Amsterdam Blues

I woke up this morning… nah nah nana NAH… I got the Amsterdam Blues…

Amsterdam seems like a lifetime ago already- especially as I’ve played Lady Bracknell in 2 touring venues (Swindon and South Shields) and boarded a 7-hour bus from Newcastle to partake in a mere 12 hour shift of The London 50 hour Improvathon. I keep sitting down to shape my words of thanks and praise, to do justice to the beautiful experience which was Impro Amsterdam 2024. I can’t seem to capture it. Maybe I shouldn’t try. But I’m writing this for old Lucy and for anyone who’s ever felt a bit lost after a magical adventure.

It was my first time performing at an international improv festival, so I’ve got nothing to compare to its majesty and wonder to, but it felt like a good one. The most beautiful, creatively fulfilling nine days of my life perhaps. I wanted to wait and see if I still felt like this with some distance and I DO! I imagined we’d solved world peace and established a new paradigm which celebrated creativity and unification of performers and audience. I’m filled with gratitude and joy for the new friends gathered and memories made. Those smiling volunteers! The dedicated and innovative organisers! The loyal audiences! Such generosity of spirit and talent.

A big eye-opener for me, which the glorious Lisa Rowland from USA helped me face on day one (whilst navigating a slightly too small hire bike) was that I don’t trust easily in life. On stage I’d jump off a chair and know I’d be caught. In everyday festival life, my thoughts spiral; will my bike be stolen? What if I’m attacked by a stoned person and get lost and arrive late? Why does everyone else seem to know the format! etc etc. I returned from the festival feeling like I chilled out just a tiny bit. Will it last? Like when you go on holiday and think “I’m definitely always going to wear this Austrian feathered hat” and you feel all relaxed and pledge that you’ll “only ever eat watermelon for lunch from now on” and then it’s gone.

I had adult ballet the Monday morning after returning. Everyone kept asking if I was ok as I was unusually quiet. Suddenly my kind barre pal Katy hugged me, and the tear ducts opened. So sad that I wasn’t in Amsterdam anymore and embarrassed that I couldn’t process it!

Another learning opportunity was arriving as ‘Lucy from Showstopper!’ and realising that my Showstopper! currency wasn’t valid there- a few people knew about the show, but on a global festival scale we’re not known that much. I began as one of The Showstoppers and returned as just ‘Lucy’ … and that was enough. This may seem like a small thing, but to me to was huge. Have I been representing Showstopper! The Improvised Musical for the last 16 years or have I been hiding behind it? Or both. Or neither? DEEP (stop worrying Lucy!) As a newbie to festival life, most people seemed seasoned pros on the international circuit. So, when you travel to an improv festival solo and only a few people know about your show, you have to redefine yourself as “that tall woman with big hair you just saw in that show last night”. Your history and CV do not matter here as they only have NOW to go on. I’ve always felt that with improv, you’re only as good as your last show (and that’s a good thing). Get up, move faster (as they say in Robin Hood Prince of Thieves). But here, it seemed that everyone was a nerd about the form and therefore attended most of the shows and workshops/jams- so they embrace your performances over the whole week. (Good job I wasn’t there any longer of they’d have seen ALL my characters!)

There was a team of international cast and then a local ensemble of Dutch residents. It was such a joy to observe and be inspired by the different performance crafts. We Brits need to up our physicality and mime in improv! (I also learned that mime is called Pantomime in Europe and that no-one knows what British Pantomime is!) I performed in:

The Song That Changed Me (directed by Laura Doorneweerd-Perry). Andrew Hefler and Markus Wisth Edwardsen created an improvised song on stage which formed the backing track to all the scenes to follow. We allowed the audience to decide what the story is- they interpret the connections themselves. The scenes are mostly not connected in a narrative way, representing how one song can mean so different many things to people. It was a lovely start and a great way to meet the international cast.

Baba’s Tales (directed by Raschid Daniel Sidgi). The first standing ovation of the festival. A blend of international and Dutch casts. Such a special beautiful show. A mixture of East African storytelling and European minds. I felt like we were sitting outside a hut on red dusty ground, gathered around old boxes for seats listening to Baba’s factually inaccurate and ethnically dubious stories. It was an honour to be in this show I wont forget it in a hurry. So physical. So connected.

BizCo Jam- My first time co-leading a jam- with my great friend Chris Mead. We hosted an AGM business gathering and gave the jammers PowerPoint (which Chris has expertly put together- generic stock images, quotes, graphs) presentations to improvise speeches over, there was also a “That’s right Bob” new product launch, a visit from an improv troupe and the 3-headed CEO who fired Chris due to the imminent merger (Chris and I had the same job). A lot of fun “BUSINESS” was had by all. The energy in the room was pumped! Every time we said “BUSINESS” the audience echoed back even louder. People were shouting this in our faces for the rest of the fest!

The Generations Next Door (director Delia Riciu). Three generations in the same apartment block are affected by an incident (suggested from the audience “water leak”). I was glad to be in the young group and play awkward teens with Jochem Meijer. Not sure I’ve ever improv flirted with another player’s character by playing imaginary chess and rubbing foreheads occasionally. So sweet- thanks for making me feel 14 again! When you’re learning a format on the day and performing at night you really have to do a lot of “sure I know what’s happening acting”. I love that.

Tea Cosy (a 2 prov which became 4 prov which became the whole audience prov). It was so delicious. We created a verb from a noun- Tea Cosy the teapot warmer became Tea Cosy the feeling of belonging and togetherness and happening. Chris Mead and I started with a shared love of quiet improv, luckily our coach Lindsey McGowen and musician Markus were the perfect complement to enhance our vision and create a shared experience. Special mention to Lauren Maxwell who fascilitated our tech dreams. Chris called the show Tea Cosy as a sort of holding name (I think that’s how it happened) and it grew from there. We went on a few walks, talked about what we liked in shows. Later on I had the idea (whilst cycling home) to create an in the round seating vibe, with option to sit on the floor. I wanted it to feel like a jamboree fire side story telling- it’s important to set up the feeling for the audience from the moment they enter the room. “Make a wish with your show token”.

We had a few ideas as to how to start scenes, and we did ‘cosy polls’ to see if the audience were feeling cosy. If they weren’t we asked them what they needed. We sat on a rug and wore tea cosies on our heads when we were not in scenes. We’d had an idea to read from a book (loaned by Jon Nguyen an audience member). We intended to read a bit out loud, then take the book away and continue the story. But the book I got from the audience was in Dutch so I got Chris to translate it instead. It had a frog puppet running through its centre- a hilarious cautionary tale about copyright infringement (all the animals looked like knock off Disney characters). We ended with a moving scene based on a smell and then I sang a lullaby based on Lindsey’s beautiful poem. Once the audience were happy looping the chorus, Chris and I left and they continued to sing for ten minutes or so. We didn’t want applause, we wanted them to decide how the show ended. When we returned, there were people dancing, crying, playing the recorder. We had created a tea cosy! Here’s Lindsey’s poem which formed the song

A Tanka poem by Ono no Komachi 9th Century

How Invisibly

it changes colour

in this world,

the flower

of the human heart.

Blues Hammer– my friend and Showstopper! Colleague Heather Urquhart created this show with Joe Bill and Joe Samuel at another festival I believe. Heather kindly asked if I’d like to guest! YES PLEASE. It had been odd not to sing (my improv comfort zone) so far at the festival and I jumped at the chance. It was scene into song style but all the juicy blues, soul, jazz, gospel styles that we love the most. So fun.

Bride (directed by Alexandra Guillenoir)- when you’ve done a bunch of shows that have been well received you start to think “maybe the next one wont be so good”. BUT WHAT IF IT IS LUCY?! I think this ranks among the funniest shows I’ve ever been a part of. So the format is, we come out one by one and get our role (bride, sister, cousin, boss etc) then we ask for something from the audience “Can I have a secret please?” “an area of expertise” etc. I opted for a catchphrase and was gifted “Hell Yeah!” which basically informed my whole character (thank you thank you whoever shouted that). The first part is scenes with the bride, relating to her and establishing characters/history/patterns. Then the next part is the bachelorette party. We were in a castle for a week- who invited the boss!? Secrets are revealed and hilarity ensues. We never meet the groom or see the wedding. It’s a celebration of female friendships and energy. LOVED IT!

Egyptian Tales (Ramsi Lehner). The grand finale. We mixed with Mexican and Indian Tales for a celebration of culture and storytelling. So much fun. We featured a fortune teller, the evil eye, young love and passion. Markus also created some amazing music which I wailed over. As I was singing in a sort of chromatic scale I thought “Hmm this is different, I’ve never sung in this way before.” But I felt so supported that I could explore that live on stage in the moment. How amazing is that!?

I also ran 2 workshops: Quiet Improv where the most delicious students settled in for a cosy exploration of silent scenes and observed improv. Rather than barrelling in and being wordy, we delved into what other ways there might be.

Musical Improv for advanced players. I’m always intrigued as to who will turn up and self-certify their skillset to be advanced. Invariably you’ll still get a mixture of experience, and you’ll have to cover some of the basics whilst making sure the more tuned folk get a chance to flex. I think I’d do this as a whole day if I was to run this again. We threw a lot at the group and they rose to the challenges, but you need time to bed in the skills.

In conclusion: We solved world peace. We supported and amplified, we failed and were held. We lead and we followed. We triumphed, we learned. We loved and shared.

Why not just try stuff in front of an audience? Don’t get it right- make it happen. GO ON!

Thank you to Chris Mead for enabling and inspiring me, thank you to Markus Wisth Edvardsen for seeing into my soul and igniting the music in me, thank you to Heather Urqhuart for making my improv dreams come true, to Jordan Clarke for rallying through and being the best co-teacher, thank you to the organisers , volunteers, technicians, PR, venue staff, caterers, thank you to the audiences and their many kind words- you helped me learn to take a compliment, thank you to the photographers for capturing the magic, but most of all thank you to Jenny Hasenack who attended a course I was running in London and who put my name in the ring for what turned out to be one for the best and most nurturing improv experiences of my life. Forever grateful.

Juggling

At the weekend, one of my improv students (thanks Penny) pointed out that she’d seen my website and wanted to ask me about Ken Campbell… my response was “I HAVE A WEBSITE?!!!”. I made a mental note to update the site! So here I am. I last posted in 2019. And we all know a lot has happened since then: my son started secondary (ouch), I cleaned all the cupboards in my house, I didn’t go to Greece 3 times, I took up guitar and I upgraded my computer’s OS (which BTW the only difference I can see is that the ‘trash’ is now called the ‘bin’ and I can download Final Draft 12 which Sue, my writing partner will be pleased about).

Let me take a moment to spread some joy. My husband (also an actor) is away at the RSC performing in A Christmas Carol. It is at the same time, very traditional and also refreshingly fresh. With Ade Edmondson as Scrooge, gorgeous dancing and music, inclusive casting and the new addition of the character of Dickens (who is trying to write the play), it’s very lovely. But also we’d like him home to be cosy and to feel better about the general ‘END OF DAYS’ vibes.

OK it’s hard to stay positive isn’t it?! When I’m teaching improv I’m forever saying “start positive”, “make positive choices”, “how about liking each other?” – but it’s so easy to spiral. I think it’s that ‘negative’ feels like you know what’s happening, you’re in control and have made a definite bold choice. Why don’t we see love and kindness as bold eh? WHY WHY?! It seems to be the message in ALL the Christmas adverts airing this week. BE KIND. I love when this is thrown on a thread aggressively on Twitter or on a t-shirt. FFS BE KIND YOU IDIOT.

Feeling very hibernatory these past weeks, so I’ve initiated a 1-person show group. A peer review group, aimed at people in Folkestone who want to write a solo show and need a sounding board, inspiration, someone to be accountable to. First meeting is today. It may just be me. But that would also be ok. I like the idea of setting up a group and going to a cafe and it being just me sometimes. I HOLD YOU TO ACCOUNT LUCY!

The title of this post is juggling, as any parent solo caretaking will know, you constantly feel like you’ve forgotten something, like you’re lacking the ‘100% all in’ vibe and that at any moment someone might pull your pin and you’ll explode. At other times it feels like I’m riding the wave brilliantly. To even get to a job sometimes the level of childcare, providing for babysitter, packing of bags etc is immense.

Speaking of WAVES, I took up sea swimming in lockdown, like a total cliche! This will be my 3rd winter swimming. It’s a reset. I love it. When I don’t know what’s up, I get in the sea and I’m back to square 1. The healing powers of the sea. The strength and power of the sea. I’ve never been more scared of it. I’ve never respected it more. I also love that I have a whole bunch of pals now from many different walks of life, sometimes with different political and religious views. It’s enriching.

OK byeeee. SEA you in 3 years…

Keeping it simple and METAPHORS

Hey there. How’ve you been? Well it’s September 2019 now and we’re just getting used to the idea that Summer may be at a close. Yesterday I misjudged my layers and had a very sweaty day (the perils of living by the sea and travelling into London where the climate is always several degrees warmer). I am harvesting my garden (not a metaphor) and stewing apples, slicing pears, green beans, wondering what to do with the courgettes and all my smugness. In other words, I’m inviting you to a BREXIT party at mine when the food supplies run out.

I’ve been transcribing my GREAT GREAT (he was really great) Grandfather’s Autobiography over the last few weeks (with the aid of my husband and his head torch- it’s a strong look!). G W Lloyd (my G G Grandfather) wrote the autobiography in 1936 but the tales are of his time aboard the H.M.S. Garnetin the Royal British Navy in the late 1800s. Humble Welsh beginnings to adventures in The British Empire. It’s an interesting feeling learning the story of a distant relative- I was sobbing by page 7 at the tragedies he experienced. It’s like I’ve been given my own Who Do You Think You Are programme. I think that’s actually what I want in life; to be famous enough to be on WDYTYA?! I’d love a team of researchers to help explore this epic tale of high seas, adventure and a lot of death. I want to turn it into a book, an EPIC tv series and who knows what else. Maybe a folk song. Might get Jon Boden on the case. Anyway it strikes me how he always chose KINDNESS. At every opportunity. It’s hard not to judge someone for using words/phrases that we don’t use any more. But for me the essence is always there. A bit like when I was turning a Spike Milligan book into a musical. I could see his essence- silly and kind.

Yesterday I did a corporate acting job in the City. I love spreading the good word of improvising and saying ‘yes and’. What you bring is enough. Listening to others and being HUMBLE enough to back out if their idea is better- in the hope you can create something together. It is interesting that the skills we actors take for granted are valued more in a business environment, As I looked around the City of London at a meeting room, aloft in a vaginal, slightly obnoxiously-shaped building I thought how complicated life has gotten. Why do you need a meeting room high up and exposed to show how special and rich you are. We had passes to get out of the building we were working in, but they didn’t deactivate the door to let us out. I ended up crawling on the floor, below the frosting on the glass to attract the attention (and slightly amuse) of the security guard. Back to basics- crawling on the floor. Often the simple path is the most satisfying and amusing. THIS IS A METAPHOR.

And as I continue to read my GG Grandfather’s Memoirs, I am again reminded to be grateful for the many luxuries- yes soap is a luxury- and abundance we have. 30 people didn’t die of yellow fever in front of me yesterday for example. I shall make an apple crumble in honour of G W Lloyd (GG Grandfather) and muse on the simple things in life.

 

 

 

Wood Burning Stove Brag (sorry RB)

Well hello there. Thanks for stopping by. What have you been up to? Good. REALLY? Lovely… ENOUGH ABOUT YOU! STOP GOING ON ABOUT YOU ALL THE TIME. Since my last post… err in May I have enjoyed lots of touring and secret corporate work for Showstopper! We had a great Edinburgh back at The Pleasance Grand with Showstopper! The staff there are sooooo hard working.  We returned also with the kids Showstopper show at the bigger venue of Pleasance 2. DID I MENTION I GOT A BLUE PETER BADGE??? It was my 11th fringe and the best one yet. Really enjoyed the guest improv spots I did and all the random bumping-intos. We’re continuing our run at The Lyric, West End and are really looking forward to returning to Leicester Square Spiegeltent in December with The Showstopper Kids Show.

We marked the 10th year since the passing of my great mentor KEN CAMPBELL at The British Library, where we summonsed the muses and Pippa Evans and I improvised Bronte! Speaking of which, have you seen Chris Ash of Showstopper’s Bronte Musical WASTED at Southwark!? The Bronte’s died SO YOUNG. I’ve gotta get my musical finished before consumption gets me.

Also I’m on book 3 of the Anne of Green Gables series. FAVE BOOK EVER is Anne of The Island. Interesting to know that Lucy Maud Montgomery suffered with depression and gave up writing. It is so beautifully written. And I love how Anne is celebrated for being emotional. I wish I’d read these books as a child- it might have helped with me crying at everything.

I am gearing up to teach a female impro workshop at The Nursery. Although the workshops are for female identifying players the themes I’ll explore are universal. It just means it’ll be a safe space to explore and play. It’ll be about celebrating what you uniquely bring to the stage/ room. Something it has taken me many years to do.

Also I now have a wood-burning stove. I like to buy things when I do filming jobs. Symbolic purchases. I only feel mildly bad about fulfilling Ruth Bratt’s dream of owning a stove (this was a running joke during BBC radio series) . So this has been a great summer and now I’m ready for long writing days in front of the fire. Also I’m busy crocheting poppies for the Armistice Remembrance- some of which are on their way to the Cenotaph and some I’ll tie to The Road of Remembrance. It’s a big thing in Folkestone check out Danny Boyle‘s plan to take over the beaches.

xx

2018

This is my first update since 2013. Yeah! I’m on this. So how are you? ENOUGH ABOUT YOU THIS IS ABOUT ME NOW.

So I moved to Folkestone and I’m really smug about my garden and the air quality here. I love The Creative Foundation and Improv Gym- hooray for new friends and oxygen.

I have just finished filming on Julia Davis’s new comedy for Sky… more on that soon. And Lee and Dean is now available on DVD:

I am still performing with Showstopper on tour and in the West End.

AND Sue Harrison (fellow Showstopper) and I have completed our sitcom. Who would like to make this with us please?

I am also cutting a NEW SHOWREEL with the marvellously talented Andrew Pugsley (fellow Showstopper). More soon.

Great- that didn’t hurt too much did it? I shall vow to update you more on stuff. I am trying to learn photoshop- so send me your top tips pleases.

xx byeeeeee xx

SKILLS/ You learn something new every day…

I was thinking. Most people have an “angle” on their blogs. My dad writes one about birds in and around Dungeness (sometimes he writes about moths and flowers and his dog). My mum doesn’t write one, but if she did it’d be about making things (she recently made me 3 dresses, a cardie, a quilt, put buttons on four of my cushion covers, fixed my curtains, made my son a quilt, 2 blankets, made my sister an amazing bag which matches a skirt she made for me- forgot that). My comedy partner (Ruth Bratt) writes proper clever wordy wordly stuff about issues of importance with a touch of feminism. She makes me think. She also makes me think I should have more strong opinions about things. Here’s an opinion- I THINK WOMEN SHOULD GO GREY.
For now, I am going to share with you what I learn, realise and see- I am going to be me- I’m good at that most of the time.

SO let’s get started… Today I noticed that tupperware can gather pretty fast in an office. I also have learnt that my new landlord “is happy” for me to turf his previously sky-high weeded and poo-ridden garden (he’s soooo kind) and that remembering things is an art form and a wonder. Isn’t it interesting how you suddenly remember you owe Dylan £25 for setting up your website, or that you were really moved by something in a film or a play? (The painted Veil with Edward Norton… boo hooo). I recently got new headshots and a new reel with help from my amazing supportive friend (Mr Andrew Pugsley- face of an angel). He’s good at technical things. You’ve gotta wanna though haven’t you? Technology doesn’t float my boat.  Do you ever think you might discover a skill, like a really good one that noone else has? Sometimes this skill will be lucrative (like the dude in Social Network- don’t watch it- who invented facebook) and sometimes the skill will be niche (like my skill for reaching things on high shelves without the aid of a stool). I’m also very good at smelling things. I have an excellent sense of smell and when I pass people on the street I shout “Cool Water” and ” Gucci Rush”. I’m thinking about selling this service: “IF YOU’VE GOT A SMELL, I’LL TELL YOU WHAT IT IS” . I’m also good at noticing hair continuity in films. In a universe far away these are excellent skills to have…