Q & As and a silly weekend

Well dear reader where to begin? It has not quite been the week that I expected!

As usual, nothing much to report from college this week. Tuesday was perhaps the first exciting day (Mondays are always rubbish). Tuesday evening, we (Cait and I) went to a Q and A session with Robert Hastie, the director of Theatre Clwyd's production if ‘Cat on a Hot Tin Roof’. We did later see the show, but I've not got to that bit yet. The talk was something which college had arranged, but unfortunately only six people went, but that made it even better for us. As there were so few of us it became more of a chat which was nice (and we got tea!). Having spoken to Robert before the show, I had some idea what to expect when we then watched the play later that evening. Having not seen any of Tennessee Williams's work before I didn't know quite what to expect, but I really enjoyed it. I was particularly impressed by the set and lighting design, as I've not seen the New Theatre used quite like that before. It goes without saying that the acting was superb.

Wednesday was another busy evening. This time I ventured off to the Chapter Arts centre for the first time since being in Cardiff. It’s a lovely space, which has two cinemas, a studio theatre, art gallery and cafe. I went to see the screening of a film called 'Black Mountain Poets'. I went with little idea as to what to expect, but thoroughly enjoyed the film and the Q and A afterwards. It really showcased the natural beauty of Wales, with some beautiful cinematography. Afterwards I realised that I had been sitting next to the producer's father and god father. We ended up having a lively chat and I was introduced to the guests who had been at the Q and A. It transpired that the god father had also been at the New Theatre the day before; it really is a small world (city at the very least).

See if you can spot us in the audience of the Q&A

I returned to Chapter the following day for a preview screening of 'High Rise'. This one had been planned for a while as Cait is a big fan of Tom Hiddleston, so she was keen to see the film as soon as possible. It was another beautifully shot film, but the design in particular is stunning. I'd recommend it to anyone, although it is perhaps not your typical blockbuster, but fantastic none the less. To follow the trend of Wednesday, afterwards we had a Q and A with the director, Ben Wheatley and Luke Evans. Yes dear reader, that is Ben Wheatly who directed Doctor Who twice, so yes I collard his for an autograph, which he seems surprised, but happy about.

As had been the trend for the week, I was out Friday night (I’m feeling tired again just writing this all down), this time watching 'Kung Fu Panda 3'. For some reason we were very excited about this film and rightly so as it is hilarious. I now want to go back and rewatch the first two (not that it’s a complicated plotline).

Saturday was a very early start for another instalment of #mooreontour . This week’s event was ‘U.N.I.T Day’ and my first trip to Slough (exotic I know) for a few years, which as ever had a great line-up of guests from the last 50 years of the show. I had particularly lovely chats with Richard Franklin, Derek Martin, Terrance Dicks and Wesley Theobald to mention but a few.

From Slough I found myself going into central London; I should perhaps explain about this first. Sam and Christie were working on a show for Christie's friends this weekend and on Friday decided that they needed a stage manager. As a result, I found myself dashing from Slough to St. Pancras, to Stage Manage a show that I'd never seen before, knew nothing about, entirely in Chinese (I do like a good challenge). It was an interesting show, even if I had no clue what the story was. After that we did a very quick get out, and all seemed to go to plan (I think we were all surprised).

Look how good our seats were!

After a long (and much needed lie in) we (Sam, Christie and I) left the hotel for Covent Garden. We spent quite a while in Forbidden Planet as neither had been. After that Sam and I headed back to the station to head home, however we passed the Cambridge Theatre and spontaneously decided to watch ‘Matilda’ (I kid you not, we just felt like it). The best seats that they could offer us turned out to be the front row, dead centre, of the dress circle so we had a fantastic view.  Having seen the original cast a few years ago I'd forgotten a lot of it, but thoroughly enjoyed it as this time I had more of an eye for the technical elements (Sam was sat next to me). It also just so happened that the actor playing Mr Wormwood, Michael Begley had been in Doctor Who, so we stage doored him. He was absolutely fantastic in the ‘Matilda’, dare I say it, better than I remember the character originally. Unknowingly though we had chosen to see the last show of the current kids before they changed so the stage door was rather busy. Following our impulse theatre trip we finally made it to the train and back to Cardiff.

I think it’s safe to say that it’s been a very busy week and definitely not the weekend that I anticipated!