Looking back over the last week, it has been a brilliant mix of quality family time, stunning live theatre, industry catch-ups, and cinema inspiration.
After a busy half-term week with the kids (and as much as I love them, there’s always a quiet sigh of relief when the school run returns!), the week unfolded with plenty of fun, frivolity, and creative energy.
A Long-Awaited Visit to Victoria Theatre, Halifax
Ever since moving up here 11 years ago, I’ve been wanting to visit the Victoria Theatre in Halifax. It is an absolutely gorgeous venue, and I’d love to step onto that stage myself one day!
On Monday evening, the family and I finally went to catch Operation Mincemeat—our second time seeing the production. Last time we were perched up in the gods, but this time we treated ourselves to the stalls, just five rows back. Being that close completely transformed the experience; the energy, comedic timing, and sheer craft were sharper than ever. Massive congratulations to the entire cast and crew on the tour—I hope it continues to go from strength to strength.
Industry Energy at JB Shorts 28
Later in the week, I headed over to JB Shorts 28, hosted at 53two in Manchester, and it was brilliant to bring Deena along to experience the night with me.
The pieces themselves and the standard of acting across the board were truly awesome. A special mention must go to Simon Naylor, who owns and runs 53two—he does such a fantastic job championing diverse theatre, grassroots productions, and creative events across the city. It was really lovely to catch up with him again and see the space buzzing.
It was equally wonderful to be in a room packed with so many, industry professionals, talented actors and familiar faces I’ve known over the years. I made sure to say hello to James Quinn, who has done a stellar job steering JB Shorts for such a long time now. To make the evening even better, it was great to introduce Deena to Mark and Kelly from Zenith Artist Managementand spend time catching up with them—comparing notes and sharing stories with fellow agents is always time well spent.
Big Screen Inspiration:Wicker
To cap off the week, I squeezed in a Sunday cinema trip to watch Wicker, starring Olivia Colman and Alexander Skarsgård. It is a stunning piece of filmmaking—beautifully shot, brilliantly cast, and carrying a truly touching story. If you get the chance to catch it on the big screen, do not hesitate.
We are heading straight into another packed week full of busyness and momentum across the agency.
Ciao for now—have a brilliant week!
