(North) Country Life

Last month, it felt like my two worlds of work bumped up against each other.

The current semester at Edge Hill University came to an end with various assessments across the Musical Theatre course. Most of my time was spent with the second years, who rounded out this part of their course with a sing-through of Elegies for Angels, Punks and Raging Queens, a presentation of popular musicals (this year’s were Rocky Horror Show, Half a Sixpence and Heathers) and debuts of their own musical theatre creations. The students stepped up brilliantly and are well set-up for what will no doubt be a fabulous final year.

I took some time at my parent’s house in the Cheshire countryside to finish up my marking commitments and ready myself for the next adventure, both packing, prepping and simply resting up after a rather full-on few months of freelancing & tutoring. As great as it was to be so busy, the reset was very welcome!

And on May 16th, rehearsals began for Girl From The North Country. A play by Conor Macpherson, it has songs by Bob Dylan peppered throughout. This is its third UK outing and the sixth worldwide, and will mark the first time the show has played Dublin (as well as the rest of the UK outside of London). The production is less remounted each time, more rebuilt around the performers involved, and it makes for a fascinating process. I have the absolute pleasure of working alongside Simon Hale, the music supervisor and orchestrator/arranger of the music throughout the show. I try to learn something new from every production I am involved in, and on this one I have felt like a 6 foot tall sponge every day, taking in as much information about the piece as I can. The cast are already stupendous - they need to be seen & heard to be believed - and the support and belief in the room every minute of each day is palpable.

We are now on a Platinum Jubilee Bank Holiday pause (another welcome rest), and on our return have two more weeks in our London rehearsal venue, the second of which involves the rest of the musicians (who join the action on stage throughout). We then head to Dublin for a week of tech and previews before our official opening later this month. See you soon, Ireland!