Hello Peeps,
Before the end of 2025 I thought I would give you a catch-up and a couple of dates for 2026. The dates are 11th, 12th & 13th June, and the venue, my favourite place of the moment, Wilton's Music Hall. Following last week's 2 sell out shows, I have been asked to do a few more dates at the old Music Hall. What a treat and a huge pleasure. I absolutely loved doing my two shows last week.
An Evening of TS Eliot was a surprise to me. I met Holly, who runs the place, and we hit it off. I was offered the shows but thought I should probably on take the one as I only have around 50 family and friends, if that, who could come. However, it seems Eliot is quite the draw, and as you well know by now, we sold out. Whenever I finish a show, I always feel I could have done it better, and here is my chance to prove that. I think next year's shows will be a step-up. Don't get me wrong, these last ones were great. I loved them, well mostly. The first one, I only slightly referred to the words of the first poem, The Love Song of J Alfred Prufrock, but not so people would really notice. (It wasn't an exercise in word learning, but I really wanted to be off the book.) And the audience seem to enjoy it. Then the "chatmosphere", as I have named it. This was my idea to bring the audience into the poem a bit more. The Waste Land is such a big work, with so many myths and metaphors and references and subtleties, that I thought it would be good to offer a sort of mental bingo card to help people through it. I asked my friend Giles Taylor, who was in all of the Wolf Hall trilogy with me, and also This House, to help me with this bit, and he duly obliged. He was terrific. I let him do most of the talking, and then I launched into The Waste Land. No set as such, just a wee coffee table and chairs and a radio mic.
As I say, it seemed to go down well. The second night, I was all ready and excited, trying to make sure it wasn't a "second night" scenario, which so often happens with theatre. I suppose that there is a slight drop in adrenaline or something, or tiredness that means they never quite live up to the first night. This second night was a little more specific. As you know, I don't write a huge amount of stuff here, but I am enormously respectful of you, my audience. I have embraced having people follow me, and really enjoy that I can bring something uplifting to peoples' lives. My father always encouraged me to be thankful for support, and I am. I truly am. However, one fan from France has overstepped the mark, and I would dearly like her to stop. I have repeatedly asked her to refrain from coming to my shows and I reject her offered gifts, because I think it has got creepy. Just as the lights went down for the first poem, she stood up and waved her arms about, and I'm afraid it threw me off balance. I found it very hard to concentrate. I am aware that by saying this publicly I may be going too far, but short of calling the police I ask her, yet again, to STOP!
OK, that's that. Moving on. Everyone seemed to like it again, and I think I may well try to take it around the country and maybe abroad. I just LOVED doing it. It is an extraordinary poem, and as you all probably know, I LOVE MY POETRY. So many capitals, but hey, why not. There are so many character choices and twists and turns in the piece. I did a carol concert, just round the corner from Wilton's actually in The Tower Of London, the week before, (again reading Eliot!) with Harriet Walter and Tony Robinson. Chatting with Harriet, she said, "Oh, you'll love that Nat, all those voices!" She is absolutely right. I really look forward to doing it again next year. You know, I think the weirdest thing, was employing myself to do it. And selling out. That was weird.
So, what else happened this year? Well, we started with that run of the Rattigan plays. In fact, it turned out to be the year of the One Act plays, didn't it? First those two, with such a glorious bunch of people. Sian Phillips is just Golden. Then the Hallmark series, 12 Dated Till Christmas. I haven't had so much fun on a set for decades. What a brilliant cast and crew. And, I have to say, not a half bad product. Have any of you seen it yet? I believe it has just landed in the UK with ITV X. Great news. Such a blast. Again, wonderful actors and, honestly, I would work with that lot again in a flash. Great. And on to the multi nominated new play, the one act Ragdoll. Katherine Moar should be very pleased with the response. Completely justified. A privilege to be in it. And with even more wonderful people. I worked with Abi Cruttenden again, but this time properly, and it felt so right. And finally came the Eliot poems, another one act.
There's a common denominator here, you know.... GREAT writing. Truly great writing, from the novice (?) Katherine to the American masters of rom-com to two absolute greats, Eliot and Rattigan. That's the key. And I think that's why in 2025 I have had another incredible journey. Yes, there have been issues and ups and downs, but I also have to say, I am blessed with all my family and friends.... So, to them and to you .....
THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN FOR MAKING MY YEAR !
PEACE AND LOVE TO ONE AND ALL xxxxxxxxxxxx
(Did you see how I didn't touch anything about politics!)