Plants that eat men

I have a desk. For the first time in 2 years...yeah, 2 years...wow! It's covered in contracts, lamps (anyone want a lamp?), screen wipes, sunglasses, unopened christmas cards, the hands of a clock, some wax pastels and a whole load of receipts, drafts of plays and even a jar of Scarlet Runner Beans. I've been on the move since July 2012 when I sold up in Glasgow and went cycling. Two years means a lot of unsent birthday cards to family and friends, a lot of paying for things on final demands, several plays that I now have 2 copies of and a very long 'to do' list. 

The Sleeping Beauties photo by Mark Douet

Thomas' tomatoes

A good deal has happened and not much of it is on this blog. The Night Before Christmas at The Arches in Glasgow and The Sleeping Beauties at Sherman Cymru in Cardiff both went brilliantly. I particularly loved the hugeness of The Sleeping Beauties with a really beautiful set by Rachael Canning that director Roisin McBrinn used magically. Everything kept revolving and span circles within circles of magic and myth. I think it was a truly scary fairytale and went on to win Best Design at the Welsh Critics Awards. 

My dill. My parsley. My love.

What else? Well, I've planted some seeds and feel optimistic they're going to sprout soon. There's parsley, some sweet peas, basil and dill. It seems that Peter Pan is to be translated and published by l'Arche Editeur in France and the french version of Pondlife is going good guns there. Who'd've thought that a show thought up with Andy Manley, Gill Robertson and very little budget would still be going, and all over the world. ACES!

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A messy, but much appreciated desk

So things are warm. A couple of commissions, a big dance piece brewing and getting to work with talented James Anthony Pierson on his one man show. I hope I don't get run over by one of the lovely new buses. A robin nested for a while beside the kitchen door here and then disappeared. I found it's eggs eaten out and its nest vandalised a few days later, so it just goes to show. Do it NOW! You never know when your eggs are going to go cold.

New York with Andy Manley in June for Pondlife and Kappa at The New Victory Theatre on 42nd Street. I can't wait to go to Marie's Crisis and watch the guys and gals singing show tunes at almost disgustingly competitive volume. I'm a lucky cat.

Marie's Crisis, West Village NY

Eggs unabandoned