#Manchester Royal Exchange

[puppetdaily]

Audrey II from Little Shop of Horrors at Manchester Royal Exchange

[duchessofostergotlands]

I found the man of my dreams on a dating site. He’s an archaeologist which is so fucking cool and he looks like Western Jesus - long hair, beard, slightly tanned complexion, clearly does manual work - but he lives in Manchester. I was going to move to Manchester but I recently got a new job and was planning to move to Scotland, maybe, and I just feel like the universe hates me

[nomilkinmyteaplease]

Tom Weston Jones in untitled fck mss s**gon play

I wanna see it just to know what is going on here.

[thisbluespirit]

Oh, to be "Mr Manchester" who just used to casually run into James Maxwell "most evenings" in 1986. (Courtesy of the British Newspaper Archive & the Manchester Evening News).

"Whom do I see strolling through Manchester late on most evenings but James Maxwell, actor and artistic director, whose craggy features are well-known through countless film, television and stage roles.

"I walk home from work at the Royal Exchange Theatre to my urban paradise," he explains, "paradise" being a flat above the Arndale Centre.

"I love it," he says, "but no one living there can be accused of having a morbid interest in old architecture."

One of his many showbiz tales is of when he was in a show at Manchester Opera House in 1953. The scenery didn't work - in fact, some of it fell down - and the distinguished knight playing the lead not only didn't know his lines; at times he didn't know when he had to speak.

The audience was cool, to say the least, and at the end the knight decided he should speak to them.

"I apologise for the mistakes duing the evening," he announced grandly, "but I assure you that everything will be put right by the time we open in London."

& Mr Manchester, at the G-Mex, "jokingly suggested this wasn't [James Maxwell's] kind of theatre.

His instant retaliation would have gladdened G-Mex boss Tony Harrison, sitting along my row. "No, It's everyone's theatre," he retorted.

[ukdamo]

No poem, today.

Instead, this.

[theatreocelot]

Shed: Exploded View, by Phoebe Eclair-Powell

A review

Date of viewing: 19/02/24 (Mon 19 feb 2024)

Place of viewing: Royal exchange theatre

Story rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Cast rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Design rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Heavy trigger warnings for discussions and depictions of domestic violence, child loss, depictions of dementia, depictions of grief, allusions to eating disorders, allusions to mental health issues and sexist language.

Shed: Exploded view is a masterclass in theatre that I cannot in good faith recommend to anyone. Following the story of Lil (Haley Carmichael), Abi (Norah Lopez Holden), Naomi (Lizzy Watts) and their partners, Tony (Wil Johnson), Frank (Jason Hughs) and Mark (Michael Workéyè) it is an awareness piece on relationships and domestic violence. Spoilers ahead, trigger warnings will apply in part to this review.

I found the most pleasant story to be that of Lil and Tony, an older couple who married in 1995, as they navigate their relationship, with both of them being married before, as well as Lil’s frustration as Tony loses himself to dementia. I found their relationship to be sweet, compelling and heartbreaking, Lil especially was amazingly played, Haley Carmichael did a fantastic job, however I feel the story does hit one of its sticking points here that keeps getting hit throughout all 3 of the parallel stories, it plays it’s dark themes far to much for shock value, when Lil shouts in frustration at Tony who doesn’t understand why he can’t leave the house (the play jumps around in time from between 1995 and “now” (2024) so parts are set during lockdown), it is shocking and distressing to watch, however as a tragedy, it misses the emotional catharsis, as well as this, it is mentioned that before Tony, Lil was married to an abusive man, however this plot point is mostly brushed over (being mentioned only a couple of times, most notably in Lil’s final monologue (which was brilliant btw, I love this cast so much)), serving mostly to act as a parallel to Abi’s abuse and eventual murder at the hands of Mark, this left it feeling like there was missed potential in Lil’s story, however as a whole she was a good character.

The second plotline follows Naomi and Frank, a middle aged couple who married in 1995 and encountered Lil and Frank on their honeymoon and later go on to have a daughter- Abi. Naomi is by far the stand out character of the show, with the best of the stage time being given to developing her relationship with Abi. Overall, Naomi’s relationships with both Abi and Frank feel realistic, however it suffers from a similar problem, when Naomi performs her final monologue at the end of the play (another brilliant monologue, I find myself wondering if this play would’ve been better if viewed as a collection of disconnected monologues), the energy stays very heightened, like the story is tripping over itself to make you feel something, to the point where it only leaves you feeling overwhelmed. Frank was very well played and his relationship with Naomi was believable to how a marriage when one of the partners is disloyal (however as I have never been in a relationship, I cannot attest to that).

Abi and Mark’s plotline is where the story trips over its own feet the most, from the starting monologue, the story foreshadows that Abi is going to be violently murdered, so when she meets Mark at university and has dubiously consensual sex with him, it becomes quite obvious that it will be by his hand. The play goes out of its way to show the good times that Abi and Mark have in their relationship, showing that abusive partners are not always the stereotype of abuse, however these moments can sometimes fall a bit short, as it shows them seemingly only having nice couple times, then takes a drastic turn near the end, the idea was good but the execution was a bit heavy handed. Abi and Naomi’s relationship is by far my favourite, their moments are some of the only reprieve the audience gets from the constant distress the characters are in, however the play does seem to want to portray Abi as having some resentment towards Naomi, but this does come across as teenage angst. A major area Abi’s characterisation falls a little bit flat for me is her past history of eating disorders, while Mark does make fun of her for being fat and we do have one scene of her running up to her room as a child (followed by Naomi and Frank talking about food and a doctor), it feels glossed over in a similar way to Lil’s abusive ex, like the story expects us to see this in Abi’s character, without actually having her react in a way that would be consistent with this.

In conclusion, Shed: Exploded view is a beautiful play with brilliant actors that acts as a masterclass of shocking your audience, however the characterisation can sometimes fall short and the story lacks the emotional catharsis it needs to be a truly compelling tragedy, I think it would be interesting to watch it again, to see if it would be different when it can’t shock me.

[hotdaemondtargaryen]

TOM GLYNN-CARNEY INTERVIEWED FOR VESTAL MAGAZINE.

REFLECTING ON YOUR JOURNEY IN THE ACTING INDUSTRY, DO YOU REMEMBER THE MOMENT YOU REALIZED YOU REALIZED YOU WANTED TO PURSUE ACTING?

"The moment I realized I wanted to pursue acting was probably when I was around 12 years old, in high school."

"I was performing in a production of Shakespeare's Macbeth at the Royal Exchange in Manchester."

"I saw older actors and wondered what their "proper" jobs were outside of the theater."

'When I asked one of them, they said': — "No, this is my proper job. This is what I do."

"I didn’t know people could do that."

"From that moment on, I knew that this is what I wanted to do as a career."

YOU'VE DONE MULTIPLE SHOWS AND MOVIES IN THE DRAMATIC GENRE. WOULD YOU EVER BE OPEN TO DOING OTHER GENRES?

"Absolutely, I'd love to explore new genres in the future."

"I'd love to give comedy a go."

"I think that would be a good challenge."

"It’s difficult because timing is crucial delivering a joke at the right time can feel almost mathematical."

"But I think that good comedy actors don't see it that way at all."

"It just comes naturally to them."

"I'd love to give it a shot."

"I'm also interested in doing biopics, bringing real-life stories to life."

"Chet Baker and Gene Kelly, in particular, would be fascinating characters to portray."

"But I'm open to any interesting projects that come my way."

HOW DO YOU CHOOSE THE ROLES YOU TAKE ON? ARE YOU DRAWN TO A PARTICULAR TYPE OF CHARACTER OR STORY?

"Honestly, I'm drawn to anything that makes me feel uncomfortable and pushes me out of my comfort zone."

"I seek out roles where the character feels distant and challenging."

"I like to test myself and see if I can bring such characters to life."

"If a role feels like something I might struggle with, that's exactly what I want to tackle."

"I often joke that these challenging roles might be my downfall someday." [laughs]

CAN YOU SHARE ANY INSIGHTS INTO HOW YOUR CHARACTER, AEGON II TARGARYEN, ENVOLVES IN THE UPCOMING SEASON?

"I found it fascinating to delve deeper into Aegon this season because there's so much more to uncover about him."

"In the first season, we saw quite a two-dimensional view of Aegon—not due to Ty Tennant's portrayal, which I thought was fantastic, bringing a lot of vulnerability and teenage angst to the character."

"When I took over, the time frame was too short to really explore Aegon's complexities."

"This time, I've had an extended period to sit with the character and dig into his deeper layers."

"Playing a character experiencing profound grief is always a challenge."

"I'm lucky enough that I've never gone through anything like that myself, so I had to imagine it as vividly as possible."

"This season, Aegon is shown as more of an empath than a psychopath."

"It becomes clear that he has the capacity to love, feel, and grieve."

"There are so many comparisons between Aegon and Richard II."

"People are saying Aegon is cold, calculated, and evil, and while he's certainly done horrible things—I'm not justifying any of those—it's important to note that, rather than being a straightforward villain, he's a crumbling tragedy."

HOW HAS YOUR APPROACH TO PORTRAYING AEGON II CHANGED FROM THE PREVIOUS SEASON TO THE NEW ONE?

"There’s definitely a continuation of the drama and theatricality from season one."

"It's huge, rousing, and intense."

"I've seen episodes one to four, and they are just unbelievable, especially the battle scenes — you can't get any bigger than that."

"This season, though, there’s also an element of humor."

"At some point, they called Aegon 'the Magnanimous,' and it was important to bring some levity to his character."

"Aegon has just stepped into the role of King and is trying to figure it all out."

"We're at a point where he’s found a spring in his step, enjoying this new responsibility and purpose."

"He’s also got a lot of power now."

"Power can go to people's heads and make them crazy."

"It was nice to explore his boyishness and playfulness, as it gives his character more depth and leaves room for growth."

WHAT WOULD YOU TELL PEOPLE TO GET THEM ON TEAM GREEN?

"I don’t think I need to persuade them—obviously, we’re the best."

"But if you really want to see why, this season is packed with surprises that will make it clear."

SINCE THE SHOW IS BASED ORIGINALLY ON BOOKS, IS THERE A SPECIFIC BOOK YOU'D LIKE TO SEE BROUGHT TO THE SCREEN AND FOR YOU TO BE A PART OF?

"I'd love to see a film adaptation of Douglas Stuart's book Shuggie Bain."

"Another great choice would be The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet by David Mitchell."

"It’s a collection of beautiful and heart-wrenching short stories, and each one could make a compelling film."

"Looking at my bookshelf now, I see a lot of books on Bob Dylan, David Bowie, and Paul McCartney—mostly singer-songwriters."

"I also have a lot of poetry. I'd love to see a biopic of Patti Smith."

"That would be incredible."

YOUR CAREER HAS TAKEN YOU TO VARIOUS FILMING LOCATIONS AROUND THE WORLD. IS THERE A SPECIFIC LOCATION YOU HAVEN'T BEEN TO YET AND WOULD LOVE TO BE THE BACKDROP FOR A POTENTIAL FUTURE PROYECT?

"Oh, that's a good question."

"I think somewhere that’s a hybrid between beautiful rolling countryside and the coast."

"A place that offers both stunning landscapes and the sea."

"On your days off, you could go for a swim or hike through the mountains."

"I’d love to work in a scenic and peaceful location like that."

SOMETIMES, ACTORS WHO PLAY 'VILLAINS' CAN GET AN ADVERSE REACTION FROM SOME FANS OF A SHOW. WHAT HAVE YOUR INTERACTIONS BEEN LIKE?

"I've been very lucky."

"Many people have approached me with kind words about my portrayal of Aegon."

"It's a challenging task to humanize someone so seemingly poisonous."

"Fortunately, I haven't had negative encounters with fans who can't differentiate between the character and the actor."

"I think we're in a different phase in society now."

"When Jack Gleeson played Joffrey, there was less social media presence, making it harder for audiences to separate the actor from the character."

"Today I think we are a more technologically advanced community, with more behind-the-scenes and a better understanding of the distinction between actor and character."

"I think people have copped on. I hope that's the case, anyway."

YOU'VE COLLABORATED WITH RENOWNED DIRECTORS LIKE CHRISTOPHER NOLAN. WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED FROM THESE EXPERIENCES?

"Doing Dunkirk was my first significant experience on a film set."

"I really didn't know where to start."

"The canvas was completely blank."

"And it was just such a gift, a pinch me moment that I was able to learn from some of, if not the best filmmaker in the world."

"It was overwhelming."

"And I had to remind myself to be present and soak in everything like a sponge."

"Chris's patience and the support from the rest of the cast were invaluable throughout."

"We were all in it together, especially us young lads who were new to such a big production."

"We learned and grew together during that incredible experience."

IN THE KING, YOU PORTRAYED A HISTORICAL FIGURE. HOW DID YOU APPROACH BRINGING THIS CHARACTER TO LIFE?

"When portraying a fictional character, there's often more freedom because there's no definitive blueprint to follow—even if they're written in a book, they're still fictional."

"You can infuse your own understanding and personality into the role."

"However, there’s added pressure when it comes to a historical figure because you're portraying someone real."

"I never let that pressure overwhelm or hinder the process."

"Instead, I took the character as presented and focused on doing my best with the role."

A NEW HUNGER GAMES MOVIE WAS JUST ANNOUNCED, SPECIFICALLY A PREQUEL FOCUSING ON HAYMITCH'S STORY, AND MANY FANS ARE EAGER TO SEE YOU IN THAT ROLE. WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT?

"No way, that’s the first I’ve heard of it! But I'm incredibly flattered that people would like to see me on screen again."

"If all goes well, I'll fight for my life in the Hunger Games!" [laugh]

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE SHOWS DURING YOUR DOWNTIME?

"One show I watch repeatedly, and it never gets old for me, is the UK version of The Office."

"The humor is very relatable and comforting to me."

"I even laugh just thinking about it. It's one of those TV shows when it finishes, you're like: — “Oh no! What do I do with my life? I miss the characters already.” [laugh]

"I also enjoy the US version of The Office."

"Besides that, I'm fascinated by farming documentaries."

"Shows like This Farming Life on BBC are incredibly calming for me."

"And I have to mention The Great Pottery Throwdown — I'm a bit of a pottery nerd, and that show is brilliant!

WHO ARE SOME CREATIVES YOU WOULD LOVE TO WORK WITH IN THE FUTURE?

"The list is long."

"Firstly, there are directors I'd love to collaborate with again, like Chris Nolan and Sam Mendes, with whom I've had some of my best experiences and whom I consider friends."

"I'm eager to work with them again."

"Then there are filmmakers like Andrea Arnold, Yorgos Lanthimos, Greta Gerwig, Paul Thomas Anderson, and Ruben Ostlund, all of whom I admire and would love to collaborate with."

"When it comes to actors, there are many I admire as well."

"I plan to work with individuals who challenge me, from whom I can learn, and who are dedicated to their craft."

"I appreciate those who find joy and humor in their work because life is short, and it’s important to enjoy what you do."

LASTLY, WHERE DO YOU HOPE YOUR CAREER WILL HEAD INTO THE FUTURE?

"It’s more of a feeling than a checklist of achievements that I aim for."

"I understand that feeling because I can almost sense it in advance."

"It’s difficult to articulate—it’s a mix of happiness, creative fulfillment, diversity in roles, consistent challenge, and pushing boundaries."

"I aspire to transform and lose myself in characters."

"Equally important to me is collaborating with inspiring individuals whom I can learn from and grow with."

"I also value the freedom to select projects that resonate with me personally."

[captainfairygodmother]

It's not just Queer TV Shows and Movies being cancelled.

A stage production of Shakespeare's 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' has just been cancelled after an alleged dispute over trans rights and the freedom of Palestine.

The production's run had already been postponed for a few weeks over reasons such as cast injury, however, after having a run through of the full play, Manchester's Royal Exchange Theatre has cancelled the entire run of the play.

The play contained a musical number that advocated for trans rights, and the phrase 'Free Palestine'.

The director and cast stood up for the play- they were told to remove the song, however, they refused to do so, thus causing the cancellation of the whole show. There are also claims reporting that 'Free Palestine' graffiti had been painted onto the set.

I admire the director and cast for standing up for the play as they intended to produce and act it.

Unfortunately in modern media, many companies forcibly cut out queer representation, as well as politically controversial ideas.

And when they don't cut it out- the TV Show, Movie, Play, whatever it is- ends up cancelled, as exemplified by the cancellation of this A Midsummer's Night Dream production.

This needs to stop. Let shows be what they are with the messages that are important to portray, such as trans rights and Free Palestine advocacies.

[gnossienne]

Suranne Jones in Orlando by Sarah Ruhl (Royal Exchange in Manchester, 2014) (x)

[usafphantom2]

B-52 bombers arrive in the Pacific to provide strategic deterrence

Fernando Valduga By Fernando Valduga 02/05/2024 - 19:39in Military

A B-52H Stratofortress, assigned to the 23º Expeditionary Bomber Squadron, taxis on the flight line at Andersen Air Base, Guam, on January 30, 2024. (Photo: U.S. Air Force / Airman 1st Class Alyssa Bankston)

Four B-52 Stratofortress bombers designated for the 5ª Bomber Wing of Minot Air Base, North Dakota, landed at Andersen Air Base, Guam, in late January, as part of a Bomber Task Force (BTF) to support strategic deterrent missions aimed at strengthening international order rules based on the Indo-Pacific region.

While deployed in Guam, B-52 operations and support personnel are assigned to the 23º Expeditionary Bomber Squadron. The 23º EBS will integrate alongside the Allies and partners to demonstrate the U.S. commitment to security and stability throughout the region.

Designed to show the U.S. ability to deter, deny and dominate, BTF missions aim to influence and deter the aggression of opponents or competitors.

While in Guam, the bombers will also support the largest multilateral exercise of the Pacific Air Forces, the Cope North. The exercise, scheduled from February 5 to 23, will be co-led by the Australian Royal Air Force (RAAF) and the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF).

Cope North 24 kicks off with ?? ?? integration#CopeNorth24 enhances US relationships & interoperability w/Allies & partners by providing the opportunity to exchange info & improve shared tactics to better integrate multilateral defense capabilities. #CN24pic.twitter.com/99T0YKsspb

— PACAF (@PACAF) February 4, 2024

Reacting to the arrival of the aircraft, Captain Zachary "Smash" Holmes, arms officer of the 23º EBS, said it was great "finally to have some iron on the ground".

"It's great to finally receive our crews, so we're ready to leave and participate in the mission, as well as prepare our maintenance staff to support where necessary," Holmes said. "We are ready to go."

A B-52H Stratofortress, assigned to the 23º Expeditionary Bomber Squadron, taxis on the flight line at Andersen Air Base, Guam, on January 30, 2024. (Photo: U.S. Air Force / Airman 1st Class Alyssa Bankston)

Air crews and support personnel are looking for every opportunity to train alongside our allies and partners to build interoperability and strengthen our collective capacity to support a free and open Indo-Pacific.

Tags: Military AviationBoeing B-52H StratofortressBTFUSAF - United States Air Force / U.S. Air Force

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Fernando Valduga

Fernando Valduga

Aviation photographer and pilot since 1992, he has participated in several events and air operations, such as Cruzex, AirVenture, Dayton Airshow and FIDAE. He has works published in specialized aviation magazines in Brazil and abroad. He uses Canon equipment during his photographic work in the world of aviation.

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[consanguinitatum]

David Tennant's Plays: An Experienced Woman Gives Advice (1995)

I haven't done a thread on any of David's plays in a while, so I had some time yesterday to rustle one up about his 1995 play, An Experienced Woman Gives Advice. It premiered 28 years ago yesterday (which was why I chose to do a deeper dive about it) so let's get into it! An Experienced Woman Gives Advice (I'll use EW to refer to the play from here on out because what a long title!) would be David's first time performing onstage at the Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester.

Prior to winning his role in EW, the last play David had done was What The Butler Saw as Nicholas Beckett, a role he was warmly praised for. What The Butler Saw ran for two months at five different venues around England before closing its run at the Nottingham Theatre Royal in late May 1995.

EW's playwright, Iain Heggie, had seen phenomenal success with his 1987 tour-de-force, A Wholly Healthy Glasgow. But in the years afterwards, Heggie had produced only a few more plays before deciding he'd rather go back to teaching and let his writing commence at its own pace.

Originally written as a miniature sex comedy, EW was long in development, and received further script development workshops at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow in 1992, and at the Traverse Theatre in Edinburgh in 1993.

Its world premiere would see Heggie's return to the stage.

Initially, it might have seemed odd that EW - with its Glasgow setting, Scottish writer, and fully Scottish cast - didn't make its debut in Scotland. But because Heggie and the Royal Exchange had similar actor-centered outlooks and many of the artistic directors in Scotland preferred a more visual style, Heggie chose to work with the Royal Exchange (who liked his work anyway) and the play made its debut in Manchester.

Previews for EW began at the Royal Exchange Manchester on 21 November 1995, with an opening day of 23 November 1995. It had a small cast of five: Siobhan Redmond as Bella, David Tennant as Kenny, Jenny McCrindle as Nancy, Alastair Galbraith as Irving, and Alexander Morton as Stick. It was directed by Matthew Lloyd, and its assistant director was Marianne Elliott.

The set, which was designed by Laurie Dennett, was quite sparse - a communal back garden and garden shed of a block of Glasgow tenement flats. The music was composed by Paddy Cunneen, who fans will recognize from many other projects he did with David, some of which I've previously done deep dives into (like Sunburst Finish, The Pillowman and Bite).

The three-act play had a runtime of 3 hours and 20 minutes, with two intervals - one 15 minutes in length, the other 10 minutes in length. It closed its run on 16 December 1995. Tickets were priced from £5.50 to £18, with matinees on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

The action takes place on two Sunday mornings and opens with Bella, who's a 39 year old teacher, gardening in her back garden. We learn she's in a three-year long relationship with a live-in toyboy lover, Kenny (DT) who's a former pupil and 15 years younger than her. And that he didn't come home the previous night.

Bella calls Kenny her "charming, fallible boy", and she treats him like one. Former lovers say he's "tall, kind of blond, with a lovely lean build" and "incredibly rich brown eyes." There’s "just no resisting him,” and he's "bastardly good looking.”

David in rehearsals as Kenny (from program of An Experienced Woman Gives Advice)

In a series of interruptions from people passing into the garden, Bella (Redmond) dispenses advice to the inquiring strangers Nancy and Irving (Galbraith), and learns Kenny spent the night with another woman...from the woman herself, Nancy (McCrindle), who doesn't realize who she's told. What Bella does with this information - and how her meticulously cultivated freedom of choice lifestyle shatters, especially given her first love, Stick (Morton) lives nearby - is what the rest of the play explores. We see love, lust, and lies play out as Bella makes her choices.

And there's a scene with Bella and Kenny...and sex behind the doors of a rocking, exploding garden shed!

I haven't been able to locate a production script of the play to see whether this scene was enacted onstage, but Heggie's published script book says this scene, where Bella strips Kenny of his clothes piece by piece before they go into the shed to have sex offstage, had some brief nudity. None of the play reviews I've been able to find mention any nudity, though one article about the play does state that due to "strong language and the sexual nature of the story, the play is not suitable for children under 15." (I don't know how much weight I should give this particular article, however, because it also calls the lead character "Maggie" rather than "Bella"!) Anyway, if this scene was included in the play, it would be the second known instance (the first being that now-infamous What The Butler Saw full frontal nude photograph) where DT was onstage in the buff!

Speaking of reviews, they were wildly different - some found it hilariously funny with barbed, sharp dialogue, while others found it fatiguing. David's "able portrayal" as Kenny was praised as part of an extremely talented cast, and his was called a "great performance".

David and Siobhan Redmond earned Manchester Evening News Theatre Awards (MENTA) nominations - Redmond for Best Actress, and David for Best Actor in a Supporting Role. They also earned British Regional Theatre Awards nominations; Redmond for Best Actress and David for Best Actor. The play itself was also awarded a MENTA nomination for Best New Play. Redmond won both her nominations; David and the play didn't.

Photos from the play are almost nonexistent. I haven't located any images housed in any archives anywhere...so far. That doesn't mean they're not out there, mind you, just I haven't found them yet! I did manage to find a few of horrible quality while digging around in newspaper archives (I'll refrain from venting here about the quality aspects of digitizing newspapers, as that's a rant for another day) but it's a damned shame. I mean, in one of these, David just looks like a David-shaped black hole with floating arms! Nevertheless, I'll leave them here.

Something else I found fascinating during my research was that, like many venues, the Royal Exchange had a tradition of scheduling at least one informal discussion with the director and members of the company for each of their productions. While I didn't find any information on whether a discussion of this sort occurred during EW's run, I have to assume it did. Ah, to be a fly on the wall for that!

And that, my friends, is pretty much the story of An Experienced Woman Gives Advice! I wish I knew much more about this play, but like many parts of David's theatre career, wide gaps in our knowledge remain. But I keep on looking.

Thanks for reading!

[mythicalmisery]

Chapter 3: C3

cw: alcohol

October 24th 

2:33 P.M. 

Manchester Royal Hospital

“Ye gonnae ask him, or be a pussy?” Soap teased.

“Fuck off, MacTavish,” Farah retorted with no real heat. 

“Oi, ye know he isn’t gonnae say no, so what’s the holdup?” 

“I don’t think I’m ready to admit defeat,” Farah replied, her voice muffled while digging through an overstuffed filing cabinet. 

“Right, right. Isn’t it just so romantic when they wear ye down like that?” The statement earned Soap a glare and a thick stack of files falling onto his unprotected lap. 

Soap grunted at the impact, smiling up at Farah. “Message received, luv,” he wheezed out.

Standing up, Soap leaned against the filing cabinet that had Farah’s undivided attention. “The coffee date went well, didn’t it?” 

Farah simply huffed at that before continuing, “Not a date. Buying a person a cup of coffee after they help you does not count. He just happened to be in the parking garage when my car wouldn’t start. If I didn’t know any better, he probably sabotaged the bloody thing to play the knight in shining armor.”

Soap laughed at that, “Please, I think ye give the man too much credit. He’s basically a golden retriever, not some obsessed stalker.”

Farah couldn’t help the smile pulling at her lips from the thought. “If you must know, yes, the non-date did go well. He’s a complete idiot, but somehow it makes him even more charming. A little too American for my liking, but they can’t all be perfect,” she admitted. 

Soap leaned down under the guise of grabbing a certain file. “Well, now’s yer chance. George Washington at 10 o’clock,” he whispered into her ear. 

Farah turned her head just in time to see one Alex Keller walking towards the nurses’ station. “Howdy, Ms. Karim,” he said with that ridiculous accent. Farah couldn’t help but roll her eyes at him, “Hello, Mr. Keller,” she replied. 

Soap’s nearly pissing himself watching the two blushing idiots interact. He did have rounds to do, so it was time to hurry this up. He kicked Farah’s calf, gently pushing her forward. Alex couldn’t see the hand behind her back, oh so kindly gesturing at Soap. 

“Alex, this Saturday I have a Halloween party I’m attending… and I was wondering—“ 

“YES! I mean yes, I would love to go with you,” he blurted out before she could even finish her sentence, oblivious to the unimpressed stares directed his way. Soap couldn’t help but laugh at his overeagerness, he truly was adorable. With that decided and numbers exchanged, Alex drummed on the desk before walking down the hallway with the biggest smile plastered on his face. Farah turned around with a wide-eyed look on her face. “What the hell have I done?” 

Soap stood up with a shit-eating grin on his face, “Oh, this is gonnae be good.”

— — —

Rounds were easygoing this shift, which left Soap with plenty of time to think about the weekend. Halloween wasn’t really a thing in the U.K. like it was in America, but any excuse to relax and get wasted with friends was graciously accepted. König and Horangi had taken the burden of hosting the annual party for the past couple of years which had quickly become infamous. Usually, he’d be stressing out trying to find a date at this point, but his sister just happened to be visiting this weekend. The perfect plus one. 

Soap was deep in thought about a potential costume when he heard Price’s voice call out his name. He quickly ran through his mental checklist, praying that he didn’t forget to do something and was about to be scolded. “Aye, doctor,” he offered while standing to attention. Price finished speaking with an orderly, handing him a chart before making his way over to Soap. “Walk with me, Soap,” he said while heading in the direction of his office.Not a hint of emotion on his face to help Soap out at all. Oh, fuck me.

As Soap settled into that familiar leather chair, the silence stretched on, punctuated by the soft rustle of papers. He knew this tactic well. Price would either stare him down or ignore him until he cracked. Strong-willed as Soap believed himself to be, Price was a goddamn master when it came to psychological warfare, and Soap always caved. This time, however, Soap couldn’t fathom what he’d done wrong to warrant the interrogation.

There was no way in hell Price knew about that night unless the man had hidden cameras in his flat. Soap knew he could be over-protective, but even that seemed a stretch too far for the man. There was Gaz, but Soap knew he wouldn’t want to get on Price’s bad side by admitting something like that. Ghost could have told him out of some petty revenge for him turning down his offer, but implicating himself in the process? Unlikely. Soap was at a loss. 

Finally, Price broke the silence, taking pity on the younger man squirming in front of him. “So… I talked with your mum on the phone.” That made it click for Soap. 

Fuck. “Listen, Price, I was goi —” 

“Save it. My goddaughter is coming to town in three days, and I have to find out from your mother in passing,” he scolded. 

Soap couldn’t help the smirk threatening to surface at the older man’s childish behavior. Price cared for Soap like he was his own son, that much was clear. But when it came to his sister, that man would move heaven and earth. Price had been wrapped around her finger since she could talk, getting away with everything short of murder when it came to that man. The worst part was that she was completely aware of it too. Using those stupid puppy dog eyes to wriggle out of all responsibilities. Even so, he never could get Price to admit the special treatment. 

“Aye, well, the princess will be here early Friday morning. Feel free to take her off my hands. She’ll be staying at my place, but I’m sure we’ll stop by yers at some point. She’s already weaseled her way into being my plus one at the party Saturday.”

“Do you need me to pick her up from the train station on Friday?” Price asked.

“Nah, I got it. Wouldn’t mind borrowing yer car though. The motorcycle might be a wee bit cramped. The Aston Martin, by chance?” he tried with a wag of his brows. 

Price huffed a laugh at Soap’s valiant attempt. “Nice try. You can take the Land Rover,” he decided. Price was a modest man, the only real hint of his six-figure salary was his taste in cars. 

“I’ll drive that car one day,” Soap tossed out as he stood up from the chair. 

Price turned to his computer and started checking his emails. “It’s nice to have dreams, kid.”

Soap smiled as he closed the door behind him. Making it halfway down the hallway before his phone started buzzing. As he pulled it out of his pocket, a giant grin was plastered over his face when he saw the mortifyingly embarrassing photo taking up his entire screen. Well, speak of the wee devil. 

“And how is my favorite dickhead on this fine day?” Soap answered immediately.

“Johnny…” the smile on his face instantly fell at the tone of his sister’s voice. He knows exactly how she sounds when she’s been crying. He made his way to one of the on-call rooms for some privacy before answering back, “What’s wrong, Becs?”

“I’m okay, I promise.” Soap had a hard time believing her when the words were muffled by her sniffles. “Becs, talk to me. I’m here,” Soap could feel his chest tightening, desperately wanting to be able to hold her. 

Her shaky voice finally cut through the silence, “They… they took ‘em away.”

“Took what away?” He tried to keep his tone calm and reassuring despite the immense confusion he was experiencing. 

“Ma scholarships, Johnny. The two biggest ones. All because o’ some new fuckin’ policy that states only fourth years can earn them. I’m bloody well fucked.”

Soap closed his eyes and took in a deep breath at his sister’s words. “It’s gonnae be fine, yeah? We’ll figure it out, Becs.” He wasn’t entirely sure who he was trying to convince with the empty statement.

“What is there tae figure out, Johnny? I cannae afford ma tuition with ma part-time job, and I’m no lettin’ you pay for any more than ye already do.”

“Aye well, that’s my decision to make, innit? Besides, we’ve talked about this already. Ye can pay me back when you’re rollin’ in it, being some prick footballer’s agent,” he joked, desperately trying to lighten the mood while hiding his internal panic. 

How the fuck was he gonna pay for her tuition now? He knew the answer, he just couldn’t stomach the thought. Soap did however feel a little better after hearing his sister laugh. She sniffed before speaking again, “I’m sorry, Johnny. Ah just didnae ken  who else tae call. Ah know it’s a shite thing for me tae do, dumpin’ this on ye.”

Soap smirked slightly before pulling out the most over-the-top accent he could muster, “Aye, us MacTavish’s gottae stick thegither, lassie. For the good o’ the clan.” 

She snorted at that, “Yer a real arsehole, ye ken that?”

“I’ve been told once or twice. But seriously Bec’s, I’ll take care of it. Just forget about it for now. I gotta get back to work but I’ll see ye Friday, alright?” 

“Aye, see ye Friday. Thanks, Johnny.”

“Love ya, mouse.” 

“Love ye, too.”

As Soap sat in the now quiet on-call room, his mind raced endlessly. That cold feeling he felt deep in his bones at the sound of Bec’s distress was now replaced by his very own. Fuckin’ bloody fantastic this was. Just what he needed. Soap wasn’t mad at his sister; it wasn’t her fault. No, he was mad at himself. All because he knew where his night was gonna end after this shift and he was pissed about it.

He could take the coward’s way out, shooting Gaz a text to send the message along. But it was that reliable stubbornness that kept him from clicking on his best mate’s contact. He wasn’t just going to roll over belly-up for the bastard. If he was selling his soul to the devil, he’d find a way to make this work on his terms. Ghost might think he had the upper hand, but Soap wasn’t one to back down without a fight. He’d lay out his conditions, protect his family, and ensure that he could still live with himself, even in this dark corner the bastard was backing him into. 

Soap forced himself to stand up, squaring his shoulders as he prepared to return to reality. He’d made it this far without succumbing to despair, and he wasn’t about to start now. He’d get through the rest of his shift and then sign his life away, for Bec’s sake. Simple. The door to the on-call room creaked slightly as he opened it, the sounds of the bustling hospital drowning his senses as he crossed the threshold. 

— — — 

The cool, damp evening air did little to calm Soap’s nerves. It was easy enough getting into the club this time, the bouncer letting him in as soon as he gave his name. He tried to push past the irritation building within him at Ghost’s confidence that he’d return — enough so that he added Soap’s name to the list. 

He pushed through the sweaty bodies, making his way toward the bar on the far right wall of the large, open room. There was no way in hell Soap was going to agree to Ghost’s proposal sober. Leaning back against the sticky counter, he barely fit between the other drunk patrons fighting for the bartender’s attention. 

The club was relatively dark, with strobe and LED lights in various colors illuminating the room just enough for people to avoid tripping over themselves. Soap scanned the sea of dancing bodies, his eyes slowly settling on the giant mirror spread across the wall directly across from the bar.  

A thickly accented shout directed his way had him turning back around, “Oi, what’ll it be, mate?” Soap met eyes with the bartender; tall and a little more on the slender side, but he’d be lying if he didn’t think the man was attractive. 

“Scotch, neat,” he shouted back over the crowd and music. 

Soap couldn’t help but scan the room some more, this time sticking to the periphery where the bodyguards were stationed to protect the dancers. He just needed to find Roach, and then he’d be able to get upstairs. “Here ya go, handsome,” the bartender said with a wink as he set Soap’s drink in front of him. Not to disappoint Ms. Wetherby, but it had been a while since he ‘shagged’ anyone, and he wasn’t ashamed to admit he liked the attention coming his way right now. 

He spent his next three drinks at the end of the bar, talking with the bartender- Cam, he had come to learn- about anything and everything. His tongue always seemed to loosen the more alcohol entered his system, very rarely working in his favor. His accent also tended to grow aggressively thicker, resulting in Gaz having to translate for him on more than one occasion. At some point, he honestly forgot the reason he came to the club that night. It felt good to relax for once and have a conversation with someone that didn’t end with a prognosis. 

He was in the middle of telling an embarrassing story of Gaz in college when he first felt it. Those eyes. That feeling of a predator locking in on their prey, burning a hole into the back of his head. He refused to turn around, ignoring the goosebumps creeping over his body and enjoying the peace just a little longer. It was working until Cam locked up mid-conversation after looking over Soap’s shoulder. Fuck. 

Soap sighed before placing his hands on the edge of the counter and using the momentum to turn his stool around. His head slightly spinning at the motion. Yeah, he might have been more than a little buzzed. 

Right before him stood Ghost, hovering like a bloody phantom in all black. His shadow cast over Soap, making the already dark room impossibly darker. Their eyes met, and Soap felt that familiar surge of apprehension at the man’s presence.

“Doctor,” was all Ghost said with a slight nod as he stepped closer to Soap’s stool. His low voice somehow sounded like a shout in the loud room. The man leaned past Soap, grabbing his nearly empty glass and handing it back to Cam. “These are on the house,” he curtly stated before turning his gaze back to Soap. His face was so close that Soap could feel the hot air expelling from Ghost’s nose behind the mask he was wearing under a black hoodie. Soap was a little surprised to see the man in such a casual outfit. Didn’t expect him capable with such a big stick up his arse and whatnot. 

Soap wasn’t quite sure if the burning heat flushing his face pink was from the scotch or the other’s proximity. After his wasted brain cells finally registered the other’s words, he squared his shoulders in irritation. “Oi, I can afford ma own drinks, thank ye very much.” He stood up suddenly after his declaration, slightly swaying in Ghost’s direction as he gathered his bearings. He may have been slightly drunk, but not enough to miss the other’s slight flinch at the almost-touch. Interesting. 

Ghost considered him before outstretching his hand in the direction of the stairs. “Of course, doctor. How about we take our conversation somewhere more private then?”  

Soap didn’t miss the man’s unimpressed glance around the room, clearly indicating his suggestion wasn’t a choice. He sighed like a petulant child before heading towards the hallway leading to the tucked-away staircase. The walk to Ghost’s office was silent, Soap trying to stay upright while also laying out what exactly he planned on saying. Somehow, he had to choose a way that didn’t make him sound desperate because honestly, fuck Ghost and this entire situation.

Ghost closed the door to his office behind them, the audible click setting Soap’s nerves on edge. He strode forward, not waiting for an invitation, and sat down opposite Ghost’s desk. He couldn’t help but anxiously tap his fingers against the armchair, waiting for Ghost to end the dick-measuring contest and speak first. He was also preparing for the smug ‘I told you so’ he knew was coming his way. 

“You’re drunk,” Ghost said flatly. Soap blinked up at the man, a little thrown off by the unexpected comment. He almost let out a small laugh at the man’s bluntness. 

“I may have had a wee bit tae drink while I waited,” Soap offered willingly. 

“And why was that, doctor?” Ghost questioned. 

“Oi, ye try havin’ a bloody conversation wi’ ye sober, ya bampot,” he mumbled. The alcohol preventing him from catching his tongue. 

“Is that right?” Ghost asked with a slight tilt of his head and that gravelly voice. Despite Soap calling him an unhinged idiot, more or less, the man seemed almost amused. At least that’s what Soap was counting on. “And what was the drink of choice this evening?”

Soap laughed at that. “No tae be a walkin’ stereotype, but whit else if not scotch?” he replied with a sideways grin. 

“More of a bourbon man myself,” Ghost admitted. 

“Like a good ol’ boy, I bet.” Yeah, Soap was starting to think maybe the liquid courage was a little too much. 

Ghost stared at the man with an indifference that made it hard to determine if Soap was about to get his ass beaten or not. To Soap’s relief, the other man sat up in his chair and casually shrugged his shoulders before replying, “What can I say, I love Kentucky.”

That got another laugh out of the drunk Scott. “O’ course ye do,” he said more to himself than Ghost. He rested his head on the back of the chair, transfixed by the chandelier hanging above him. He wasn’t sure how much time had passed before he eventually broke the silence. His voice was barely audible yet still unwavering in the quiet of the room, “I accept.” 

Two words. Three syllables. An infinite amount of possibilities. 

Soap could hear Ghost readjusting in his seat. “I figured, you wouldn’t be here again if you didn’t,” he stated.

Soap’s brows furrowed slightly before lowering his head, his gaze meeting Ghost’s again. “I accept, but if we’re gonnae do this, we’re gonna do it my way. There are gonnae be rules,” he declared, ignoring the way his words were starting to slightly slur. His body felt like a furnace in the small office. Stifling. 

Ghost leaned back, a slow, amused look spreading across the parts of his face that showed. “I’m listening, doctor. Let’s hear your terms.” 

Soap cleared his throat before replying. “Firstly, ye cannae just bloody call on me and expect me tae drop everything like a dog. Ye will respect ma schedule and not bother me at work.” He took Ghost’s silence as an okay to continue, counting off each demand with his fingers for emphasis. 

“Secondly, ye and yer ‘people’ will stay the hell away from ma family and friends. Thirdly, ah get paid for ma services upfront and in a way that won’t get traced back tae me. Lastly, when ye inevitably get arrested and ah testify against ye tae save ma own arse, ye dinnae get tae retaliate.” 

The silence that followed was suffocating. Soap’s focus honed in on the bead of sweat currently racing down the back of his neck. He half expected Ghost to pull out a gun from his desk drawer and end him right there in the dim-lit office, deeming Soap not worth the hassle anymore. 

His breath stuttered in his lungs as Ghost leaned forward in his chair, elbows resting on the hard wooden surface. The feeling reminiscent of when he was scorned by his primary teachers for acting up in school. 

“Alright, I’ll consider your conditions if you consider mine,” Ghost said, his voice cutting through the haze of alcohol and nerves in Soap’s mind causing his stomach to roll. “I won’t call upon you during your work hours, but you will come when I call on you outside of that time. I’ll be paying you an untraceable retainer fee with the expectation that you follow my rules; otherwise, the contract will be void. As such, I won’t need to deal with your family and friends as long as we understand each other. And finally, you won’t ever get the chance to testify against me. Anything else I missed, doctor?”

Soap wasn’t too far gone to the point he couldn’t pick up on the sharp tone of the Ghost’s voice and the rhetorical nature of the question, he just didn’t care at this point. “That a threat or a promise?” he asked, testing his luck. 

“Don’t make me have to choose, doctor,” Ghost replied.

Soap took in the non-answer and felt a mix of relief and tension. Yeah, his rules risked disappearing off the face of the planet at failure, but they weren’t all that crazy. “Then I guess that covers it,” he said, surprising even himself with how steady his voice was despite the rapid beating of his heart. 

“Good,” Ghost said, a hint of satisfaction in his voice. Smug bastard. “We have a deal, then.” 

Ghost’s eyes remained cold and unyielding as he watched Soap stagger to a standing position. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?” he scolded. 

“I’m goin’ the fuck home, whit does it look like?” Soap bit back.

“You’re in no state to drive and it would be hours before a taxi is available at this hour. Sit down, I’ll have Roach drive you home,” Ghost decided as he typed away on his phone, most likely texting his guard dog. 

Soap sat back down with an exaggerated sigh, knowing there was no room for argument on the matter. “Aye, whit a knight in shinin’ armor ye are” Soap quipped, earning an unamused glare.

A few moments passed before Ghost’s phone lit up with a buzz. Soap isn’t sure what the message said, but it couldn’t be good going off the muffled ‘Fuck me’ he barely catches from Ghost. Without a word, the man reached into a desk drawer and pulled out a pair of car keys as he stood. No, no, fuck no. 

“What are ye doin'?” Soap asked hesitantly, already dreading the answer.

“Roach and Gaz are out on a job, I’ll take you home. Let’s go,” Ghost responded as he rounded the desk to stand beside Soap, who remained seated. 

“Aye, I think I’ll just wait for that cab,” Soap replied, trying to sound casual. 

“You’ll be waiting for hours,” Ghost pointedly stated, his patience wearing thin. 

“Then I’ll walk,” Soap shrugged. 

“Stand up, doctor, before I drag you out.” 

Soap acquiesced, if only from the certainty that Ghost would follow through on his threat. He relied heavily on the railing as they descended the stairs, the alcohol still running strong in his system. Ghost, to his credit, doesn’t comment on Soap’s staggered gait. 

They stepped out of the back door that led to the rear parking lot, the harsh wind making Soap feel soaked to the bone despite it only drizzling. He followed Ghost to a small overhang in the corner, where an Audi was tucked in underneath. Black, how shocking. It wasn’t the kind of car Soap would have assumed Ghost to drive. “Can yer overgrown arse even fit in this thing?” he quipped as he walked around to the passenger side. 

Ghost threw him another one of his riveting looks of amusement before responding with an unbothered, “You sure you can buckle yourself, doctor?” as he ducked down into the driver’s seat. 

Soap’s eye twitched before muttering, “Aye, ye right bawbag,” as he lowered himself into the car as well. He shoved his hands into his pockets as they waited for the car to heat up. His fingers brushed against something in his pocket, pulling out a crumpled-up sticky note that sober Soap must have put there earlier. He unraveled it, barely making out his own chicken scratch illuminated by the streetlights. “Ah, shite.”

Ghost glanced over, his eyes narrowing. “What’s that?”

Soap hesitated before putting the note back in his pocket. “Just a reminder from sober me. Ah may need tae make a wee little stop before ye drop me off.”

Ghost leaned his head back against the seat, arms falling from the steering wheel to lay in his lap. “What now?” he asked exasperatedly.

“Ah need kitten food.”

Ghost blinked at Soap, waiting for the punchline. When it didn’t come, he let out a resigned sigh, shifting the car into drive. Soap heard a muttered “Fucking hell” as they pulled out of the lot and onto the street. 

It took everything in Soap not to hurl all over the spotless floor of Ghost’s car. The combination of passing streetlights and Ghost’s attempts at showing up F1 drivers made it difficult to control his lurching stomach. Fortunately, they pulled into a corner shop before the top-shelf scotch he got for free could be wasted. Soap flung his door open before the car was fully parked, breathing in the fresh air greedily with his head hanging between his knees. Praying to any god that would listen as the back of his throat filled with hot saliva. 

“Doing good, doctor?” Ghost asked as he turned off the car. The man showed no hint of amusement in his voice, but Soap knew the bastard was hiding a smile behind that mask while enjoying the consequences of his actions. He could only manage a weak middle finger tossed over his shoulder as he tried to steady his breathing. 

“What kind of food does your kitten eat?” Ghost grumbled.

“It’s goat a crown and it’s a pink bag, ah dinnae really ‘member the name,” Soap mumbled, hoping Ghost could decipher his slurred and thick accent. “And get me a Lucozade, will ye? The hangover’s gonnae be wicked in the mornin’.”

Ghost hummed in acknowledgment but didn’t say anything as he left the car. Soap really didn’t need his judgment right now. It’s his fault he had to drink in the first place. If he weren’t so miserable, he might have taken pleasure in giving Ghost’s car a special interior detailing. 

He wasn’t sure how long it had been before a pair of black boots came into focus between his knees. He slowly raised his head, squinting from the harsh overhang and street lights illuminating the parking lot. Ghost had one arm outstretched, offering Soap a drink, while the other held a small bag of cat food. Something about seeing the behemoth in black carrying a small pink package with kittens plastered on it tickled drunk Soap’s fancy. 

“Here,” Ghost said, thrusting the drink towards Soap. 

Soap took the Lucozade with a grateful nod, downing half of it in one go. The cool liquid soothed his dry throat and slightly eased his rolling stomach. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, feeling slightly more human. “Thanks,” he managed to say, his voice strained. 

Ghost grunted in response, tossing the bag of kitten food into the back seat before getting back into the car. Soap couldn’t help but let out a small chuckle as Ghost started the engine. “What’s so funny?” Ghost asked, not taking his eyes off the road as they pulled out onto the street once more. 

“Just picturin’ ye in the pet aisle,” Soap replied with a smirk. “Bet it was a sight.”

The rest of the drive was silent, punctuated only by the hum of the engine and the occasional hiss of rain against the windshield. Soap nursed on what was left of his drink as they drove through the nearly empty streets. He wasn’t sure if it was on purpose, but he appreciated Ghost’s calmer driving nonetheless. 

He rested his head against the window, the cool glass helping relieve the remnants of his waning fever. Soap stared at the tapestry of lights as they drove by, appreciative now that it didn’t make him instantly want to hurl. He loved driving on the road at night when there were barely any souls around. It reminded him of the late nights of his childhood driving back from his gran’s house out in the countryside. He briefly wondered if Ghost liked it too, the calm and quietness of it. He figured the man probably loved any chance to not be around other people. 

The car came to a slow roll as they pulled up next to the curb outside Soap’s building. He tilted his head back to look at Ghost after a moment of thought. “Ya ken, I’m honestly not even surprised ye ken where I live. But ah will say, the whole creepy stalker thing won’t help ye much in the ladies’ department,” he teased. 

Ghost had that same aloof look on his face, only the slight twitch of his hand on the steering wheel giving him away. “Good night, doctor,” was all he offered in return, not taking the bait. Soap shrugged and innocently leaned across the top of the console before reaching behind to grab the bag of cat food in the back seat. The new proximity allowed him right next to Ghost’s ear as he finally found a strong enough grip on the bag. A slightly slurred and hushed, “Good night, Ghostie,” fell from his lips as he pulled it over the console and stepped out of the car.

Soap shut the car door closed, the sound echoing through the dead street. He was too focused on putting one foot in front of the other to notice the white knuckles from the near-death grip Ghost had on the steering wheel as he headed into his flat’s lobby. He greeted the deskman before swiftly heading towards the elevators, not wanting to embarrass himself any more than he already had for the night. 

Entering his small flat, he was greeted by a tiny meow and a blur of white skittering across the floor. “Hey there, wee one,” he murmured, setting the bag of food down and reaching out to pet the small creature. Whisp purred, rubbing against his leg as he ripped the bag and scooped some out into her empty bowl. As she ate her dinner Soap prepared for a rough night, grabbing an empty mixing bowl and a grocery bag before heading towards his room. He stripped and changed into more comfortable clothes before filling up his glass of water and taking some Tylenol. 

He let out a sigh as he climbed into bed, enjoying the peace of his apartment. The only sound breaking through was the small clank of Whisp’s bowl being pushed around the floor as the maniac ate her dinner. He closed his eyes, letting himself drift while dreading the guaranteed hangover morning would bring. He may feel like death, but he was thankful he had made it to the end of the day. 

Soap didn’t fight it when sleep came for him.  

[evalucent]

Episode Description

In the last weeks of Opening Night, Hadley Fraser kindly sat down with us to talk about his experience with the show and to look back on some of his recent credits too. After graduating from the Royal Academy of Music, Hadley has proven himself to be one of the most versatile actors on the West End stage, taking on principal roles in both musicals and classic plays. Hadley has also worked extensively in regional theatre, championing venues like Chichester Festival Theatre, Sheffield Crucible and Manchester's Royal Exchange. During Josie Rourke's tenure at the Donmar Warehouse, he also worked closely with the Donmar team on a number of shows including Coriolanus, Saint Joan and City of Angels. The Donmar was also where he met his now-wife: Olivier nominee Rosalie Craig with whom they share a daughter. The couple still occasionally work together, most recently on a livestream of Stuart Matthew Price's Before After and we look forward to seeing the pair on stage again soon.

In this new interview, Hadley Fraser opens up about his experience as a performer and as a creative. He talks to us about his current experience of putting together Opening Night with Ivo Van Hove and discusses the importance of taking risks, even when in a difficult financial climate. He admits he was aware the show would split opinion but remained intrigued by the avant-garde director's vision of the show and shares his admiration for Wessex Grove Productions, Rufus Wainwright and Ivo Van Hove. As he prepares to take his final bows next month, he remains grateful for the time spent with this company as he looks ahead to life after Opening Night.

Opening Night runs at Gielgud Theatre until 18th May with tickets available NOW.https://open.spotify.com/episode/5EH6t9c1BwWoHdlScSsttEhttps://open.spotify.com/episode/5EH6t9c1BwWoHdlScSsttE

[thisbluespirit]

Interview with Avril Elgar in the Manchester Evening News 5th March 1981.