Imogen Stubbs, Hugo Duncan and the new Newtownabbey theatre
I got into a taxi earlier today to go interview the actress . The taxi driver was listening to Hugo Duncan and I found myself tapping along to the music as I was reading up on Lady Nunn (her official title since her husband Trevor Nunn was made a Lord). I then felt a bit car sick but put this down to reading in the back seat of the taxi rather than Hugo's choice of music!!!!! Honestly I am not a good traveller and usually always go for the front seat so I can scan the horizon!
When I looked up we were on the motorway, heading into the countryside for my firstÌývisitÌýto the . I asked the taxi driver could I put the window down, still feeling a bit wobbly, and as the wind blew in, I saw a tattered banner which had one word, Mill, slung haphazardly over the roof of a big pre fab.ÌýAre we here?
But he drove past and turned into Newtownabbey's impressive new venue at the back of the restored Mossley Mill.ÌýAnd even better, there was Imogen Stubbs waiting for me outside.ÌýShe's here to play Amanda Wingfield in a touring production of Tennessee Williams' . She tells me she and the cast just made it hereÌýlast night in one of the windows of non ash cloud disruption.ÌýNot so for the Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú Radio 4 producer she had arranged to meet this morning in Belfast toÌýrecord interviews for a programme she's frontingÌýon exam pressure on contemporary teenagers. The producer was grounded in London.ÌýAnd while she says she hasn't got the knack right yet for being a presenter, ie asking questions, "I'm tooÌýquick jumping in with my own opinion" she says, her passion is utterly engaging. Whether it's A levels,Ìýyoung women and binge drinking, the metropolitan arts world versus regional theatre, "I'm here aren't I?" putting her money where her mouth is, orÌýwhy there isn't a Play for Today on the Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿ÚÌýany more, has me wishing she doesn't have to go and stand under a light on the stage for the techinical boys to check the cues for later or my taxi isn't waiting outside to take me back into Belfast.ÌýAnd yes Hugo is still on the radio when I get back in. "Uncle Shugo loves you".
You can see Imgoen Stubbs on stage at the Theatre at the Mill from tonight until saturday 9th May.ÌýÌýÌý
Comment number 1.
At 6th May 2010, Ellie wrote:I clicked on the link to this blog thinking great a review of the play and maybe a bit of info on the theatre but no! What a load of useless drivil!Like anyone really cares how good a car traveller she is or isn'nt. Calls herself an arts correspondent? Yeah right!
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Comment number 2.
At 7th May 2010, ochnowsettledown wrote:What is Ellie on about?! Keep going Marie-louise your post made me laugh which was obviously the intention. Don't bother your time with eedjits who spell the word drivel D-R-I-V-I-L!!! and don't get me started about the word isn't on the 3rd line! Go back to school Ellie.
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Comment number 3.
At 15th May 2010, Martin FM Smith wrote:There is a perfectly adequate bus service to Belfast from the Mill. It is not as out in the styx as you suggest. Other comments too show that Anne-Marie - we love you but - classical music please, not just pot-boilers, mind, and on the Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú. And I tried to help you but your hopeless [and now as of last Tuesday utterly old-fashioned] Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú left-wing bias and - I am sorry - arrogance(I say this because neither you nor your producer would reply to me about Crossgar in spite of your both knowing that I have the interests of NI arts at heart and had worked for that belief)is demode. Your grammar is also faulty. Myself and is not correct. I and is fine. Regards - no hard feelings - MS ps. I am trying to work for the very long-term of arts in NI to arrange to g i v e you something that might be valuable on behalf for future generations for the good of everybody - and am ignored, while you concentrate on trivia and pretend it is arts.
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Comment number 4.
At 15th May 2010, Martin FM Smith wrote:In case I was being harsh, no, there is nothing whatever about Tennessee Williams in the review above! So cheerleader (2) in spite of attacking fawning acolyte critic (1)and herself perpetrating a mis-spelling, has a point. Ultimately this is about elitism, and that is what it is bad taste to flaunt, especialy as an arts correspondent; and leaning over backwards to be populist - incidentally - is just as bad.
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