I don’t know about any of you, but I’m really missing the theatre thanks to this pandemic. It will always be special to me because it helped me find my tribe – the people who enjoy my company, accept my limitations and don’t allow me to be defined by them. Finding that space that gives you that sense of empowerment and feeling like you belong as a disabled person in a society that’s inaccessible to you in a whole multitude of ways, big and small, is, to my mind anyway, worth its weight in bronze, silver and gold. I know some people might scoff at that and not understand.
During the initial weeks of lockdown, I was finding it incredibly difficult to engage with any of the fabulous theatre content made available online as theatres and creatives shifted into this new normality that we are all adjusting to. I went to my last West End show the Sunday before “Stay at Home” lockdown measures came into play with a feeling that it would be my last for some time, and I wouldn’t have traded being in that auditorium for the world. So, everything felt too raw after that and just reminded me how much I miss my friends and these incredibly talented companies who work so hard, both onstage and off to produce the calibre of work I have come to treasure so. It’s changed my life for the better in ways I could never have dreamed.
I turn 30 at the end of August, and with the industry I love in such dire straits, I won’t be spending it in the way I’d like to. I wanted to go see the awesome wizards at the Palace, an afternoon at the Pridelands, introduce my friend to the talents of my favourite leading man after years of singing his praises to her, and a whole host of other theatrical joy. At the moment, I couldn’t feel less like marking the milestone if I tried…
I don’t want to lose what this industry gives to me, and that’s why I’m taking part in Read For The Globe.
It’s a 48 hour readathon of Shakespeare plays to raise money in order to help Shakespeare’s Globe through the pandemic that has so badly decimated the arts industry. You can watch along on Youtube starting tomorrow at 7pm! (Note all times are BST)
I’ll be reading in Henry V on Sunday, and Romeo & Juliet on Monday. Lend us your ears, and please donate if you’re able ❤📖
Follow along at @GlobeRead
Wheelie Stagey 
It’s been decades since I read all of Shakespeare…college probably. I’ve learned a lot about the challenges of being disabled because of my husband who has been in a wheelchair for over 5 years now. He lost the use of his right arm and leg due to a misfortune during brain surgery….and last year he lost a leg due to a rare cancer which has no cure. So, he is mostly in a hospital bed except when our son and I get him into his wheelchair for brunch and dinner. Transportation to the cancer center is costly. In years past we have not been picked up for appointments and/or made to wait long times to get back home. Everything people do that seems simple, isn’t. I’m glad you have some help with things…and of course you have the very handsome Milo.😊 You write so wonderfully…keep it up! It does seem hard to have no theater….Broadway is dark here of course. I’m not really sure when or how they plan to reopen. Let me be the first to wish you a VERY happy 30th birthday. From my vantage point….that is so young. Stay safe and please pet Milo for me.💝
I still haven’t read all of Shakespeare even though I studied it through school and university and always loved it! My favourite plays aren’t featured for the readathon but very much looking forward to it, and I hope you may be able to catch up with some where you are once they’re all up on Youtube! Sending you and yours my love and well wishes and THANKYOU as always for the kind compliment xx
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