Blog number 6!!!! (loosing count)

Morning everyone!

It's Sunday october 3rd and I've just had a 3 course breakfast in my hotel where I'm at for two nights in Cowbridge (30 mins from Cardiff) as I'm continuing with the recording of the music for 'Marcaroni' today and tomorrow. Looking forward to it.

We finished in Bristol last night and this week at the end of each of the 7 shows I did a charity speech to the audience letting them know that four of our cast members (Michelle White, Stephen Whitson, Dan Mackinlay, and Ste clough) have decide to take on the Survival Of The Fittest 10k Challenge. Which is a 10km run and assault course. They're running to raise money for the 'Teenage Cancer Trust' which is an incredible charity. Through their hard work and through the generosity of the Bristol audiences they have raised about £5000. They are about to start the run at about 11am this morning in Cardiff and I wish them all the best of luck. Anyone who was in the audience this week in Bristol and who gave money - Thank you very much on behalf of the guys who are doing the run!

I went to the cinema again on Friday. Saw the film 'Buried' it's by the creators of 'Phonebooth' which funnily enough was on Channel 4 when I got to my hotel last night. One of the critics gave 'Buried' two stars out of 5 and I would agree with that. It was interesting but wouldn't recommend it. Basically, (as I assume non of you will rush to see it after I just said it's not very good - so I won't be ruining the story for you) it starts with a guy waking up in a coffin, he has a mobile phone, a flask of alcohol, a pencil, a lighter and I think that's about it. The annoying and disappointing thing is that you never see anything outside of that coffin. It is very clever to shoot a whole film (1hr 40min) completely in a coffin but it did get a bit monotonous. And there's no happy ending! Sorry if I ruined it but I'd say go see something else or save your money if you had contemplated seeing it at all.

I have proof checked the DVD from my summer school and it brought back memories of how excellent the students where back in August. North Wales has some seriously talented youngsters. DVD will be sent out in the next couple of weeks.

I have decided (whilst eating my breakie) that I will have to start my christmas shopping when I'm in Manchester week after next as I am stupidly busy until December 23rd from now on really so Manchester is the place with the best shopping between now and then.
I love Christmas and this year i get 10 DAYS OFF!!!!! I have only ever had xmas day itself off every year for the past 7 years so to have quality time with my family is going to be AMAZING!

The Coronation Street omnibus is on while I write this and although I can't watch it usually because of the show - I have to say that blonde girl is great. Don't know what her name is or what the character's name is even but she's the one who appears to be the biggest trouble maker known to man and she is really good I'd say. Great to see someone unfamiliar doing great screen work.

Right I had better get ready to go as I'm being collected in 10 mins to go the studio for about 7 hours of singing kids songs. Hurrah. It's such a laugh.

Hope you're all enjoying your weekends.

Keep smiling cos life is good!!!

Happy Sunday

Mark

Blog Number 5!!!

Hey everyone.

So I feel very proud of myself and a little like a computer genius. OK so all I've done is set up my new hard-drive and synced it with my mac but I am ru-hu-bbish with computers (I did have to call me computer wizz friend Nathan three times to ask what to do as well as follow the manual but I still did it).

I just had my second breakfast of the day. Basically - to ensure I have enough energy to get through Oklahoma 8 times a week, My daily meal plan is a bowl of porridge with a banana as soon as I wake up, then about an hour later I have a 'proper' which is usually something along the lines of what I had today which was scrambled eggs, tomatoes, ham and sunflower seeds, with a few beans on toast.
It's alot of food I know but I'm heading to the gym now and if I don't stock up I start to go green and feel sick.

You probably wonder why I talk about food so much on my blogs - it's because food is one of my biggest passions and interests and pleasures. Some of you may know this but not many - when I was a teenager I was considerably over-weight. It was my own fault as I literally ate 5 chocolate bars for breakfast EVERY DAY whilst waiting for the school bus. I was bullied for it at school and I find it funny now, but at the time it was quite traumatic - I was called 'Milk Mark' because I had man boobs. hahahahahahaha I am laughing out loud now at the fact that people called me that and that I have typed it into my blog for you all but I watched a video last night (which I've posted on the facebook fanpage) from the American programme 'Ellen'. It's a message from her about how homophobic bullying in schools has resulted in a number of gay teenagers committing suicide. This sort of behavior is unacceptable and bullying of every sort should not happen and should be stopped. Teenagers are so insecure growing up anyway and to have some selfish, nasty, spineless, cowardly bully make it worse for people is unforgivable.

I now look at the people who used to call me names and if I'm honest I think, I hope you're enjoying life because I certainly am - I have an amazing family and friends, I love what I do as a job and I am very very happy!!!

Whenever I teach at different schools and colleges the one thing I have zero tolerance for is bullying, so anyone who has ever been a bully - shame on you and I hope you feel bad for it!!!

Anyway - I had to just get all that off my chest.

We were told yesterday by the company manager of the show that although our schedule says we have 7 performances in Swansea next week, we actually have 8!!! My body was screaming NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!! Because as much as I love this show and will miss it when it's over, I very much look forward to having an 'easier' week and being in Wales I had made plans to get lots of things done and meet up with people which has all had to change now. So I kindly ask each and everyone of you who are reading this, no matter where you are in the world, please come and watch Oklahoma at the Grand Theatre in Swansea next thursday matinee just to get me through.

I had a very funny comment yesterday from someone saying "reading your blog is like being a nosey neighbor, I love it" - I have had many messages from people being very positive about it so I am happy you are all enjoying it. Keep messaging me cos I'm always happy to hear from you.

Right I'm having to go because I'm getting a lift into town to go to the gym and we're running late.

Love your lives and support anti bullying.

Happy Friday

Mark

Blog number 4!!!

Hey everyone,

So I am sat here in my dressing room in the interval of this Wednesday evening show,  and thought I'd write this now instead of tonight as I have more brain power now.

So Bristol is going well. Nice audiences. Great to be back at the Hippodrome theatre. Amazing venue.
I'm actually a bit disappointed that I'm forking out £100 for accommodation this week as I could quite happily live in my dressing room for the week. It has three separate rooms - A bathroom, a dressing room and a lounge with a big sofa, wide screen TV, fridge! It's very nice - If only every venue had facilities like this eh?!

Someone in the audience just started heckling something out just before I fire the gun on stage in the smokehouse scene and as soon as I fired it they stopped, so it sounded like I shot them - I felt like checking to make sure they were just cap bullets and not real ones. Made it more effective though haha.

So in between shows today (brace yourselves I'm gonna talk about food again!) Ben Palmer who plays Sam in the ensemble brought me a slice of this cheesecake he's been bragging about for the past week. It's a lime cheesecake with a gingernut biscuit base and he said it was sublime - and I have to admit, it really was. He even made those leaves out of chocolate and put frosted grapes on it and everything - I've summoned him to keep me a slice of the next one he makes. mmm!!!!

I was suppose to go back to London tomorrow to have a meeting with my mortgage advisor to discuss boring adult stuff but we were able to discuss everything over the phone today which means - tomorrow I HAVE A DAY OFF!!!!!!!!
Hurrah!!!! So I'll be hitting te gym and trying to make some decisions on which of the 700 shots I should pic for my website.

And on that note I've just had my ACT2 beginners call.

Talk soon ya'll

Love your lives

Mark

Blog Numero 3!!!

Hi ya'll. Hope you're good.

Well......I have had a great weekend!!!!!

Finished in Cheltenham on Saturday evening with Oklahoma! (we were all a bit loopy and delirious) and then got a lift back to London. Was lovely to get home to my flat. Then on Sunday I had arranged to go see my good friend Nathan who played Dr Scott in Rocky Horror, and who is a fab photographer and we did a photo shoot for a my new look website which is under construction at the moment. We had a real laugh being silly doing peculiar shots in random locations in East London. Really happy with the results though (Photo-shopping can make anyone look good) - I'll post some soon on the facebook fanpage so you get an idea of what the revamped website will look like.

Then I had a good friend of mine come to visit last night which was nice.

Hideous thing of the whole weekend was waking up at 6am this morning to get a car to Paddington to head over to Cardiff to do a costume fitting for 'Marcaroni' (the kids TV programme I'm filming in Dec/Jan) then over to the recording studio to record the first 8 songs for the CD and for the first 8 episodes. It's going to be a great show and kids are gonna love it. It's been so lovely working on something new and completely different - This winter is gonna be fun!!! Caryl Parry Jones (who's co-written the whole thing) is a legend!

Then I was driven to Bristol (my driver's name is Tony - I'm sure he'll be mentioned a few times in my blog as there are some hideous long journeys in the not too distant future)as we open here tomorrow at the Hippodrome with Oklahoma! and I'm in a lovely hotel. Just had a very tasty dinner in the restaurant. My bath is waiting for me and I'm gonna get an early night so I can make the most of the spa facilities in the morning.

Anyone who is local to this area come see the show - we're here until Saturday then open in Swansea next Tuesday (Come on you Welshies, come see the show- A dewch i ddeud helo hefyd os 'da chi'n dod i weld y sioe)

I received my first healthy recipe - Beef and Pepper stir fry. Thanks Gwyn. I'm looking forward to trying it and shall let you al know how I get on. Anyone else who has any healthy recipes you want to challenge me to cook and taste whilst I'm on tour send them to me.

Looking forward to being back at the Hippodrome theatre this week. Let's hope it's a good one. 9 weeks left of curlers and cowboy gear everyone (I won't miss the pink and lilac hair rollers) - Oklahoma! ends in Trieste in Italy at the end of November - If you want to catch us before we finish we play Bristol, Swansea, Manchester, Wolverhampton, Edinburgh, Bradford, Rhyl, Londonderry and Trieste.
If you come see it - come say hello at the stage door.

Stay happy and thanks for reading number 3.

Love your lives

Mark

Blog No2!!!

Blog number two folks.

Hope you're all well.

So I watched another film today. 'Eat Pray Love' starring Julia Roberts. I'd been told by a friend to read the book a few months ago and when I picked it up at Waterstones I admit I was a bit unsure as the quote on the bottom of the book cover said "One woman's guide to everything" and although, yes the book is a little on the 'girly' side I actually enjoyed it and it kind of got me interested in Buddhism which I am very intrigued by and am reading lots about at the moment.
As for the film it was very good and Julia Roberts was fantastic as always but I don't think films are ever as good as the imagery you create in your own imagination when you read the book. I'd recommend it though.

So Oklahoma news - The audiences where a little on the polite and quiet side at the beginning of the week but they've been very responsive for the past couple of days. It's turned out to be a very good week here in Cheltenham. I'm aching a bit and feel my body has aged a decade after working hard at the gym for three days this week though - the dream ballet has been a bit more of a nightmare ballet as far as my thighs are concerned!!!

Marti (Aunt Eller) was ill yesterday and was unable to perform and we missed her - Alexandra Grierson is a fantastic understudy for the role and did really well. Pete (Judd) and I did find it hard not to laugh when she was a bit aggressive in the scene in the smoke house when she's telling us off for firing our guns and she hit him quite hard on his back and I've never seen such a big guy jump quite like that in my life - it was very funny and we both found it difficult to look at each other for the end of the scene!!!

I am heading back to London tomorrow night (Saturday) after the show as I have a photo shoot with a friend Nathan Amzi on Sunday to get some new publicity shots.

Monday is the first day I start working on 'MARCARONI'. It's a Welsh kids TV show I start filming immediately after Oklahoma for 5 weeks in Cardiff. I play the title role who is a quirky composer who lives behind a clock face and creates a new kids song in every episode. It's part of my bid to promote youth theatre in Wales and encourage youngsters to sing and perform. So I am in the studio in Cardiff on Monday to start recording the first selection of the 52 songs I'll be recording in total. Lots of work but I'm looking forward to doing something completely different.

We're in Bristol with Oklahoma from Tuesday this week until Saturday - so if you're local, come see it!!!

Still no healthy food recipes been sent for myself and Joe to cook and post pictures of so if you have any - please send them to me on the facebook page.

Thanks for reading number two- any comments or topics you'd like me to discuss, send them in!

Keep smiling

Love your lives!!!

Mark

My First Blog!

Hi Everyone.

So I have decided to create a blog for those who are interested in reading about  what I'm up to and any news I have to tell. Also any funny stories of what's going on in the land of the Oklahoma! national tour and beyond.

I am overwhelmed by the messages I receive on my Facebook fanpage, Twitter and to my website not to mention the mail that some of you send to various theatres - so I thought this was the best way for me to keep in touch with you all and give you any goss on me and my life!!!

So I'm sat in my lovely little cottage in Cheltenham as I write this - I'm staying with Gemma who plays Laurey and Joe who plays Will this week. Incase you're wondering, we find our own accommodation during this tour which a lot of people consider to be a bit of a chore (you have to call the theatre and ask for a digs list then look through it and call to ask if anyone has any vacancies and most of the time the digs list is so old that people usually say "I stopped being a landlady 10 years ago") but at least then you can hopefully find nice places which can feel like home from home - which is very important when you're on the road! - this week we lucked out. I like this place a lot, and Cheltenham is a lovely town.

It's really strange that I'd decided that this was the day I'd start my blog because coincidentally the three of us have just watched the film Julie&Julia, with Meryl Streep and Amy Adams. It's all about online blogging - Julie (Amy Adams) sets herself a challenge to cook 542 recipes from Julia's (Meryl Streep) cook book in 365 days. I don't intend on taking that challenge myself but I think it means I'm obviously meant to start my own general blog today! By the way it's worth watching the film for Meryl Streep alone - the woman is a genius. It's based on two true stories!!!

For those of you who don't know, I'm a bit of a health freak. I enjoy the gym (although don't get much time with Oklahoma because of all our mid-week matinees) and love food - healthy food especially. I obviously crave 'rubbish' too - that's what my mum calls things like chocolate, biscuits, crisps, cake etc (but of course, she still eats it all herself, ha) - but I try to lay off it as much as poss. I like a challenge.
If anyone has any nice original recipes they want to send me please do - Joe and I are very often sharing digs on this tour and both try to eat healthily, so we can challenge each other with the recipes you send and let you know how we get on cooking them.

I'm surprised my first blog has been kind of all about food but if you watch Julie&Julia and see what they cook in it, you'll be as hungry as I am right now.

You'll notice in my writing style that I literally just type what's on my mind so a lot of the time it will just be utter randomness but then at least you know it's the real me!!!

So anyway, I'll wrap this one up with a request that,  if you can - come see Oklahoma! - If you've seen it already come again, and come say hi at the stage door. It's great to have supportive fans and I really appreciate you investing your time and brain space in me and following my career.

I'm aiming to blog every couple of days or whenever I have something interesting to say so get in touch if you want to comment.

Be happy and love life!

Mark