It's the end, but the moment has been prepared for

Well then dear reader its Sunday again (this week seems to have flown by again!).

I currently find myself rarely visiting the bay however Monday and Tuesday was spent in the Millennium Centre, on a Production Guild, runners course. This was a fascinating two days course about the basics of the job and industry, which also included quite a few guest speakers. Whilst it meant some rather early mornings to be down there in time, it was definitely worth it (I just need to follow up some of the things they suggested). As I'm rarely down there I used it as an opportunity to visit Eddie's Diner not once, but twice, which is always good.

Monday evening was also my one night off from 'One Man Two Governors' (OMTG) so I went to see another show (you'd have thought I'd be sick of theatre by now, but no). This week's play was 'Birds' at the Sherman, which happened to be a co-production with the Exchange (it’s a small world). Whilst it was well staged and acted, I felt they tried to squeeze too much into what was quite a short show (one hour 15 minutes). Whilst the characters were all set up very nicely with some interesting relationships, a second act would have been nice to resolve or explore a few more things

The OMTG crew

The rest of my evenings this week have been taken up with OMTG, as was Wednesday afternoon. However on Thursday I popped down to the New to try and get a ticket for the RSC's production of 'A Midsummer's Night Dream', however it was sold out (yes I know I'd seen it in Blackpool, but I wanted to see it again). Despite the disappointment I did happen to stumble across Sherlock filming, which was being done in the New before the matinee. Whilst this was a nice surprise, I couldn't see what was going on as they were in the main auditorium and it meant that the actors that I'd wanted to stage door (remember we missed two last time) went in another way. Still not to worry, I popped back after the matinee and met the delightful Peter Hamilton Dyer, who couldn't have been nicer. By this point Adam had joined me and we popped over to watching 'Class' being filmed, but at that point they were only setting up. After OMTG  that night they'd just started filming so I still got to see what was going on (not a lot though, it was mainly pickups).

The man himself!

Saturday was another busy day as Adam and I drove down (he drove, two people can't drive one car at once, that'd be silly) to Chiswick for this month’s Fantom signing. This month they had a 'Daemons' and 'Mindwarp' reunion, as well as Tom Baker (I know quite a line-up!). It was odd to drive down having always got the train and thus had to get up ridiculously early! As ever Tom had everyone in the palm of his hand. To my surprise Phil owns the original Lord Kiv costume from 'Mindwarp' and brought it along, which was great to see, particularly as the actor who had worn it was there. It made for a great event with some especially interesting guests.

Following the excitement Adam and I drove back to Cardiff for the final show of OMTG which seemed to go well. Following that we had the overnight get out which was fun (and quite tiring), but by 2.30am we were out of the building, with just returns to do this week. Whilst I've enjoyed the show I am not overly unhappy to see it go.

You may think dear reader that I had a lie in today (Sunday, yes I know, I've actually written this post before Monday for a change, wow!), but no. I was up early and wandered off to Hereford for the Hay Festival. The Hay festival is a massive (I really underestimated just how massive) literature festival in Hay-on-Wye. From Hereford station it’s an hour’s bus journey through lovely sprawling countryside which was great to be able to take in, particularly on such a nice sunny day. When I did get to Hay-on-Wye I was amazed just how big a thing the festival is! Whilst the tents (they are far more than tents) are set up outside the town, the entire town was covered in bunting, with various stalls and bookshops. The festival itself is massive with huge tent things (seating hundreds, more steel structures with plastic on than tents). I must admit that I went primarily to see if I could get a few autographs, but due to the size of it, that idea went out of the window, but I wasn't bothered really. The first of the two panels was 'Letters Live' in which letters from throughout history are read by an actor (doesn't sound that exciting, but they give a back story and are well acted). Those reading the letters included Louise Brealey, Jamie Byng, Olivia Colman, Benedict Cumberbatch, Tom Hollander, Sophie Hunter, Kelvin Jones, Toby Jones, Maxine Peake, Lily and Bruce Robinson, Mark Strong and Jacqueline WilsonLouise Brealey, Jamie Byng, Olivia Colman, Benedict Cumberbatch, Tom Hollander, Sophie Hunter, Kelvin Jones, Toby Jones, Maxine Peake, Lily and Bruce Robinson, Mark Strong and Jacqueline Wilson Louise Brealey, Jamie Byng, Olivia Colman, Benedict Cumberbatch, Tom Hollander, Sophie Hunter, Kelvin Jones, Toby Jones, Maxine Peake, Lily and Bruce Robinson, Mark Strong and Jacqueline Wilson Louise Brealey, Jamie Byng, Olivia Colman, Benedict Cumberbatch, Tom Hollander, Sophie Hunter, Kelvin Jones, Toby Jones, Maxine Peake, Lily and Bruce Robinson, Mark Strong and Jacqueline Wilson. After what was a fantastic session, there was an interview with Russell T Davies and Maxine Peake about 'A Midsummer's Night Dream' as it is on BBC One tomorrow (watch it!). Having already seen the programme it was nice to hear Russell talk about it again, but it was great to hear Maxine Peake (especially as I've seen a fare bit of her theatre work up north). After that I had a wander round before heading home to Cardiff. I will definitely be revisiting the Hay festival next year, but just a little better prepared! It’s on for another week if you do fancy going dear reader, with all sorts of panels.

Letters live cast (this is from the festival's
facebook page, check it out for more exciting stuff!

As you can see dear reader it's been a rather busy and tiring week! I should perhaps explain the title of this post. It’s actually a quote from 'Logopolis' when Tom Baker regenerates. As I'd met him this week and finished OMTG it seemed fitting, as it covers both things.