October News

Hi my dear readers, thank you so much for coming to site to see what is going on. Everything and nothing as it happens… I am still recording RIVER CITY, but instead of the anticipated increased story line I appear to have taken a back seat. Probably the best paid extra in Britain at the moment, but don’t tell anyone because I am using the free (waged) time to do some really exciting and innovative work. I’m thrilled that at 57 I am probably at my most creative. I wouldn’t have thought that a career as a writer or as a teacher could be so fulfilling.

I am now the member of two writing groups… one I have hauled together and is (at the moment) flatteringly called Lou’s Crew. We have an idea for a new comedy drama that makes me laugh and cry in equal measure. We shall read through the first draft of the first episode on the 1st of November… and please, anyone that reads this, say a little prayer to whichever deity you believe in to bring us joy and prosperity with the project. Believe me YOU WILL LAUGH if it ever hits the screen… it has all the ingredients of a new cult series, and I am lost in admiration for the 9 people that I am working with.

The other writing group is headed by Nigel Fairs (who has written extensively for Big Finish) and I feel flattered to be seconded onto the group of 12. This time it’s a film script. Watch this space.

The Sunday Drama College has gathered a group of 22 young people. Mixed ability, extremely caring of each other, and a very creative atmosphere is forming that I am profoundly proud of. We have our first performance this coming January at Trinity Arts Centre. Anyone aged between 14 to 22 in the East Sussex/West Kent area, feel free to email thesundaydramacollege@hotmail.co.uk for further info.

Performances…. Colin Baker and I did a lovely evening at Trinity, a read play called LOVE LETTERS, to fund raise for them. The Arts Council, in their wisdom, have decided to slash the funding by 100%! And the local council have cut £30,000 from Trinity’s budget also! We raised a mere £2,000 but it’s a start. I am also doing another fund raiser on Nov 9th. Proceeds of which will be split between the Poppy Day appeal and Trinity. The Trio Lavolta (piano, cello, violin) will be playing some spectacular music (from Shostokovitch to Music Hall) and David Warwick and I will be giving you prose, poetry and quotes… all on the subject of war. LEST WE FORGET is the title of our evening, and a splendid one it will be too.

This coming Saturday (October 25th) I shall be performing at Oxford Playhouse. It is their 70th birthday. I spent many, many happy months there during the 70’s and have been asked to re-deliver one of my favourite speeches of all time. So if you live in that area, please come and support. Every theatre in the land is in need of a helping hand.

So, creativity in abundance. Most of next week I am filming in Glasgow, so no doubt one or two of you will cross paths with me at the Oram Mor… One of the best venues in Britain… Until the next blog, best wishes and love to you all, L x

August Goings On

Well, it’s all systems go. RIVER CITY starts up again, filming through to December 6th. This weekend I am in Glasgow at the Purple Hotel signing for two days.... do come if you can. (2, Row Avenue, Renfrew, Glasgow, G51 4SY.) My writers group is scribbling away with some very exciting and FUNNY ideas, and THE SUNDAY DRAMA COLLEGE starts up on September 7th in Tunbridge Wells. (for further details please email thesundaydramacollege@hotmail.co.uk) Soon I hope to have similar workshops all over Britain. We start one in Eastbourne next January, and hopefully Lewes the following Easter.

I’ve just returned from a deluged but rather wonderful holiday in Biarritz... visiting my gorgeous niece, her new baby girl and two lovely sons. I was ‘the lady in the van’ for the week as their spare room isn’t built yet, but their converted monster van is. I was in luxury and slept sooooooooooo well. At least 10 hours a night. How needed was that?

My one woman show FROM WOMEN’S EYES (for further info please email tlcprods@hotmail.com) was a triumph in Eastbourne, (for their Shakespeare Experience Festival at the Underground Theatre) as was WOTCHA WILL. I had the privilege to work with 18 teenagers on a pot pourri of Shakespeare. What a talented bunch... and, if there’s a God, we’ll do the same again next year.

Between the teenagers and the rainy Sud du France, I did a week’s work at The Globe with Bill Buckhurst directing again. Nine of us were filmed 24/7 whilst workshopping Romeo and Juliet. They will only use 45 minutes of the filming on a DVD for teachers to reference, but I include it as one of the most enjoyable, informative and inspiring weeks of my career. I learnt so very much about teaching THROUGH text rather than ON it. Hard to explain, but it has completely made me re-think my methods of directing, not to mention strengthening my ambition to work on The Globe stage for real. I’m holding that vision.

Have to go and pack now for my weekend in Glasgow. Hope to see some of you there. Sending you love, and some sunshine... with what’s left of the summer, and thanking you for checking in... Love, Louise x

River City & Hamlet

Hi all, what a year it's been so far. Feeling quite blessed. I spent from February until May recording RIVER CITY (see photo, right) and the feisty Viv has made her screen debut. Toy boy grabbing, internet dating, hairdresser, lush. A woman who behaves badly! She's a great character. God bless the soaps for taking care of actresses of a certain age. Most of my scenes are with the darling Barbara Rafferty. Talented, fun, welcoming... she's just great to work with.

Immediately after that I started rehearsals for Hamlet in Stafford which is where I am now, just about to enter our last week of performance. When the weather holds it has been absolutely fantastic, but just occassionally it has felt as if I were in The Tempest and not Hamlet! Part of a Shakespeare Festival, the performance is on the biggest stage I ever worked on in the castle grounds. Such an adventure, with the brilliant Joseph Millson playing the Great Dane and the very talented Bill Buckhurst directing. These two jobs simply couldn't be more diverse, and I'm LOVING them both.

I go back to River City in August, but before that, I fit in another Shakespeare Festival in Eastbourne, but this time directing 20 young adults... more of that in the next blog... and also another audio job for Big Finish, again written by the lovely Nigel Fairs. So the God of Drama is smiling upon me... I hope your summers are panning out well. Love L x

Happy Valentine's Day

Can you bloody believe it? Half way through February already! Am looking out my window at a simply glorious spring day, daffs and snow drops and a clamour of birdsong.

I am currently commuting Glasgow recording RIVER CITY. My character, Viv, hits the screen in April. And I use the word ‘hits’ advisedly! Crossing my fingers that it isn’t all too over the top, but, she’s such an extreme personality, I aim to have fun with her… not an opportunity to be wasted.

The last two weekends have been spent with Big Finish. Firstly launching something extremely high tech which I didn’t quite understand. All to do with down-loading and I’m sure, if you go their website, all will become abundantly clear.

Secondly, recording a new and fabulous script by Nigel Fairs of Sapphire and Steel. Watch this space for it’s release date. I got to work with David Warner, just how thrilled am I?

Now then, some Dr Who personal appearance dates, most of these are confirmed, others a heavy pencil…

25th May, Glasgow
28th/29th June Blackpool (one of these dates)
13th July Western super Mare
23rd/24th August Glasgow
Sometime in September Coventry
15th November Newcastle

October 2009 – Florida!

So, so, sooooooooo sadly the BBC could not release me for two New Zealand gigs and one Australian gig. Hopefully the powers that be won’t cross me off their Christmas card list and I will be able to get there at some point.

If there are any teenagers who log into this blog, and who are would be performers/writers/camera operators/stage managers etc and you live in the Kent/East Sussex area you may be interested in a project of mine which is to start a Sunday Drama College for 14 plus year olds. It will be hard work, with two performances scheduled each year, and will take up most of your Sundays.

If you would like to know more email thesundaydramacollege@hotmail.co.uk. This is NOT a site for autographs, ONLY for students who are interested in taking part. I have two ‘taster’ sessions coming up in Tunbridge Wells on June 7th and June 14th, with the college proper starting sometime in September. There will be a website up and running by June.

Two other dates for your diary… Trinity Arts in Tunbridge Wells have had their funding whisked away. It is an absolutely diabolical and shatteringly stupid move by the Arts and local Councils. Please write to your MP, the Arts Council, Trinity itself and anyone else you can think of… Father Christmas if you think it will help! Anyway, Colin Baker and I will be doing a benefit on Sunday October 5th. A play called LOVE LETTERS by A.R. Gurney. It is exactly what it claims to be. A couple who write to each other from aged 6 to 66. It is funny, sad, poignant, observant and brilliantly written, I hope also, brilliantly performed. Colin is certainly fabulous!

And the second benefit will take place on Poppy Day, November 9th, with The Trio Lavolta (Sally Mays piano, Joyce Fraser violin and Felix Buser cello), and will be an extraordinary selection poetry, prose and music relating to war, from the powerful to the pacific and the horrific to the hilarious. Half the money will go to the Poppy Appeal and half to Trinity. Please do come and support either or both if you are able.

I leave you with this little personal anecdote of single parenting. My son Tom, away ski-ing in France if you please, ‘forgot’ to pay two parking fines last April. The debt collector arrived last week, threatening to take his van away for non payment as the debt had accumulated to… wait for it… £940! As opposed to the original £60! I can’t print my re-action here for fear of having the blog banned. But this works as a comment about our society on many levels.

Well that’s it for now, the filming schedule is about to step up as my story line increases, but I hope to be back here in March with an update. Anybody who hasn’t read it I recommend THE SECRET. A book to comfort and, if you allow it, to change your life.

Everything in one place… All new Windows Live!

Happy New Year!

2008 January Friday 4th

HAPPY NEW YEAR to one and all. I was given the bestest of all Christmas presents which is a 6 month contract with BBC Scotland to play VIV in RIVER CITY. She is a single parent of two grown up children, her best friend is gay, she’s a hairdresser and she drinks too much. Why do you think they thought of me? Since before Christmas I have been commuting to Glasgow, a city I ADORE, and long may it last is what I say… 6 months and beyond… hold that vision.

For those of you who haven’t already, read THE SECRET, or watch the DVD. It’s stuff we all know anyway, but it never hurts to be reminded and to be given a nudge along that positive road.

Had a few little Dr Who related jobs during December, not allowed to say which stories but some DVD commentaries will be of particular interest to you Whovians. I’ve also been asked to New Zealand and Australia this year for 3 conventions; I’m waiting with baited breath to see if the BBC will please release me… I feel a song coming on…

I have been offered some Stand Up gigs but feel I need a bit more training before embarking full time, and think RIVER CITY may buy me some time to develop my material.

Two other projects for this year… if you live in the West Kent, East Sussex area then this may be for you. I am going to start a SUNDAY COLLEGE which will give 14 – 25 year olds a ‘taste’ of what drama school and the profession is about. We will run all the expected classes… movement, text, improvisation, audition skills, voice (speaking and singing) and in addition have the occasional guest speaker to entertain and inform. Called SUNDAY COLLEGE for obvious reasons, running 10a.m. to 4p.m. with top quality tuition. Not for the faint hearted, but for people with a serious interest in the media who wish to become better informed and want to hone their talent. It will have it’s own page on this web site by the summer, so keep looking.

My other project is to develop writing with 9 other writer performers that I know. I think between us we could make something very special and am visualizing a series on BBC 3.

Stay positive, have a FABULOUS 2008.