It's been quite a fortnight!

On Tuesday the 14th I received a phone call from Birmingham Repertory Theatre asking if I would like to be involved in a piece called "Billy" for their Home Theatre project which was happening on Saturday 18th. "Err, yeah sure!" and so I jumped into three days of rehearsal at the Rep with director Jen Davies.

Home Theatre is a project which brings theatre into the homes of people in Erdington. The Rep invited applications from members of the public to host a performance and then sent theatre makers and writers from The Rep Foundry to meet the hosts and ask them what they would like their piece to be. "Billy" was commissioned by four residents of a retirement home who asked to see a play about a young man leaving Erdington to try and make his way as a singer in London in 1963. They requested three particular songs, some drama, comedy and a love interest. Writer Farrah Chaudhry, taking time out from being a story editor on Coronation Street, went away and created the piece with these ingredients and then Jen and I set about bringing it to life. The process was a lot of fun and the performance felt like a combination of many of the things I've been doing for the past few years with comedy, music, improv, ad libs and a bit of pathos all rolled into one. The piece had five characters so I was using such diverse techniques as a sock puppet, silly voices, a hat and reacting to an off stage voice to try and get all this over. It was a great script and working with Jen was really comfortable and rewarding. Most importantly Phyllis, Iris, Jean and Yvonne, their friends, family and fellow residents enjoyed it. Afterwards we got to have a cup of tea and a chat with them and that was hysterical. All in all a really fun few days.

After finishing at the retirement home it was straight off to the beautiful Lynn Arms in Kings Lynn for a gig. Nice crowd (including some four legged furry punters) who did their best to stop me finishing ("one more song!") meaning I played about two hours altogether before escaping into the night to find food and the B and B. 

On Thursday it was time for a gig I'd been looking forward to playing for a couple of months. I posted recently about Paul Murphy's Songwriter's Cafe (read all about it here) and this week it was my turn to do a set. Also on the bill were English Jones and Vix and her MsChiefs.

One of the many lovely things about Songwriter's Cafe is that artists are invited to have dinner together with hosts and organisers Paul and Valeria before hand, a chance for everyone to catch up and talk about music, gigs and all that sort of thing. Also in attendance was Brum legend, rock DJ and local music and media blogger Robin Valk who had some very interesting observations about Birmingham media coverage. See his blog for more

Readers of this blog will know my affection for this gig and it's magical, romantic ambience. It's one of my favourite places to play and to watch and again Thursday was a really lovely night. English Jones and Vix and her MsChiefs both played very cool sets and Paul closed the night with a virtuosic showcase in improvising songs on the spot, singing about members of the audience and accepting the crowd's subject suggestions of a chocolate addicted caterpillar attempting a singing career. Coincidently Paul had also been involved in Home Theatre, and it was nice to share stories about that. 

The next day I was back at The Rep performing a rehearsed reading for Cucumber Writers. The theme of the night was an office retirement party. I got to share the scene I was involved in with my mate Nadi Kemp-Sayfi which was a lot of fun, and when we weren't talking we were required to remain on stage eating party food looking fed up, both of which I think we managed quite well! 

Saturday saw me return to Bracknell to perform at Artree Live. This is another brilliantly put together gig run by the wonderful Phil. It's takes place at The South Hill Park Arts Centre in the appropriately named but very pleasant Cellar Bar. Phil had faced a panicky afternoon as one of the acts had been forced to drop out but luckily Quiet Wish stepped in. Michael Tuffery opened the night with a charming set with some great songs, and Helghyer headlined with impressive loop pedal excursions and delicate songwriting. 

The audience were lovely and did some excellent singing along during my set. I'd like to thank Jess, Laura, Lizzie and Sian for coming along to the gig and then taking me on a cultural tour of Wokingham afterwards.

I'd heard the very sad news about the passing of Jack Bruce on the car radio during the trip down to the gig and dedicated Break My Heart Blues to him, doing an extended improv bit in his honour. If I'd have had a drummer there I would have had a violent argument with him as a further tribute. 

Cream are one of my favourite bands and were a huge influence on The Bleak, the band I was in during my late teens and early twenties. Jack was an awesome, powerful bass player as well as a great vocalist and unique songwriter. I'm spending today listening to his music.

What you been doing, Robert?

Been a while since my last post which means there's plenty to tell you about.

I performed at an excellent event in Finedon called Kontra Roots on the 10th of January. Another cool little gig run by passionate people who programme good acts for an appreciative audience. It was very nice to catch up with Louise Petit and her fine band, and hear their excellent three part harmonies.

I made a return to Bohemia restaurant in Selly Oak, Birmingham and as on the last two occasions I had a lot of fun. It's like two very different gigs in one night; the first set its your classic restaurant gig playing some laid back stuff as people eat and chat. After they have finished their meals people behave more like a regular gig audience and there was much singing along and banter. I'm booked to return in September.

Matthew Hernadez invited me along to a gig he runs at The Wild Boar in Warwick which was very cool. Also playing were Millie Hay, Jake Melles,Will Johnson, Lee Evatt & Tom Harris,and Supine Orchestra.

Millie Hay

Will Johnson

Supine Orchestra

On the 30th of January I supported Paul Liddell at Ort in Balsal Heath, Birmingham. Not easy to describe how talented Paul is, I'll leave it to the videos of his set we are hoping to post soon. I can say what a nice fella he is and how much we appreciated him making the journey from Sunderland to play at the event.

Robert Lane with Paul Liddell

Theatre Stuff

The past couple of months have seen me get involved with a few exciting theatre projects. I'm writing some songs and helping organise musicians for A Passion for Birmingham which is happening this Easter. I've got involved because it sounds like a really interesting piece of theatre. Have a look at the website for more information.

I'm doing some more shows with Foghorn Improv this time taking part in some non musical bits as well as improvising songs.

I've been cast as Anton Rybin in The Mother at Birmingham Rep, with two performances on the 15th of March. Birmingham actress Lorna Laidlaw plays The Mother, and Tessa Walker is directing. This one is going to be very cool indeed!

On Saturday 8th of February I played guitar for some short excerpts of Pint Dreams, a lovely piece of pub theatre devised by Tin Box Theatre Company at an event called Appetite Stoke.  I met some very interesting people and had a reet good laugh during the course of the day (even during the frighteningly early train journey...)

I haven't posted in all of November, how truly disgusting and remiss of me!

A fair amount has been going on.

I spent Halloween night watching the National Theatre Live encore broadcast of Frankenstein starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller. Brilliant piece of theatre, enthralling. I hadn't been to an NT Live broadcast before but I'd very happily go to another. I've found the whole National Theatre 50th anniversary stuff  that has been on TV and Radio incredibly interesting. When theatre/music/art are combined with history that pretty much always appeals to me. Especially if stories featuring Laurence Olivier and the like being huge luvvies and creating amazing theatre are involved.

I went to a book talk by journalist and author Jon Ronson. Jon has written a whole load of books that I've been greedily gobbling up over the last three years or so since I happened upon The Psycopath Test at a service station and something about it grabbed my attention (always judge a book by it's cover.) Jon was discussing his latest collection of stories, Lost at Sea, as well as previewing some new writing and then having a lovely Q and A session. I really enjoyed hearing Jon read extracts from his books and fill in some background to the stories. He was funny and disarmingly understated, quite a lesson in maintaining an audience's attention by being still, quiet and extremely interesting.

I also enjoyed Tartuffe at Birmingham Rep. First person on stage was Janice Connolly, a Birmingham based comedian/actor/writer/legend who I performed with a couple of times when I was a student. Good on the Rep for using some local talent!

I went along to Theatre Exchange at The Old Joint Stock in Birmingham, where my friend Nadia was taking part in a rehearsed reading of a new play. Great events these. They are moving to new, bigger venues in the new year http://theatreexchangebirmingham.com/

As for gigs there was a return visit to Gaslight Club in Leeds, and a début at the rather wonderful Crown of Lights in Heckmondwike.

I supported the superb Polly Paulusma at Ort in Birmingham. A gig that had an added feeling of loveliness as we were both celebrating our birthdays that week.

Robert Lane and Polly Paulusma

This week I'm providing music (and maybe acting and singing a bit) for Fog Horn Improv's improvised musical http://www.foghornimprov.com/

Then appearing at Ditch The TV in Coventry on Friday night (details on the "live" page)