Saturday Sit Down with JMMcDowell
It’s only a week away to Martini Bond at Manchester Pride. Rehearsals are going well, which is more than I can say for the props list…They are piled up in a corner and need checking – have we lost the meerkats? Where’s the gangster’s hat? And Suzi Bazooki’s bazookas? Then there’s the lighting to sort, tickets to sell, PR…Thank goodness for JMMcDowell and her Saturday Sit Down. She has very kindly given me a spot on her blog to talk about the play, writing, hopes and dreams. And it was great to be in touch with a fellow blogger. Throughly recommend it!
Martini Bond prepares for Manchester Pride
It’s all systems go again. Rehearsals are starting up, or rather the schedule for rehearsals is … most of the cast are on holiday. But if they’re not worried, I’m not worried about Martini Bond’s next outing (no pun intended…) at Manchester Pride festival in August. (more…)
Peter Bazalgette is right – theatre companies need funding
Peter Bazalgette, the new chair of the Arts Council, has warned against the cuts to arts funding in the UK and has called on business to do more for the culture – ie invest in it. I couldn’t agree more.
We are thinking about taking Martini Bond up to Manchester Pride in August, but this time we need some funding in order to do it. Profit margins are so slim for small theatre companies – and probably large ones too – that it seems you are fortunate if you cover your costs through ticket sales. Forget about paying the actors, crew or writer a living wage. They all need other work to subsidise their dreams (or, after yesterday’s Budget and if you’re George Osborne, aspirations).
We are thinking about holding a James Bond quiz night as a fund-raiser and we will look into applying for grants and approaching business for support. I’m fairly hopeful we will raise some funds. After all, Pride is for a good cause, raising money for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender charities and organisations as well as HIV groups.
Local theatre, local bands or local comedy nights really need your support, though, because these acts are part of the culture of your town, and, as Bazalgette said, “are central to the life of the city and to the local economy”. Without bums on seats, the show can’t go on! So please go and see a local act on in your town.
When was the last time you went to see a local show? Were there many people there? Did you enjoy it? Do you care about arts funding?
Writing about sex – badly
Let’s talk about sex, or rather write about it. Usually badly. Take The Quiddity of Will Self by Sam Mills for an example: ‘Down, down, on the eschatological bed.’
What does eschatological mean anyway? (more…)
Martini Bond cast rebond
“What time we are meeting for our line run?”
Oh what a joy. The Martini Bond cast are gearing up for our two nights in Manchester in March – which means the actors are starting to run through their lines again.
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How to write…cut down on blogging
How to write a book in 30 days… Yes, 30 days! THIRTY DAYS. Had to shout it to myself a third time just to make sure I committed to doing it. 30 days, though.
Can it be done? It’s a method, with a schedule and lovely headings that say things like “Downtime”. Unfortunately, that didn’t mean stop writing and start partying … And plot sketches. Well, the plot is a bit sketchy. And subplot threads. Yep, the subplot is threadbare … Do I need subplots?
Ha! 30 days…Why not make it 15? Or 5? Or 3…months? Years? Oh go on, rub it in, why don’t you?
Bond radios in
Me with Simon Lederman at the Beeb
James Bond always radios in for help. And so it was only natural that we did the same thing for Martini Bond. I parachuted into BBC Radio London last night on the Late Show with Joanne Good – but it wasn’t really Joanne Good, it was Simon Lederman standing in for her. He was lovely, putting me at ease as I was babbling about never been on radio before. (more…)
We’re ready for Bond on Broadway
We’ve finished our technical runs on Tuesday and we must thank the lovely David, a lighting whizz from London’s Aldwych theatre who is helping us make Martini Bond work on a larger stage. (more…)
My Olympic marathon to get publicity
Only on Sunday I was moaning to one of the cast that despite being a journalist, and knowing how the press works, I was failing miserably to get any kind of coverage for Martini Bond. After all, there is no such thing as bad publicity, right? Then on Monday, a reporter from the Camden New Journal rang. (more…)
