Here comes the sun
2024 has been a long winter for the arts
2024 has been an extremely tumbleweedy (yes it’s a real word) year for the arts industry. So much so, that the mantra for many working mainly in the Film and TV industry, has become “Survive until 2025”. Bleak isn’t it? There are various reasons for this, including 14 years of arts cuts, less TV being commissioned (in part due to less advertising and the rise of streamers), several long running TV shows being cancelled, a bottleneck on productions due to covid and the writer’s strikes, and of course the cost of living crisis. All of which has meant that less stuff is being made, and as a result there has been less work for performers, writers, crew, casting directors, producers etc.
I’ve exchanged so many voice-notes with friends about how quiet it is, that I could release a true crime podcast entitled “The case of the vanishing industry”. I genuinely started thinking about other things I could retrain as, but the only thing I would want to do is become some sort of therapist and there’s way too much ridiculous stuff of me online to make that a viable option! Hard to create a sense of gravitas when someone has seen you crawl across the floor as a hedgehog. Also there is this video (below).
And anyway, I’ve spent way too many years trying to get good, and making things that I’m really proud of, just to throw it all away.
Thankfully my work-drought was broken this month when I did an audio drama. I realise how fortunate I am to have any sort of work, so needless to say I felt very grateful and I never take stuff like that for granted. I had a really nice few days recording numerous episodes and spending time with the other actors in-between scenes. Several lovely members of the cast were full of incredible showbiz anecdotes featuring Anthony Head, Richard Burton, Elizabeth Taylor and the like. It was glorious. When the job finished I felt an overwhelming desire to re-watch Toast of London…
Doing Showstopper! this month was a tonic as well. Not for the first time, I counted my blessings for getting into improv, which I think/hope is fairly bulletproof as an art form, because it’s self sufficient and comparatively cheap to make. Also, unlike with TV and mainstream theatre, “names” can’t replace improvisers, so our jobs are safe. Thankfully Cheryl Cole can’t suddenly jump in and improvise a song in the style of Hadestown. Although, maybe I’m doing her a disservice. It would certainly be interesting to witness. Anyway, getting back to the performance on Monday, it’s rare that the company of Showstopper do a show that we’re all happy with, but on this occasion we were, and that, my friend, is a flipping miracle! It felt fun, cohesive, and as if we were all on the same page story-wise. As I often say, improvising story is HARD. Sometimes we’ll finish a performance and, regardless of the audience reaction, some of us will feel worried that our contribution wasn’t good enough, but on this occasion the standing ovation felt earned.
Meanwhile, Lucy Trodd and I have recorded a theme tune for our project, which feels exciting! It’s been hard juggling everything, doing rewrites alongside doing as much teaching as we can to pay the bills. Imagine what it’s like for people who can just write the thing they’ve been commissioned to write. What a world! I see people on Twitter saying they have had to take on non-theatre work or non-writing work recently to supplement their commissions, and while it would be nice if this wasn’t the case, there’s certainly no shame in it. I don’t know many people who can exist on just the arts alone at the moment, unless they are blessed with a private income or a partner who has a lucrative “normal” job. Or unless they are auteurs who have managed to find their own niche and their own fan base to match. I have a lot of admiration for those people and hope to find a way to do that myself one day. In the meantime I’m grateful I can teach workshops alongside creating stuff (it’s enjoyable and satisfying work) but it would be nice to have a bit more balance sometimes. It can be a bit stressful, juggling everything.
Speaking of workshops, I taught a young actress earlier this year who was worried and sad about how little work there was out there. I felt for her. It was difficult to think of something comforting to say because the reality is, things probably haven’t been this bad since 2020. But there are a few thoughts which I hope might be a comfort.
Things can change at any moment. This is true and hard to remember. I felt like I’d never work again, and was literally googling “how many years does it take to train to be a counsellor?” and then the next week I was recording an audio drama. It was only a short contract, but nonetheless it gave me hope, connections and (crucially) a financial boost.
We’re very close to getting a new government and it’s possible that they will invest in the arts a bit more. They certainly can’t be any worse than this lot.
There are other (nicer?) things in life that aren’t work, and also work doesn’t have to define you. It’s a bit rich me saying that, because it definitely defines me, but I always feel better when I remember to do real life things that are not connected with work. Meet up with a friend, see your family, join a pilates class in which the teacher brings her dog along (*!), pretend it’s the 90’s and ring your best mate for a catch up, dance in the kitchen, or simply go outside and enjoy the icy cold wind and rain on your face. Or even the - no? - Could it be - ? Sunshine, is that you????!
If you’re struggling I am sending solidarity to you, along with the hope that finally the never-ending metaphorical (and literal) winter is ending, and that there are brighter days ahead.Alexa play: “Here Comes The Sun”.
News
I’ll be performing at The Comedy Store tonight. It’s only the second time I’ve ever performed there in my life, so it still feels like a big deal to me, and an honour to be asked. Tickets here if you fancy a laugh.
I’m doing another WIP of my solo show at The Pen Theatre on 25th July at 7.00pm. More details and tickets here. I’m sharing the night with the excellent physical comic & improviser David Hoskin.
*This actually happened! I now live for my pilates classes, just for the chance to have a dog lean against me, while I’m flailing on my back, mid crab-pose.