love and can identify with.

Show?! Ah yes - I keep meaning to write about this, don't I... Ok, next time. Time for bed folks - big day at work tomorrow!
x

Stagging it up... Part Deux

So I promised a few pictures from Alec's stag do... Here you go! Some stunning scenes from the Lake District

The sun didn't shine for us, but never mind - the activities and the company were what counted

Yes - that's actually me! The wind was blowing pretty hard, and although I probably wasn't too far off the ground, believe me it felt like it! I was hanging onto that tree for dear life... Worse, I think Dan was holding onto the rope on the ground....

And just a couple of nice pictures of my secret hideaway and companions in Wandsworth...

This is where I escape when I... Ah I haven't said anything yet... Ok, next time I will - promise!

Love

Jack

Stagging it up

Ok, so another busy weekend (is there ever a quiet one?) - but this time I'm very pleased that it was a busy one... A group of 10 of us went up to Cumbria in the Lake District for Alec's stag. So I've known Alec for - wow - a long time. Maybe 11 years. We've been through a lot together - and of course have worked closely on many, many plays over those 11 years. So it's kind of weird to think that in about a week and a half he'll be married... And yet it hasn't really sunk in yet. To me, we're still those young, immature kids back at school. Well - perhaps we haven't grown up much anyway!

It was a great weekend with school friends, Alec's brother and uni mate. We stayed at the home of good family friends of mine (the Holmeses), and on the Sunday we went to Rookin House Activity Centre in Troutbeck, near Penrith, where we demonstrated how fit (or not) we are - tree climbing, zip wire, assault course, rifle shooting, jeep driving (blindfold and in reverse!) and argo cat riding were all part of the fun. (Argo cat? It's a miniature truck with wheels like a tank, capable of doing a 180-degree turn on the spot and going up and down the steepest inclines... very exhilarating!)

Along with Poker, Risk, pub dinner and boozing, it proved to be a very manly weekend... A good laugh with good company. If only we could do it every weekend. And of course we raised a glass to couple of friends - one who sadly can't be with us and another who is about to take a step into the next stage of life. Couldn't be more excited or happier for him and Ruth. And it won't be long before Ads and Beth get married... Perhaps we're growing older, rather than growing up!

Pictures will follow, I promise! I need to edit the ones of me looking scared half-way up a tree... It was very windy!

New Beginnings

Wow - so I was just thinking about blogging, and remembered I set up this one many moons ago... and then promptly forgot about it! Maybe it's time to give it another go, see what happens. I don't think I'm too interested in talking about my life on a day by day basis, necessarily - more just writing about what I see, hear, feel in the world (probably a lot more interesting!)

It's been quite amusing reading my old blogs from over 3 years ago - in some ways I seem to be very different, and in other ways I feel like exactly the same person. A lot's happened in 3+ years. I'm interested to know what others think?

So, Jack in 2010 is in a new city with a (semi-new) life - London to be precise, living in South Clapham and enjoying life as a civil servant at DFID (no, not a Welsh village - the Department for International Development). I've made some great new friends, and - more importantly - have stayed close to old ones.

I've been on some great holidays....

I've been partying the summer away (yes, I still enjoy a beer or two...)

It feels like a very long time since these days...

I've got plenty to write and catch-up on, but for now, I'll leave you with this thought: The Addams Family meet Hercule Poirot... What do you get?!

J x