The Extreme Staycation

Location: London, UK COVID-19 / Coronavirus Outbreak Lockdown This is an excellent article by Tarek Iskander who is the artisitic director at Battersea Arts Centre. In it he talks about the performing arts world using this time to address the issues in theatre before we launch back in - what we had wasn't perfect and now we can change things: https://www.thestage.co.uk/opinion/opinion/the-arts-after-covid-19-lets-fix-the-things-that-werent-right-before I think it's a sound point that this is a moment in history that could be used to fix some problems and one that we could apply to many elements of our daily lives.  Where have our priorities changed?  What is essential to us now? For example: many people like to work from home or have the option to do so.  Before the lockdown I know of many friends who were denied this by their companies saying it wasn't possible, or just doesn't work for their company.  Well clearly, that's not the case.  It is po...

Location: London, UK COVID-19 / Coronavirus Outbreak Lockdown I wonder how we are all going to be at the end of lockdown. We might emerge long haired, scraggily nailed, with hair in places that some people pay other people to regularly remove. We may emerge with a new found skill of a barber. We might emerge slightly heavier and with more of a liking for alcohol. We might emerge fitter than before - that government sanctioned exercise being taken as a mandate rather than a limit on going outside. Maybe we will emerge with better friendships having actually spoken to people more reguarly. Maybe our general knowledge will have improved due to the number of pub quizzes taking place. Whatever happens, I think we may be fundamentally changed by this - as individuals and as a country - it's not something we are likely to forget. This is brilliant - A Ski Movie by Philipp Klein https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HrIVWziJ0Y

Location: London, UK COVID-19 / Coronavirus Outbreak Self-Isolation Life is now all about being online.  In the last couple of days, I have had conversations over Zoom with family members across the country and abroad and a seven way chat with friends on Google Hangouts which was super fun!  I've also taken a playwriting workshop with a teacher from Standford University and have plans for a jazz class on Monday night. We are in touch with each other more than ever in a world of social media, WhatsApp and the capability that the internet gives us to call anyone anywhere in the world.  But in the last few days I have found this increasing as my WhatsApp groups are all the more active - and I love it. I have plans to write some letters too Today was Mothering Sunday in the UK.  I popped over to see my mum - put flowers on her doorstep, rang the bell, then stood behind the gate, over a meter away.  It felt bizarre but I truly believe we should all do ou...

Location: London, UK COVID-19 / Coronavirus Outbreak Work All forthcoming social or work engagements from my diary have been removed.  It's a blank slate apart from reminders to give the cat her flea and worm medicine which she will be most pleased about. As of Tuesday night, all my freelance work has been cancelled.  This isn't exactly surprising as all my work (acting or work in between) involves: 1. lots of other people 2. public buildings that hold lots of people 3. travelling with other people unnecessarily to places with lots of people I'm genuinely concerned for my many friends and colleagues who will have no income for the foreseeable future.  I don't have a solution except to suggest that if you have kids who might need child care as the schools are closing and can afford to pay someone, consider asking any of your friends who are potentially going to be struggling. The acting industry is, as ever, being creative and resilient - casting...