The Summer

Hello All

This summer has proved an unusual and unexpected one.

Having moved house in January and learnt to drive, for various reasons I decided to take a back seat on the acting front for a few months. This enabled me to pursue more design and art work. The summer kicked off by designing and building posters, set puppets and props for the amazing River People(www.theriverpeople.co.uk) for thier new show and tour of 'Little Matter'. Suffice to say they were amazingly reviewed and were one of the most talked about and praised shows at the Edinburgh festival this year... well done chaps!

Following that I was employed to design and build a variety of puppets and props for the Illyria (www.illyria.uk.com) summer season this included masks, chicken puppets, an enormous digger and entire set for Roald Dahls ‘Fantastic Mr Fox’, and some props and set pieces for ‘The Pirates of Penzance’. Both were terrific shows (images to follow soon).

Next up was running the design side of a two week theatre skills course for young people at the Portsmouth New Theatre Royal. In two weeks a team of teenagers had to write, design, build and direct a show. And they did a terrific job. They used a specially designed mini theatre designed by the Salisbury playhouse.

Then I started work on Wizard Theatres (www.wizardtheatre.co.uk) puppet dragon for their upcoming tour of the reluctant dragon. Which is still in production (pictures to follow soon).

And I’ve topped off the summer with an acting gig, working with the fantastic creative cows, www.creativecow.co.uk playing a variety of roles including the Morrocan king Mullisheg in David Heywoods ‘Fair Maid of the West’. Which has been very well reviewed and continues running until September 10^th. Reviews and images on my website... www.cbarlow.co.uk.

I hope all your summers have been as productive as mine  :)

 

Peace and love

Chris

Oh Dear!!!

Oh dear oh dear oh dear.

I hang my head in shame. I flagellate myself. I prostrate myself before you.... I haven’t updated my blog in a year!!! Huge massive gulps of sorryness emanate from my belching bum.

Well I shall try and be a better from now on. At least a bit.
So what can I say...what do I have to share with you the world out there. There is so much I almost don’t want to begin.

I am in the last couple of days of a large uk tour of James and the Giant Peach with Illyria (www.illyria.uk.com) . It’s been a fantastic show that’s sold out all over the place and had some fantastic reviews. I’ve really enjoyed playing a blind grumpy earthworm. It’s been lovely playing a character that conflicts with every other character. Although navigating myself around a stage with a huge hole in the centre with dark glasses on, trying not to look, in the dark, has been somewhat challenging. However, with three shows left to go so far I’m the only cast member who hasn’t fallen into the hole! So touch wood that it remains that way.

We have taken the show to every nook and cranny of England, Wales, Scotland, Guernsey and even the Netherlands. We’ve covered some 24000 miles, and slept in so many Travelodge’s I’ve stopped being able to tell what day is what or where we are.

Also since my last update I got work with the New Theatre Royal Portsmouth on their first in house production in 50 years. The production was Alice in Wonderland and the parts I was playing were the Caterpillar, the gryphon and the king of hearts. Suffice to say it was a great show and I had a fantastic time. It’s so good to see a new producing theatre in the south...helmed by the lovely Caroline Sharman.
Talking of the new theatre royal...

I shall be working there again this Xmas playing long John Silver in Treasure Island. You should come and see the show... the theatre needs our support as its fundraising so they can rebuild the stage. This beautiful theatre deserves the rebuild. So please please come!

Other stuff that’s been going through my mind.

Enchanted truth: those who have seen my comedy sketches on Youtube...well I’m developing them into a new a bigger project... ill keep this updated with the status of that.

Good year for films...

This has been a great film year...some highlights for me have been, Sherlock Holmes, Avatar, Scott pilgrim, toy story 3... they all deserve a watch.

Looking forward to the final harry potters.

Right I shall over and out for now, but I shall be better at updating from now on.

Love and peace
Chris xx