That was a lovely trip to Oxford. 30 years of Creation Theatre.
Lucy and Charlie from Creation were extraordinary champions of mine for years. I was Cyclops in the improvised Odyssey they did co-pro with The Factory years ago. It was a glory. They wanted me back.
Lucy used to call me in for auditions regularly. The Welsh Centre near Kings Cross. Nearly always CC running the audition who wanted two contrasting monologues and never offered redirection during the audition. I applaud Lucy and Charlie for persisting. I think I auditioned 5 times for CC with nary a recall at the end of it and not even a moment of redirection or a note to play.
I diligently prepared different monologues for each of the auditions and until the final one I held it in that I felt she wasn’t even considering me. She used to assist TC and he has a very specific verse requirement. “Do you need me to do TC verse?” I asked her in my first meeting. “I think verse is important,” she gnomically replied. So I did TC verse. We had the same exchange time two and time three with the same result. I will gladly play the house rules but I need to know what they are.
Final audition with her I remember greeting her familiarly and saying right at the start: “Is there any real point in my being here? After all we’ve been here before. Many times.” I do that sort of thing more often than I should. It’s the legacy of growing up with Max. Clarify everything. At the time there was an uncomfortable moment and then her mouth said the words “Absolutely. Of course. Of course.”
So… I remember my first speech was “This is the excellent foppery of the world,” because it isn’t my casting but it is my voice. No redirection. No notes. As forever. No conversation. It isn’t an audition in my opinion if you don’t establish if you can work with someone. Perhaps she just … knows exactly what and who she wants and it isn’t me… But I digress. I’m not here to pick holes in someone who was a gatekeeper in my early career and I’m sure is lovely and loved. It’s always funny when you know someone doesn’t like you and there’s nothing you can do about it. I’m obfuscating the name. This industry…
I went to Oxford today and saw a wonderful Midsummer Night’s Dream. Lucy and Charlie and co aren’t running Creation now, it’s Helen. Lovely Helen, who I’ve known through many friends. Claire and Jon and Simon principally.
Despite annoying auditions I’ve been up to Creation a fair amount over the years, with Wind in the Willows, with The Tempest. Zoe Seaton totally understood me, and that was courtesy of Lucy and Charlie. If I hadn’t done The Tempest, I wouldn’t have done it again in lockdown on zoom with a tinfoil hat and a snake, and I wouldn’t have encountered Lou who is the single best thing to have happened to me this decade.
Midsummer Nights Dream was wonderful tonight. They are doing it in rep with Twelfth Night and they’re a good focussed clever passionate and talented company.
I bought myself a tea towel and a programme. I’m not made of money. If you are, go on their website (above). They need money to survive. They are doing great things. I had a wonderful evening with important and loved old friends.
