I just got back to my halls after a day out in London, and oh my god Once is stunning! I went to the matinee, and it's the first full standing ovation I can remember ever seeing at an afternoon show. It was definitely worth the hour and a half on the train there and back (and my friend Ben's two hour journey from the opposite direction), and the money spent on our amazing seats (stalls N9 and 10, and we only booked 6 days ago!)... and all the money I spent on merchandise. I do this every time...
Seeing the show - and having a chat about the industry with a guy dressed as a zombie on the train back (apparently it's world zombie day - fun fact!) - has really inspired me and reminded me how important it is to be multi-talented in theatre. For anyone not familiar with the show, the actors play all the music themselves on stage, some of them playing up to four instruments. There are several shows that I love that require the actors to be actor-musos, and tours often require actors to be able to stage manage or act as resident directors. There have even been productions where actors operate light and sound boards on stage.
So I'm determined to not get pigeon holed into only acting, singing and dancing. I want to have as many useful skills as I possibly can for my work, because at the end of the day that's what makes you employable, and I want to work;I want to work a lot, on loads of different shows in different genres, requiring different skills. Obviously I want to act in musicals, it's who I am. But I want to direct and design and play music and make an impact! I want to try everything, and that's what's so exciting about doing what you love.
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