Thursday 3 November 2011

Back to the Future...?

Rob Stanson, our first 'Henry V - Lion of England'

It's a bit depressing realising that I'm going back 20 years. Next year it will be 20 years since I presented 'Teechers' and 'Henry V - Lion of England' at the mac in Birmingham. I booked three nights but didn't have the guts to put my Henry on for all three nights so my mate directed the Godber classic. And now I'm doing it again, but this time in London.

Us, at the launch of
A Ghost of A Chance.
It has occurred to me though that every time I've written something, things happened. 'Henry' has toured and went the the USA. A Ghost of A Chance not only attracted some stellar creatives, it also won the Guinness Award through the National Theatre. PALS became our local hit, going from nothing to sell out runs in the space of a few weeks. And this time I'm producing in London, arguably the world capital of the arts.

Ed Morris, the latest
 Henry V - Lion  of England.
Contemplating my return to Pub Theatre!
So maybe its not too depressing going back a bit. John Lennon said about the Beatles reforming, "you can't reheat a soufflé." No you can't John, but maybe you can cook another one and try and make it tastier. So 2012 will be a big year and nothing to do with the Olympics, because I'm gonna write me next new play and see what happens. I'm shall try a similar approach to PALS. PALS was in my head for about five years and this new one, Ron and Juliet, has been around for a similar time. It's due in July. And talking of the Olympics, it has a five-a-side footy match in the second half... Game On!

Wednesday 12 October 2011

RIP Steve Jobs

It was a bit of a shock to say the least. And there's me asking the question about which is best - mac or pc!

One of the most memorable quotes Steve Jobs said was something like "coming up with a great idea just involves simple thinking. It's just really complicated and hard to think simply."

Apple's iphone 4s launches on Friday. Steve would have been proud?

Saturday 1 October 2011

Mac or PC? It’s that old thorny chestnut. (Or should that be thorny Apple... )

MBPro AND pc at work. And in love...!
After years of p.c’s I got my first 15 inch Macbook Pro about three years ago and have been very pleased with it. I particularly like the i-life suite of programmes that comes pre-loaded with every new machine. In one suite you can edit video, catalogue photos, make music and create web sites. And it’s all pretty straightforward.
The i-phone revolutionised mobile phones for a similar reason. They just work. They are easy and instinctive to use. There might not be huge bangs for your buck under the hood, but you don’t have to spend hours on the system itself. In fact the camera was woeful on the first i-phones. I guess they had to have something to improve  for later models.
I-phone. Improved with age
When I first considered using media players I asked the lovely Simon Cross, an engineer at Heart-FM and The Arrow where I was working, which would be the best player to use.
“For someone like you?” he asked.  Someone like me?  I was a DJ on a radio station. He was an engineer. Not for the first time I saw that sympathetic look in his eye.  It was the look many of the engineers had when approached by a presenter with a technical problem.  The same look a Mother may give an innocent, misunderstanding child.  A look of pity.  Sorrow, almost, that one so grown up could be so.. well... naive!
“Er.. yes”, I replied, “someone like me.”
“I-tunes and apple media player.” said Simon without hesitation. “Not the best, but the easiest to use.” He almost patted me on the head as he walked out of the studio, looking sad for my lost technical prowess.
I did the breakfast show here. And Simon (and others) kept it running.
And he was right of course. A smart lad is our Simes. I think he now works for Facebook in the USA or the BBC or both or something and well deserved it is too.
I’ve heard stories of how Steve Jobs will be in a meeting talking about a new app or programme and spend all the time worrying about how the icon looks. And he’s quite correct too. Computers are about making our lives easier, not increasing our knowledge of html. (If Simon knew I was talking about html I think he’d be very proud of me. Even though I don’t really have much of a clue what it is. He’d appreciate me trying!)
So it’s a bit of a no brainer. Mac good, PC.. well if not bad, then certainly average. Unless you’re a starving artist.  Suddenly £850 odd quid for a Macbook Air takes on a new perspective. When there are netbooks from a couple of hundred quid. A writer mate of mine is battling with this. The macs look great, but is that all you are paying for?  He has a ten year old Sony Viao that now takes about 40 mins to boot up, so he needs to do something!
So maybe you can help with a suggestion or two. Netbook?  Or save up for a macbook. Whaddya think? And if a pc, which one would you recommend?

Where’s Simon when you need him...

Thursday 22 September 2011

That Hollyoaks TV Audition

Please see the previous post. But here, as promised, are the FULL details of the new character for Hollyoaks, as sent to the Maverick Theatre Company today. Good Luck!

The Hollyoaks casting team are looking for a really exciting 18 to 20 year old black / asian / mixed race actress to play a new regular character in the show. She must be stunning looking, a proficient street / hip hop dancer, and of course a fantastic actress. 

The character is an aspiring dance student. She's sexy, confident, intelligent, funny, open, driven and feisty but likeable.

Filming will be in Liverpool from 7 October onwards. If you know any actors who might be suitable, interested and available, then please either put them in touch with us, or be in touch yourselves. The best point of contact is me (Rick Laxton, Casting Director) at rlaxton@limepictures.com or on 0151 202 2441. Please can photos of any suggestions be emailed if possible. 

Castings will take place from 26 to 29 September in London and Liverpool, so the sooner suggestions can get to us the better please, and no later than 6pm on Tuesday 27 Sept.

Monday 19 September 2011

Any Maverick ideas?

A mad moment in the pub?
I'm looking for hard evidence to support my assumption that Maverick's productions in pubs and community spaces will attract new audiences to theatre.

This assumption is actually borne out by our work at the Billesley Pub in Birmingham during the 1990's and at Birmingham Library Theatre during the early 2000's. We have evidence to show that Maverick attracted non-theatre goers through our programme of contemporary classics, ticket-pricing and a robust marketing strategy aimed squarely at the council estates surrounding our venue. Basic market research in the form of printed questionnaires left on seats in the pub showed our audience to be generally non-theatre goers who were younger, more female and less well-off when compared to national statistics for regular theatre attenders.

I want to return to that model and roll the concept out nationally. A touring circuit that will address my belief that there are substantial proportions of the population who do not feel theatre is for them. My experience, both personal and professional, is that if the proposition is right, a new, more inclusive audience can be developed. The benefits are huge, not just for the new attenders, but to whole communities, other theatres, professional practitioners and society in general.

Unlike the work of the legendary Joan Litttlewood with her Theatre Workshop at Stratford East, this will be a touring project. It is very ambitious.

And it is obviously going to cost money and will be an almighty struggle, so I need to build the best possible case to present to funding bodies and commercial organisations whose help will be crucial to realise the project.

So, have you any comments, ideas, references or research that might help me? Perhaps you were one of our new theatre attenders? Or are there reasons why you perhaps have a problem with going to the theatre? How important is 'the event'?

Any contributions, good, bad, long, short or indifferent will be very welcome and annonymous. Did you perhaps attend any Maverick shows in Birmingham or on tour?

I hope to make a case for the Arts Council to award a small grant to allow the research to move forward and I shall contact you for permission if I would like to  use your comments. Please email me at mavericktheatre.co.uk or comment below.

Thanks very much for your help.  Here we go again... maybe!

And if you are looking for information about the new HOLLYOAKS actress auditions, I'll put details here tomorrow. Ta.

Sunday 4 September 2011

Write On

It's been a while since I was last here, but I'm Twittering and Facebooking like a demon with a pen. Or a keyboard. I've actually recently been paid to write too, which is just heavenly! But we didn't get a grant we went for with Maverick Theatre, so funds are tight and I've gone for a more permanent position as a writer and it's sort of paralyzed me a bit.  I kind of think I've got to hold on to the writing juice in case it runs dry just when I need it.  Competition for the job is very tough and I don't want to jinx it. Not that I'm at all superstitious about things.  But fingers crossed I get it!

I'll be back...

Sunday 5 June 2011

E-Mail

This is an interesting feature.  The box above gives you some sort of e-mail alert from feedburner.  I've just registered myself.  I love me tech, me.  Let's see if it works, eh?

Monday 30 May 2011

On Yer Bike.


I returned to biking later in life when I started to see signs for cycle routes as I was driving around Birmingham in my car. I presented a radio breakfast show so had few traffic problems. But the signs made me think about bikes, so I bought a cheapy one from Halfords, Kings Heath. Not the best move. I had to take it back 3 times as the pedals kept coming loose! But don't let that put you off. A trip to a proper bike shop solved the problems.
The first time I did cycle the 7 miles to the studio – up a big hill – it took me nearly an hour. But I'd make the effort once a week.  The start of the journey was through the rather lovely Cannon Hill Park.  Sun shining, birds singing, mugggers mugging...  During the summer it gradually dawned on me that I quite liked being in the fresh air, so I started cycling two or three times a week.  Within 12 months, the hour ride magically became 20 mins. I also lost 5 stone! And I was unexpectedly overcome with a very strange feeling of well-being after a ride…
Cycling is an almost organic experience after years of being cooped up in cars and public transport. If you’re new to the idea, give it a go. It really will effect your outlook on life. I’m discovering London now. I no longer present a breakfast show and London doesn't have Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham, but it does have the River Thames.  Which as you can see from the picture below, is rather nice!



Friday 8 April 2011

To Write or not to Write, that is the question...

... or rather, to blog or not to blog. Or at least where to blog.  Read on...

Now I've finished Uni and the banks are being uncooperative with the £15k I need to get Maverick Theatre out touring, I've been looking at other ways of generating income.  (This is Producer Speak for I'm looking for a job!)

I came across a site offering income for blog posts and subsequently read an article in Writer magazine about such sites.  They survive by attracting search engines and splitting some of the income with you.  But you need to write SEO stuff that computerised machines will be likin'. The title of this little rant, for instance, is not very good.  If it said 'Royal Wedding Prince William Make Cash Quick Sex' it would attract more search engines and therefore earn the site more money.

In fact, what a good idea...!

Back in a moment....

Royal Wedding Prince William Make Cash Quick Sex

There. Now let's see if that generates any traffic from the Bots.  It's already attracted Spam Comments, but Blogger seems rather good at getting rid of them.

Anyway, back to the point.  The article basically concluded that in terms of writing style and volume of posts needed for the blog sites, it was probably better creatively to do it yourself and if you can generate enough traffic, you might even earn a bit too.

And so I shall attempt to become more regular.  And see what happens.

Anyone know how to make any additional income out of the Royal Wedding Prince William Make Cash Quick Sex?

Just wondered.

Monday 28 February 2011

Keep Right On...

Birmingham City Football Club won the League Cup tonight.  I'm not a huge football fan, but it's hard not to be lured by the pure drama of it all.  There's goodies and baddies and hope and despair.  Just like life in fact.  And there's nothing like a good sporting celebration to help keep our minds off an unfair economy...

Blues are celebrating their first silverware since about 1963.  But I actually think it's the first major trophy they've won since they were formed.  About 130 odd years then.

I'm approaching my fiscal survival this year with the same tenacity. I just hope it's not going to take me as long as the Blues.  More beer!

Wednesday 16 February 2011

Romantica

It's been a tough few months.  But the return to a radio show I did years ago has been very positive. And a great way of introducing an arts concept that very few will realise was one! Maverick this year is to be about nostalgia and reminiscence and Romantica was just that, with a lovely bunch of people sending in stories that, in some cases, had never been repeated before. On the first of two nights some of the feedback was tearful and very emotional. But it's great. It's what makes us human.