Oh fuck it. Another death. Richard Ireson.
Agents have been a complicated journey for me until I found Esta. But it started well, with Richard Ireson and Frazer Ashford up in Coulsden with Narrow Road. Frazer was new in agenting but working closely with Richard. There was personality and I felt understood – I find I respond best to personality. It was a good few years before various factors began the remarkable agent waltz which saw me dance through Amy and Nicola and Sarah and David and Iona and people whose names I have actually forgotten, who were sometimes getting me in for parts I honestly wouldn’t have played in a million years and other times just sitting on me waiting for me to wither or jump. Some were great but had to quit or pull back for a multitude of reasons. This is a tough tough industry full of people trying to make it look easy. It takes its toll on people’s mental health. We stick together, those of us who still get up and start running again. There’s a lot of love. It’s why so many of us call each other darling.
Lou loves the Mike Leigh film Nuts in May and Richard plays a cop in it. I saw it with her and recognised him and loved it. Frazer went not so long ago and I’ve just heard that Richard died too. Sad news on a dark evening. I’ll miss him.
I’m recalling tomorrow for a Shakespeare. Still doing this stupid job. He gave me a lift at the start of it bless him. He was one of the people that knew I was gonna keep fighting and keep believing and keep growing no matter what. I loved him for that.
I’ve sent my love to his son. He’s carrying the torch like a hero.
I helped an actor friend of mine move house today, from Folkestone back to London. She paid me, but I kept my rate low as she’s an actor. She’s moving back into town too! Means she can come to Factory sessions 🙂
I helped move her out a few years ago. The exodus is flipping. It’s like my mate Tom who stays on the sofa from time to time – he’s gonna be coming back before long, I betcha. The vortex of this city keeps pulling. I get it. Part of me is looking away now, but even sober I do love this crazy town. Haven’t been out in it like I used to, to five different house parties in one night, but the city changes and I’m getting older, and reminding me once more, the spectre of death just around the corner for us all in the scheme of things. I watched the original Producers with Lou the other day and wondered if anyone in it is still alive today.
I didn’t know about Richard dying, it was a while ago now. I’m not in regular contact with his son and his client who is my friend – we aren’t as close as we used to be these days. Sad news though. He would have affected many actors running a big agency like that. There is a sense of family in all this madness after a while. Many will be upset by the news, announced more publicly today. Another good one. Damn. Fuck you, death.
AlBarclay 