When I was younger I knew in my heart that I'd fly this nest. That I'd leave the wet and windy British weather behind, that I'd go somewhere with clean air, frequent sunshine and exotic accents. My lifestyle would be healthier, property would be affordable and I'd cook delightful meals daily from local ingredients. I'd still work in theatre. Of course. Or, failing that, writing. I wasn't planning on going crazy. We're talking California here rather than Cuba. South Africa rather than the Solomon Islands. Yup I'm unstoppable. Last week I went to North Wales for three days and began mentally planning my future there. My Dad always told me that you should take the opportunity to travel, to see the world, when you're young and it's still an option. You know, before you get bogged down with all this mortgage, job, children business. I've done a fair bit of that travelling malarky. I love it. I also lived in Indiana for a year. It was incredible but of course the time then came to return.
I honestly thought I'd be living elsewhere now. But I'm 26. And I'm still, very much, here. More significantly, I've started a business here. Okay so it's small, minute even, and should I decide to leave then I imagine it might not, at this point, have a major effect on me. But that's not the point. The point is that I have chosen not to look further afield but to stay right here and put down roots. Maybe it's just the way things turned out. Perhaps I'm jumping the gun and my time to move has yet to come? Or is it possible that I'm here because my three true loves are here?
I honestly thought I'd be living elsewhere now. But I'm 26. And I'm still, very much, here. More significantly, I've started a business here. Okay so it's small, minute even, and should I decide to leave then I imagine it might not, at this point, have a major effect on me. But that's not the point. The point is that I have chosen not to look further afield but to stay right here and put down roots. Maybe it's just the way things turned out. Perhaps I'm jumping the gun and my time to move has yet to come? Or is it possible that I'm here because my three true loves are here?
My family, the theatre and comedy.
The former is ultimately a private concern but suffice to say that I imagine there's a possibility I would follow my family around the globe if it came to that. I don't mind short term separation, travelling and so on but I do not wish to envision a future without tangible access to my family and nor, I believe, do they.
But theatre? And comedy? Well these are slightly less obvious choices for an individual to make when determining where to base their lives, although obviously pertinent when you wish to work in the self same fields of course. But does England still lead the pack? Yes, England has great theatre and we're within spitting distance of the biggest arts festival in the world but plenty of other countries have thriving arts scenes nowadays. Including those which are potentially easier to break into than the over subscribed world here. Chicago and New York both play host to incredible theatre and actors while Cape Town and Johannesburg companies are producing some beautiful work. Australia's cities feature some of the biggest theatre and comedy festivals in the world and European theatre has long been admired for it's grace and beauty.
However the truth is that I've still never found anywhere that quite compares to here. To our history, our people, our plays. To the companies that choose to come here with their wares and to the deep respect people have for our industry. I'm not always, rarely ever actually, in the 'in crowd' of British theatre but I still delight in so many of the opportunities available and possibilities still out there. There are so many problems, not least with funding, payment and lack of work, but right now I'm hopelessly in love with the world that theatre always has, and still does, represent for me.
I love the fact that since January I've seen West End musicals, fringe plays, stand-up comedy, works in progress, South African productions, Joanna Lumley performing in late night Pinter shorts and an incredible adaptation of an award-winning novel. I love that in eight months my friend's debut play has been performed above a pub, at a festival and in a West End theatre. I love that Sir Ian McKellen went to see my grandmother's amateur dramatic's society production of Waiting for Godot and stayed for tea afterwards. I love that although it often feels like a hopeless struggle for those of us in the profession there are scattered moments when opportunities are tangible and everything, albeit briefly, falls into place.
For me they're both addictions. Comedy and theatre. Watching and creating. And I haven't yet found a better place to be than here.
But theatre? And comedy? Well these are slightly less obvious choices for an individual to make when determining where to base their lives, although obviously pertinent when you wish to work in the self same fields of course. But does England still lead the pack? Yes, England has great theatre and we're within spitting distance of the biggest arts festival in the world but plenty of other countries have thriving arts scenes nowadays. Including those which are potentially easier to break into than the over subscribed world here. Chicago and New York both play host to incredible theatre and actors while Cape Town and Johannesburg companies are producing some beautiful work. Australia's cities feature some of the biggest theatre and comedy festivals in the world and European theatre has long been admired for it's grace and beauty.
However the truth is that I've still never found anywhere that quite compares to here. To our history, our people, our plays. To the companies that choose to come here with their wares and to the deep respect people have for our industry. I'm not always, rarely ever actually, in the 'in crowd' of British theatre but I still delight in so many of the opportunities available and possibilities still out there. There are so many problems, not least with funding, payment and lack of work, but right now I'm hopelessly in love with the world that theatre always has, and still does, represent for me.
I love the fact that since January I've seen West End musicals, fringe plays, stand-up comedy, works in progress, South African productions, Joanna Lumley performing in late night Pinter shorts and an incredible adaptation of an award-winning novel. I love that in eight months my friend's debut play has been performed above a pub, at a festival and in a West End theatre. I love that Sir Ian McKellen went to see my grandmother's amateur dramatic's society production of Waiting for Godot and stayed for tea afterwards. I love that although it often feels like a hopeless struggle for those of us in the profession there are scattered moments when opportunities are tangible and everything, albeit briefly, falls into place.
For me they're both addictions. Comedy and theatre. Watching and creating. And I haven't yet found a better place to be than here.
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