Around the Fire

It has rained every single day that we have been in Plymouth, and the wind has howled through the streets. The Atlantic Ocean has thrown everything it has at the city! But as I correctly predicted in my last entry, the fire has been well lit at The Dolphin, fresh ale is available on tap, cooled and brought up from the cellar, and the fish and chips next door are second to none. I always like to get the Mixed Trio of grilled fish caught that day. We have even had the folk band playing in the corner, and at times like that you just wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.

I’ve been staying in Royal William Yard, a set of grand naval buildings used to store produce but repurposed as housing, cafes, shops & restaurants on the edge of the city. The Cremyll Ferry now departs from the Yard to take people over to the Cornish countryside across the water (a 5-minute hop), so between rain showers I have been out running, walking and generally exploring. I have also used the benefit of “nice digs” to cook more instead of eating out, and finally getting my gym routine back in check. Touring can take its toll on routines, so the importance of getting into them as soon as you arrive in a new city isn’t lost on me these days. The show continues to be in a relatively quiet period, with auditions for our next cast of children taking place in Birmingham, so I am taking every opportunity I can to eat well and stay healthy before it all gets busy again!

The show moves to Sunderland’s Empire this month. Again I’ve tried to find “nice digs” on Durham’s Heritage Coast, so I look forward to seeing how those turn out. On the way up I’ll make a brief stop in Birmingham to see how auditions are getting on, and I’ll probably end up watching as much Winter Olympics as I possibly can! Not at the auditions, of course - the young candidates will have my full attention…!