Blog
Another Theatre 2016 Rant
Unless you’ve been hiding under your tumblr this week you’ve probably not missed twitter bursting with #Theatre2016 tweets from angry arty folk with interesting haircuts. I, like most people had no idea what Theatre 2016 was until the lovely people at ITC dropped me a line and asked me if I would like one of their subsidised tickets.
WLTM
As some of you might have noticed I no longer roll around the floors of East End nightclubs, after a decade of throwing my weight around I’m now wearing oversized, bias cut blouses and pashminas adorned with Moroccan mint tea bags for that ‘I work in the arts’ look. Speaking to my mate Rhyannon yesterday we both realised we had said what we needed to in that precious world and it was time for new adventures. However, this doesn’t mean I’m not going to put on camp knees up’s in grotty south London gay bars.
How can Institutions Better Support Artists?
Yesterday I rolled out of bed earlier than traditionally acceptable on a Saturday for East CVAN’s ‘Working Together’ symposium. The symposium was billed as exploring the impact of artists on institutions. Held at my new local institution Focal Point Gallery, Southend on Sea. I came armed with a big cup of tea and a packet of lockets (you can’t find Fisherman’s Friends in Southend for love nor money).
PAY US FOR THE WORK WE DO
This morning The Stage has revealed the earnings of artistic directors and executive directors of some of our subsidised institutions. The league table published alongside brilliantly demonstrates who the biggest earners are – there’s no prize for guessing where they work.
Live Art Syndicate
Since July 2015 I've made two National Lottery related pieces of work. The first Luck at Tom Thumb Theatre saw me buy 300 scratch cards from sweet shops in Margate in an attempt to win my Nan £5,000 stolen from her by fraudsters. The second with Live Art Development Agency later that year allowed me to buy £1000 worth of Lotto tickets, the winnings to fund live art projects in the UK. I failed at both attempts to win and made a book from the losing tickets instead.
Femme Shaming
A few weeks ago on Channel 4's hit series First Dates a young man called Daniel met a young queen called Pablo. Daniel wore a black sequin jacket with light wash denim; Pablo (and the nation) thought he was on to a winner. Half way through the date Daniel told Pablo he couldn't imagine dating a man who wore high heels; apparently it's not natural and "not normal". Pablo's face dropped, he likes wearing a hoof and so immediately ordered the bill and ended the date.
Show me the Money of Fuck Off
Like most freelancers I’ve spent January getting my receipts in order for my accountant, sorting e-invoices and waiting for a cheery response from HMRC - so in the spirit of Bryony’s post and following the ‘public outcry’ *rolls eyes* of Ellie Harrison receiving £15k for a year's worth of work I thought I’d let you know what my accounts look like.
Extended Thoughts on Failure
I'm thinking a lot about failure - this is the most artist thing I've said all morning, soz. As part of a collaboration with Live Art Development Agency a few months ago I wrote a piece about failing to win the lottery to save the arts. The more I think about it the more I've got to say - here are my extended thoughts on failure...
Russell Tovey is the Least of Your Worries!
In an interview with Observer this weekend Russell Tovey told us flabby, femme, tapdancing Sunday readers that he was thankful his Dad sent him to the right school, if he had gone to a stage school he might have turned out like me.