Help my dad build a patio. No really, you read that right, a little bit of manual labour in the sunshine. No going over lines, practicing this that or the other, just some hard graft with a shovel and some soil. and my thoughts

But my mind is still racing about it all. Over time you start to see patterns, start to see truth in the details and understand so much better. Sometimes it’s for good, sometimes for ill. But as long as you keep learning than that’s all you can ask.

Someone once taught me a little saying, it’s a bit long, but worth sharing I think.

I walk down the road, I see the hole, I fall down the hole. I get out of the hole... I walk down the road, I see the hole, I fall down the hole. I get out of the hole... I walk down the road, I see the hole, I fall down the hole. I get out of the hole...
I walk down the road, I see the hole, I avoid the hole and... I walk down the road, I see the hole, I fall down the hole. I get out of the hole...

That’s life very much in a nutshell. And more importantly, after seven months on this show, even now, I’m finally seeing the new holes, and old holes that have always been there. Just two days left to avoid them. Keep on learning, and growing, whether those holes be for good, or for bad.

Still rehearsals continue to shape up well; I really think this will become a very special night in the history of this tiny little show. Everything that went okay last time is now going brilliantly or better this time, and I'm able to enjoy the knowledge that this time, I know it’s a period I should be embracing in the here and now, a special little marker in life like this, and that's a rare thing.

Final preparations are underway, and this time we have to be so ready because this is a festival performance, and it requires the toughest of stamina and skill to execute it all right; we’ve got to work to other people’s demands now, not our own. A small difference, but one that makes the pressures so much more challenging and we’re four-and-a-quarter days away from our one-night only shot at making this work. But I think it will; my gut’s saying it shall come together in fantastic fashion. And should you be there to see us on that one night, - 24th April! – then we hope you can see the next chapter in what has been a long, winding road that seems to always surprise us with a new junction every now and then.

Right now? I’m shattered. But given how good this is, I wouldn’t have it any other way.

The weather...! It has finally broken again! Ironic, because - fact alert time! - considering that every time we perform FROZEN it’s during warm weather...Never yet when it’s cold outside! There’s a message there somewhere, surely? But here we are doing it again, another chance to work with...

Josie...! Yes, if you read this bit often enough, you probably are well used to us discussing Ms Hart. But really, I don’t think we say it enough. Her Laura is the absolutely beating, emotional heart of the show, taking the words given to her and turning it into something so natural and brilliant to perform alongside and watch. She makes it look so effortless, and that, faithful reader, is true, undeniable talent. When I’m locked away in a performer’s retirement home, she’ll be living off her Hollywood millions in a mansion in LA... It’s the one time where I really envy you, as an audience member, because there are just the occasional moments when I wish I was out there with you, watching Josie, because she is so utterly brilliant...

But...! It’s been a blast working and rehearsing again. Oh yes, when you start nailing those lines, those moments, those beats, it gives you an absolute surge like no other! So I might say I’d love to be in the audience with you guys, still nothing can compete with the buzz of doing what I love to do again – act. Oh yes, and to be finding new and exciting avenues, all these months on, with such a wonderfully revised script, such freshness leads me to...

Jenny...! Ah yes, the new director, and working so well alongside Rob, the old. It really is wonderful that everyone has been so receptive about moving around a little, and it shows that when we’ve been taught a lesson, we’ve learned. This absolutely gives Rob the chance to do what he loves, produce material, and graciously opened the door to Jenny, who having directed the audio version, helps bring a best of both worlds to this one-off show. It’s better, stronger, and more confident, as it should be which makes me think...

How amazing this all is...! I mean, most fringe shows have their three week run, not develop into pieces adapted for audio and end up award-nominated. The truth of the matter is, no one is worried about the competition itself. Instead, everyone’s relishing a return to a team which works so, so well. I honestly don’t know what our chances are, but at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter, because we’re all getting another chance to just hang out and try to make something special one more time. Does it work? That’s for you, the audience member to decide...

Audience...! Yes, will that be you? The old worry, which all actors get. Who’s going to turn up? It’s one night only this time, possibly for the last time too. Who will come again? Who will use this chance to see it at last? How will the other half of the audience from the production of Phaedra receive the show? All these eternal questions which are impossible to answer but our minds force us to speculate on? What part of human nature makes us stress about these things, when we have no power over them? The show must go on...

Which is only now nine days away...! Rehearsals start again Tuesday, after work, and we have to fight a tube strike to get there. But we will, because we’ll make it happen, whether it is rehearsals this week, or the two hours allocated for a tech and dress, or the actual performance...

Where I’ll see Peter...! Peter, I miss you! Since the end of the first run of FROZEN, he’s, quite rightly, become increasingly busy, hence him not being around so much this time around, and I’ve hardly every had time to even have a chat with him lately! Dammit, we both need PA’s to work out lunch or something. That’s something to fix once this is over...

Next week...! But when it is, I’ll be sad. I know it. But then again, why be sad when there’s hope? Because let’s face it, this blog should have ended on November 6th. You could’ve never dreamed of the fact that it’s still going on and on and on... and there’s still life to be enjoyed in this old girl of a show yet. FROZEN, a simply idea that just grew and grew and wouldn’t lie down. And that’s a worthwhile thought, as my eyes decide it’s time to sleep...

Time for a re-read of the script and an early night...! All because of this barmy old show that was just an idea such a long time ago. Madness, isn’t?

Still, I’m not resting on my laurels – after some lengthy debate, a bit of thought and a fiendishly clever idea from Rob, difficult second album is on its way. It’s everything I needed from it – a (slightly) larger cast, a good idea for theatre, and a mammoth challenge to execute. This piece really raises our game, and the script’s coming on incredibly well, especially as FROZEN was my first (well second really, because there was a different play called FROZEN before this one), so the lessons I learn last time mean we can probably lose a couple of drafts this time around, hooray! So there’s that to get on, a new Tom to hone and practice, and a festival to enter... 22 days to go, and things are shaping up really, really nicely. So let me just use this as a chance to say thank you to the people I never get to thank enough... the team. Rob, Josie, Andrew, Jenny, Her Midnight Eye, thank you. It’s your hard work that’s got us here, and taking us to LOST this month. You can have all have a cookie on me this weekend.

Jenny’s proved very intuitive and she’s instantly become part of the team. She is fantastic; I have never heard her use the word “don’t” to date. It’s always “do”, and that’s a huge thing. It means we are always building, evolving and changing, and getting us where we need to be. Rob, in the meantime, is enjoying the idea he can not stress about directing and just watch, the swine. If there’s one thing I love about this company, it’s the desire by everyone to make the best show absolutely possible for you - the audience. Going into this a second (okay well, third!) time makes us wiser – lessons have been learned, so we can work better, faster and a little more relaxed than before. Even in the middle act, we were all laughing so hard, it was almost impossible to keep going. The main trouble started when I couldn’t get out of a sleeping bag without either falling over or looking like a Glowbug. Remember them? What do you mean no? Glowbugs! Next you’ll be telling me the Cabbage Patch Doll rush happened BEFORE you were born. Oh, it did? Okay...

So first day rehearsals, with all it’s re-blocking for the new space, went like an absolute dream. A lot of laughter, a lot of freshness, fun AND rolling around in a sleeping bag... What more could any of us ask for?

Ping. Email from Mariele to me and Josie. No changes, all good, she thinks it’s lovely, it can be done, how about the 15th for recording?

Ping. Email to Mariele. That’s good with me.

Ping. Email from Josie. That’s good with her.

Ping. Email from Mariele. How about a rehearsal on the 11th at her place?

Ping. Email to Mariele. That’s good with me.

Ping. Email from Josie. That’s good for her.

Ping. Email from Mariele.

Ping. Email to Mariele. Yes, I read it, printed it out, removing those two comments there. And what do you mean we can’t have the fire-breathing dragons ridden by mutant sharks with laser beams on their heads? I thought you liked this draft?

- JACK

Big Finish if you have never heard of them, are audio drama producers, making original SF and Fantasy plays based on properties and franchises of yester-year, things like Sapphire and Steel, The Tomorrow People, Doctor Who, and 2000 A.D. Judge Dredd, and it was this last one that Andrew worked on heavily during the early releases of the range as sound editor, before moving into the BBC full-time.

So he was the first man to call, but when we discussed the idea of him co-authoring FROZEN into an audio play, there was something else I wanted to do first. I wanted to go all Douglas Adams on FROZEN a little and rework it, make it better, and fix it here and there, learn from the experiences of the run, the way the show changed and most importantly, listen to the critics.

Now that sounds like an admission of weakness, but there two things to consider here. First of all the role of critic, if he does his job right, is to offer constructive criticism; and there was some lovely notes from the reviews we got, which made a lot of sense. We invited them in, to ask what they think, you want and need a critic’s opinion on the understanding they are constructive, and that’s what we got.

And secondly; by critics I also mean anyone who came to see the show, who stayed afterwards to talk about it, ask questions, make points and... One question always came up. One we thought the answer was obvious, but clearly, it was one misstep we clearly got wrong. So for those who have yet to see the show or will be hopefully hearing the audio version, I can’t say for now. Maybe later...

So a chance not only to experiment with FROZEN as an audio play, but a chance to smooth out those niggles and creases that we missed the first time. And make it a better play, while making it a newer, fresher experience for those who saw it first time. Blimey, we don’t set our sights that high, do we?

- JACK

Mariele was good enough when she could around her very busy schedule to come in occasionally and help out with stuff. And she loved the show and was incredibly supportive. She even made her mum see the show, bless. But what we didn’t know is that worlds move around worlds, cogs within cogs... because Mariele too was forming a venture for herself too, and when she shared it with me, it was brilliant. So utterly brilliant that I laughed when she told me, because like all the greatest ideas, it was so very simple, and bold. I’m totally convinced it’s going to make a big splash when it launches. But for now, Mum’s The Word. But I did start to wonder what this had to do with me... and then she came out and said... “And I want FROZEN to be the first project, if that’s okay?” And again I laughed – bearing in mind that this was around half-way through the theatre run, and as we all felt we had something so special that we didn’t want it to end –here was that second chance (albeit for one night only) which many new shows never, ever get to see and be involved in something equally as daring and exciting. How could we say no?

But sworn to secrecy I couldn’t even give Josie a reassuring hint every time she said “I don’t want this to end” that it wouldn’t just yet... That the words of Tom and Laura and Radio Announcer and Voice Talent would again echo once more through... Blimey. This was only designed to be a three-week thing... Now, a new version of FROZEN? It rolls on... More soon...

- JACK

Up to the “now” entry, I’m still fighting this. But I’m a going to win. But let me stress it’s not life-threatening, just something I now have to be aware of and work through. Which changes the direction of “difficult second album”... if I would be allowed to write it... because..

- JACK

Stay tuned! And please, if anyone has any strings with the ‘gods of head colds’, please ask them to give me a break, thanks! Where will this madness end! Hooray again!

But despite all this, there doesn’t seem to have been any post-show climb down from anyone. None of the usual depression that hits you once a show is over. That’s because suddenly, the slate is looking busy – we have ideas to rewrite FROZEN, just a little, to make it an even better piece. The mysterious and difficult second album that is the next project is coming together and together very, very well. Some people looked at the script for FROZEN and thought it was a challenge for the performers; well, I like to think we pulled it off, Josie with aplomb. So those people who thought FROZEN was a challenge... you wait until you see script number two... And that’s while we work, staying ahead of the game, on project three, which has the potential to be really HUGE, And I don’t just say that... There’s no time to waste, no time to get down, and it’s certainly no time to still be stuck with this head cold! Nurse, the screens!

Short and sweet this one. More later today.

6PM – A little memory to share with you. It’s Thursday. The Thursday before today. We’re all on the tube, heading home. Jemma says “Only three more shows to go then –“. Josie says “Ssssh!” Jemma says “Not that long –“; “ Josie says “Ssssssh!” Later in the week, after the Saturday show, Josie says “I don’t want this to ever end.” Rob says “I don’t want this to be over.” Peter M says “So when’s the next one?” (coming soon folks...) I try not to cry during a particular scene on the last two nights. And suddenly, all the hard work, all the effort that’s gone into this feels not only worth it, but something to be really proud of... I’m smiling like a proud dad, because we’ve made something so special, people don’t want it to end. So it’s my job now to make it doesn’t.

Rob and Jemma have had their first two nights now, and they’ve done extremely well. Understudying is a very difficult job to do, but everything’s pulled together marvellously. On the first night, I have to admit, I was a bit of a worried mother at a nativity play, anxiously mouthing the words, nervously hoping the kids would get through it. But come the second night, for the first time I was confident, happy and enjoying it immensely as a piece of theatre. What a delight to just sit back, relax and enjoy this beast.

And it’s a night off. Everyone’s shattered, and they need it. Josie, bless her, is now off rehearsing another production, while we start week two. I don’t know where she gets her energy from. Actually, I suspect it’s something to with her DNA, but I won’t admit that in case a mysterious Government task force whip her away and dissect her.

Speaking of which... Last night was the premiere of Torchwood, Russell T’s next BBC Wales show. And I have to apologise to him now, because... I didn’t watch it. Sorry Russell! No, I was out staying on at the Etcetera with Rob, Peter and Josie watching the Bird Flu Diaries. It’s been the other show running after us last week, and my God, did we laugh. A very good show, and full praise to it’s two performers Olivia Poulet and Sarah Solemani, who, bless them have had patiently wait on us to get out so they could get in. Often Sarah would be popping her head around the door, checking in, wishing us luck and making sure we were okay, while dealing with the tech-heavy nature of their show. How sweet was that? So we all agreed that we should pop along and give them some support, so sorry, Russell, I had to watch Torchwood much later in the night. But I can honestly say we had a good show, The Bird Flu ladies were utterly marvellous- if you get the chance to catch it again at another venue, then go, and Torchwood, when I finished with it at 2am in the morning, was terrific. What a great way to end the first week.

We’ve had ups and downs this week, but it’s ended on a high. Mariele Runacre-Temple even joined us last night, and bless, she sent us the sweetest text messages of support, saying how good she thinks it all is. We’re in a really good place now. Roll on week two, with new audiences, new laughter and more fun.

Delighted. Exhausted, shattered but happy. Everyone’s performed amazingly well. Jemma has been a God send. Peter and Rob were every bit as picky as they need to be. Our Light's guy, Peter, didn't tell anyone until the end of the show that he's had a baby boy and become a dad for the first time. Hooray! And Josie...?

There’s only one word for it. Magnificent.

It’s not often I use that word for any actor. She has delivered a most magnificent, wonderful Laura. Watching her on stage, working alongside her is one of the most amazing, rewarding experiences I could have dreamed of. You cannot believe how good, how brilliant, how electrifying she is. The Laura she has given us is magnificent. If you are thinking of coming, then you don’t need a reason to think twice.

Off to bed, but probably won’t sleep. So happy

I just thought I'd put a few scribblings down about my involvement in the play's design - from a lighting and graphical point of view...

My initial thoughts on the logo were to try and encapsulate the stark, or as Jack phrases it, RAW nature of the plays' emotion. During the Tone Meeting (which was primarily about lighting, sound and set design) we spoke a lot about light and colour - the play being set at night immediately stirred up in my imagination that sodium orange from street lamps, and deep, shadowy blues.

I remember when I used to go on day trips with my parents - my father was an avid trainspotter and we'd regularly go chasing trains and end up eating fish and chips in a station carpark - lit by street lamps. The thing that always struck me was how you could *see* what you were doing, but they completely obliterated ALL colours - red became brown, green became brown, yellow became brown, even white became brown - anyway, you get the idea...! The thing is, it has a slightly disconcerting effect as things start to look very flat, dreary and slightly ominous, with long, deep shadows.

We also discussed the window in Tom's flat - how at the very beginning of the play, and several times throughout - this window, and the street lamp outside should be the only source of light on stage.

I wanted to incorprate this into my design for the promotion artwork, so instead of doing the obvious and trying to make the word 'FROZEN' look like icicles, I wanted to have broken glass, falling from a window, the words formed from the shards...

Concept 1

Initial design

Concept 2

Tidyed up design with dark background

Concept 3

Concept image scanned and coloured in Photoshop to get a sense of colour and texture Producers' note - more shards of glass needed!

Once the design concept was okayed, I set about creating the glass elements in 3D using Maxon's Cinema 4D. As anyone who has ever modelled in 3D knows, the key to making a convincing image is texturing - but glass doesn't have a texture I hear you scream - Well of course it does, it's just tricky to pin down.

Test Render 1

First Render of 3D glass elements - Producers' note - too light and too orange

The key is the refraction and reflections that show from one piece of glass to the next. After a great deal of tweaking, and many hours in Photoshop setting levels of transparency and blurriness, the final image came together. Different coloured glass is used on the logo compared to the elements around it, to help them show up - and at Jack's suggestion, there are several pieces which appear out of focus to give the image depth.

More later, when I can summon the energy/intelligence to write something else...!

FROZEN is designed to be a two-hander, (yes I know there’s four actors listed; Josephine Hart, Peter Davis, Terry Wade, and myself and no, I won’t tell you why, you need to see the show to discover the reasons why... ha ha!) but it’s about TOM and LAURA. It’s the story of those two coming together on what will be a dramatic and fateful night. So, in terms of story it’s about two people. Then on the other side of things, we have an agreement with the Etcetera. For three weeks we have to deliver a show on the agreed nights. But... there’s a worry in the back of my head. My job alone, can, at times, be dangerous, I could get hurt. People get sick. So what if for whatever reason, one night we missing either myself or the mega-talented Josie? Suddenly, there’s no show! So I took a very odd decision for a fringe show running for three weeks. They’d be understudies. The show must go on! Funnily enough, covering me was the easy bit – Rob wanted the job! So that was done. But what about Laura?

We also needed a Stage Manager, and it was looking increasingly like Madame Amelia wasn’t going be free to boss us all around. It was then, brilliantly, Esme from Midnight Eye hit me with a suggestion. Why not double up the Understudy for Laura with the SM duties? An Actor Stage Manager! It was so simply brilliant; I wondered why I couldn’t even think of something that clever! So The Plan was born. But could we find someone, and willing? With a script like this it could have been tough to find one person, let alone two. But we needn’t have feared. Josephine Hart will make an amazing Laura. Jemma Thomas will be an amazing Laura. Two, utterly brilliant actors, ready to go, taking their scripts on something called "their holidays"(?).

Bless, thanks to Jemma , who punctuates every sentence with the word “lovely” and thanks to Josie for setting some shows aside for her, The Plan will work; Jemma will take on that challenge. And I’m sure she’s going to rise to the task magnificently.

Yes. It’s unusual. It’s extra work. But so many people have worked on this for nothing, so many people have faith in it, the Etcetera’s been so generous, we can’t let anyone down. And it makes sense to be prepared, because Things Happen. I’m sure they won’t – I’m absolutely convinced we’ll have an incident-free month. But then, at the same time, we have the Lovely Jemma Thomas and Robert Valentine, rehearsed, ready and standing by; two performers with two excellent takes on the characters sitting there, on the shelf, waiting to go. Unused.

So, and I’m convinced that shouldn’t be the way, I’m going to make sure that they step and get their moment too. And Josie’s insisting it be that way too, bless her – being so generous with her leading lady time. So, for four shows, Rob will be Tom. Jemma will be Laura. And, just to mix it up a bit, for two shows I’ll be with Jemma. For two shows I’ll have to stop being selfish and let Josie work with Rob. We’ve now got three enormously talented performers, and me (ha ha!), all clicking into place so wonderfully, I promise you whatever show you’ll see, you’ll see the world of FROZEN, the world of Tom and Laura, you’ll see the best show. And that’s thanks to three of the loveliest people I’ve ever dealt with, three of the most talented individuals who’ve come together and three of the most exciting performers I desperate to share a stage with. Thank you Rob, for wanting the extra work, thank you Josie for being so giving with your schedule, thank you Jemma for being ready and willing. And thank you to all three of you, for making The Plan work. Hooray!

And wow. I’m so happy. Giddy as your Aunt Ethel. Blow me down if he hasn't done it again! I've felt a little bad for Andrew, because he’s stepped up, taken my challenges, and executed my notes so well, so brilliantly, that he’d make me more even ambitious. Nothing wrong with that, except I’m making him work even harder, especially when he thinks he’s finished. Poor soul. But bless, he never complains, and understands even when I’m between bars of Tainted Love. And tonight was the proof of how brilliant he is, the Graphics are in. Hooray! Don’t take my word for it, go over to the news page and have a look. So excited am I, I’ve even texted Rob, who’s away on his last holiday before the show! I’m nearly tempted to text other members of crew who are also on holiday to scream – “look at this!” But instead I ring Andrew’s mobile at 23.08PM, when he’s probably in bed, to rave about his genius. I hope he’ll still love me in the morning.

There we were Monday – or rather Rob and Peter were. I got stuck in traffic! Oh, the shame, never late for an audition before, until I cast a play myself! And we were nervous! As amazing as that sounds we were worried that we’d create a bad impression. What if the most brilliant actor came in, and decided it was us that were rubbish? Argh! So, poker-faces went on very, very quickly and the day got underway. Now I promised you before I would never discuss the inner-works of the casting process. And I still won’t. The problem since day one is that there has been so much talent wanting to be involved, and there has been so many people to disappoint (albeit this time around...).

We reached the end of the day - probably based on the way the weather’s been lately - the last day of this summer. Ten brilliant Laura’s. Which one to choose? Peter, Robert and myself were sitting there, mulling the day. Doodling. Scribbling. Drinking Coke. Then the answer came... Laura? We all said, one by one... “Josie”. Absolutely, totally, completely, our Laura was now Josephine Hart. Something so difficult, in a moment in the sunshine, suddenly became that clear. The ASM/Understudy? One by one... “Jemma”. It was Jemma Thomas. Both wonderful, both just as important, and both crucial to "The Plan". Which I have yet to explain. For another entry!

Suddenly everything fell completely, brilliantly and, above all, simply, fell into place. Hooray!

I have to say that for all three of us, this was the hardest and saddest time we’ve on this show. Because we had to say “no” to some of the best people I’ve ever had the pleasure to meet. Ten amazing, stunning, professional wonderful actors came through our doors. Ten potentially brilliant Laura’s. And only one female lead and understudy on offer. Out of that ten utterly brilliant people whom we all loved, eight people we had to say “no” to. And that really felt horrible.

But in return we’ve been given the most amazing reward for that horrible feeling. Two brilliantly talented actors have stepped forward, and taken up the gauntlet that this script throws down. I warn you now, like I warned them, FROZEN; it’s not an easy piece. Far from it. To have ten fabulous actors step up and want to do it, to have then to pick from that ten, two actors to make them do it... It’s been incredibly difficult. I can’t describe what an instant high-low the feeling of the whole day was like... to say “no” to eight wonderful people, but feel the joy of  sharing the “Yes!” with two others.

So before I talk about them in depth, as things move forward a little more... this is just a small thank you now. To Josie and Jemma, for joining us when we asked. I promise you now, they will be fabulous.

And to those who wanted to do it, and were so very good on the day, it truly was a pleasure., and I really, really hope that this is not the last time our paths cross! Thank you.

But then I got really lucky – a follow-up call from Amelia DeFelice. Amelia’s one of life’s true, kind sweet-hearts, and I always rue that I never get enough time in her company. Boo hiss boo! A very talented Stage Manager, she was someone I’d seriously considered for FROZEN, joining us on this little wild journey as a SM. But two marvellous things happened – one, our plans changed, and loyal readers, next week, you’ll find out why, and two, she got very busy. Quite right too; when you’re that good you should be harder to book. But I’d planned for this, as a her diary filled up, and the chances sadly got more and more remote... So, tonight I ran The Plan by her, and straight away, there she was offering all the help, advice, diary time and experience she could give. I’ll explain more after next week – but just tonight, as I sit here facing The List, a little note of thanks to Amelia for making one really big thing potentially a lot easier, making one more cog run a little more smoothly, keeping one less hair turning grey. This entry is for the beautiful Madame DeFelice, to say thank you for everything you’re about to do us. Stay tuned!

Anyway, where are we now? Well, auditions for Laura are in 12 days, and the shortlists are falling into place. But that’s all I’m telling you. I would rather go naked on stage (which wouldn’t be a pretty sight and I don't do nudity) than tell what’s happening. I like to think that auditioning is one of those things that should be protected and kept private, if not sacred, no matter what else takes a battering! So that’s all I’m going to say on the matter!

But what I will tell you about was the key to finalising the auditions. The Tone Meeting, which finally took place last night. Before we could confirm what we needed from an audition, we needed to have a Tone Meeting. Tone Meetings, if you didn’t know or have never heard of them, are often used in television, mainly by the BBC, to get everyone all under one roof, in one room to go through the script, page-by-page, line-by-line, effect-by-effect often using one word to define the style, approach and detail of the production. Each department comes together and works with the rest to bring their ideas to the table and share knowledge, experience and creativity. So I used the format of a Tone Meeting for this, even though it’s theatre. It might not have worked. But it did, and it was a magnificent evening. I’m in such a good mood, I’ll even let you in on a secret... the Tone Meeting word for FROZEN is “raw”.

This entry harks back to the very first one I wrote for the website in June. It’s about the people around you, and the people who met together last night – Rob the Wonderful, Sir Peter Davis, and the ever lovely Andrew "BBC" Swann, who’ve I’ve mentioned in passing before – oh yes, it’s his turn to be embarrassed now! Ha ha! While most of us pottered around, discussing sleeping arrangements (whether it was for us, or for the show... you’ll have to find out!) and disrupted another production prepping for performance last night (sorry ladies!), there was Andrew, with his lighting plan, asking the Etcetera staff questions which us mere mortals couldn’t even begin to understand. Then, when he was finished and done, we hit the Underground, and made our way to the Best. Pub. In. London. Ever. The Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese on Fleet Street, previously patronised by the likes of Voltaire, Doctor Samuel Johnston, and Charles Dickens; it’s also known as the Writer’s Pub, which seemed very apt!

We settled in an 800 year old underground bar (really – that’s true!) and started our page-by-page breakdown. It was fantastic to watch. You had Peter and Rob at the top of their games, discussing, analysing, nit-picking, suggesting and improving on what we had. The attention now is in the detail – and boy, have they got the eyes for it. But the star of the night was Andrew Swann. I’ve known him for nearly five years now, and worked with him before, and he’s always continued to impress. Andrew took the meeting, read the script, poured over every technical detail, breaking it down, making it more ambitious, pitching ideas to make it look and feel more beautiful; not just the lighting, but improving the set design, the textures, firing off Peter and Rob’s creativity like nothing on Earth, bringing that feeling of rawness to the overall stage design – he might be technically minded but this man truly is an artist. He makes it all look and sound so simple. So when you hopefully sit in that audience, and look at that set, if it’s right, it’s because we’ve achieved the benchmark Andrew’s set down. If it’s wrong, we’ve failed him. We truly are very lucky to have him designing for FROZEN. Let’s hope we can keep it up. I'm even not going to tell you a story about how resourceful he is, how he came to the rescue with saving the audio track last night; if you want to know you'll have to see the show because it's one for the programme! So thank you Andrew!

However, the best thing I can tell you is at this stage, at every stage – no pun intended – everyone has been working on the same level; we’re all on the same page, the ideas are flowing, all working well, we all want to make this as good as it can and should be, and because of that, I’m having the best fun I’ve ever had on any production, ever!

I’m so pleased that as things get harder, there’s an amazing team around me. You won’t believe how much talent there was around that table last night – and I’m privileged I was there. I really hope I can start making all these busy people start to write here so you can get to know them. I’m even starting to put away those writer/producer pangs now (although those acting ones are still there!) and start to feel good about this show, confident I’ve got the right people. Thank you to those who've come this far with me on this journey, and I look forward to welcoming the new additions very, very soon. The rollercoaster might be about to start, but I’ve got on it feeling very, very good. Stay tuned! Hooray!

While we’ve got a little time spare and I await a series of emails (which I’ll explain in another entry), please let me distract you a little while and tell you a tale of intrigue, confusion, mystery and maybe a little tedium. More on your side to read, ha ha ha! We’ll call this the Tale of the Man with Two Names. Or maybe just Springheel Gareth-Jack? Know the legend of Springheel Jack? Marvellous story. Better than this one! Anyway

Some of you might have noticed that if I email out to people I use the name Gareth Parker. Others will have got emails from Jack Bowman. Or worse, sometimes both! So I’m going to take these few minutes spare to tell you why...

I was originally born Gareth William Parker, way back when... well there was a Labour Government and it wasn’t run by Teflon Tony. And for the first few years of my career I used the acting name Gareth Parker – that was my name as my mum and dad had given it (although, not with a bit of disagreement; I should have been called James William Parker the Fifth - ahem), but between 2003-2005 I took a career break from acting. So last summer, I decide to get back into the swing of things, and really go for it, start writing, registering FROZEN in my name, building up 720 Productions, noting it in my name, and so on. About three months down the line, I suddenly remember “Oh, yes! Equity Membership! That’ll help!” Ho ho! Guess what?

My name’s gone. So there’s lesson number one – always protect your stage name! There’s another Gareth Parker out there, somewhere, maybe stalking me... So I had to do what I had to do, and create a new name, buy new webspace, burn all those old business cards. Jack was suggested to me by three people independently, and after much wrangling (or Equity looking at a computer that said “no”), I settled on Bowman, which, is wait for it, my Nan’s sister’s married name. Still with me?

So Jack Bowman is now here. In some ways very nice, a good restart for my career – like re-branding in a way! “It’s not a new form of Diet Coke; it’s a whole new taste sensation!” But horrors, the play; it’s all in my old name! All protected under Gareth Parker! It wasn’t too bad to start with; Gareth Parker: Writer-Producer, Jack Bowman: Actor. But the closer we get to actual production, it’s started to confuse people a little, hell, it’s confusing me! So next time around, it’ll all be the one name. Jack Bowman: Overworked, Unpaid and Loving the Talent he’s Fortunate Enough to Work With. So if you get an email from a Gareth Parker account, that’s me, Jack. No more, no less, just Jack. Very confusing, I apologise, you wait to see how I tell you my accountant gets around this! So please shout out if that’s clear... “Yes”, cries the nation. Sadly, it’s the nation of Luxembourg...

Hooray! We’re getting there – managed to tie Rob down and let him present his wickedly brilliant, witty, sharply observed ideas for casting our dearest Laura, based on the enormous response we’ve had. I don’t envy his task, taking all these lovely people and whittling them down one by one. It’s extremely interesting making the leap from Acting in Writing-Producing-Acting and being on the other side of the... fishbowl? Aquarium? Insert a glass/water metaphor here? Casting someone truly is one of the toughest things to do; which is why I’m letting him handle it all! Ha ha ha! In someway though it heartens me to see so many people interested and so many new faces, because on of the things I really want 720 Productions to do is bring out new or undiscovered talent and give it a chance. It also hurts to have to turn so many down.

Unfortunately as much as I’d love to cast each actor we’ve got, because their all so keen, so interesting, so marvellously full of potential, that would mean turning this show from a two hander into a one-on-seventy-eight hander. Which we quite don’t have the budget for. Just yet. So I’d like to public start saying thank you to those who’ve applied that have started to get rejections, we didn’t make those decisions lightly.

But what all of the applicants, all of you that have asked to audition - you’ve shown us is something important - how right we were right to target the Etcetera for FROZEN. Right since day one it was on the shortlist of spaces we wanted. Nearly every note written on every submission wrote to us saying how much they loved the space, how much they’d love to work there or work there again, how much they’d want to be with us all the way on this show not because it’s hopefully going to be the best piece of theatre ever, ever, ever (and even as it’s writer I can’t claim that, but it will be a great and good as we can achieve!), but because we’ve got the best place to start out ever. And that’s truly lovely, it really is. Thank you for that. I honestly mean that.

I hope it’s a good omen, a bit of hope for the future.

- JACK