Pressing On
Another show done. Girl From The North Country was quite an experience - quite different to any other production I have worked on, being largely a play with a handful of songs. I was fascinated by it on various fronts: watching the acting process up close through rehearsals and from my vantage point on-stage in performance; playing acoustically with fellow musicians rather than using click tracks or headphones; touring with a show during the tail-end of a pandemic, and balancing the role of Musical Director and the welfare of my colleagues on a fairly long run on the road with my own welfare. I always say I like to learn something from every contract that I do that I can take with me onto future productions, and this show certainly allowed that!
We finished the tour by playing Leicester’s amazing Curve theatre, where the show sounded and looked utterly gorgeous, with an equally lovely week in Wimbledon. Being close to London, the vibe understandably changed as much of the company commuted, many friends and industry people came to watch, and the producers gave us a gala night send-off with a post-show party. The final day, inevitably, came and went rather quickly, but with two fine performances to round off the run.
I actually booked proper digs for Wimbledon - a one-bed place in nearby Mitcham - as I still don’t have a place of my own to commute from, but I extended the booking for a few nights after the tour so that I could do some proper flat viewings in anticipation of a move back to London over the next few weeks. The search looks to have paid off, as I managed to view 8 properties in person over the course of a few days before heading back to Cheshire. I got great vibes from one place in North London, so my offer is in for that place and all being well I will be able to start moving stuff in later this month!
April, otherwise, is very much dependent on how the move to London goes. I have a little bit of work back at Edge Hill University, as I accompany the final year Musical Theatre students at their showcase at the Everyman Theatre, Liverpool, otherwise much of my work is score-learning for my next show (still to be announced). I have plans to slot in a long-overdue spa break with my mum (my birthday present to her from over a year ago!) and enjoy the Easter break properly, but will largely just be seeing how April pans out! I hope you all have a lovely Easter, wherever you’re spending it.