Earnest Mandrakes, Exs and Fred's Shed

The cast of The Mandrake Root

The Mandrake Root run finished on Sunday 10th of August and the second production in FRED Theatre's brand new venue, Fred's Shed, opened on Wednesday night. I'm playing the two witty butlers Lane and Merriman in The Importance of Being Earnest. Yesterday (Thursday) we gave a matinee and evening performance. The matinee crowd was quite small but very pleasant, with one lady asking to have her picture taken with us afterwards. The evening show was much fuller and the audience were lapping up all those lovely Oscar Wilde one liners. 

I've got the weekend off from performing before we start doing Earnest in earnest next week. The serious rehearsal for Tell Me About Your Ex also begins on Tuesday with performances through September in Birmingham, Croydon and Stratford. 

At the end of September I'll be playing some solo gigs in Darlington and Birmingham before visiting London, Norfolk and Bracknell in October. 

A lot of my friends including Foghorn Improv and the guys from the Old Joint Stock have been up at the Edinburgh Fringe this month. I've heard that they are all having a lot of fun and I'm very jealous, as well as impatient to meet up with them all for Foghorn's Games Night at the OJS on the 28th of August. 

There's been some stuff going on recently which I haven't given much blog time to, so I'll do my best to correct that now... 

In July I was once again working with Round Midnight Theatre company on a transitions project for kids just about to start at a secondary school in Solihull. I was responsible for the music aspect of the week long workshop which involved forming some bands, giving some tutoring on guitar, bass, drums and keyboard as well as helping with the writing of a song about moving to a new school. I always really enjoy this project. The other arts workers; Jouvan, Vicky, Faith, Balandino and Josie are very talented and I learn a lot from working with them and observing their sessions. I also like working with this age group as they are old enough to have very interesting creative ideas but young enough not to be bowed down by the inhibitions and fear of embarrassment that suddenly strikes most kids at about 12 or 13, and prevents them from fully engaging with a project like this. 

I visited Lymington Folk Club for the first time recently and played the featured set. This is yet another wonderful little club in a charming countryside village run by enthusiastic music fans. I had a very enjoyable time playing and also listening to all the performers in the open mic session. Big thanks to the organisers for having me and to Steve for putting me up for the night and sharing some interesting local history. 

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...)