It's been a while...

So my blog and I have not been the best of friends over the past few weeks, but I have decided to give in and buckle, Hollie is a very easy distraction and sometimes its easier to entertain her then sit down and write pages and pages of words!

So from the first campus session I didn't learn much I felt that I had sat in on a Russian lesson as I walked out the door, none of the information had processed and I had no idea what so ever what I was supposed to be doing. So a decision was made I either stick my head in the sand until the 5Th May or I have a crack at the work and use the trial and error process, weather this was successful or not I'm not sure but at least I have something to work with.

On receiving my module handbook I became dizzy. There were to many words on each page, and the fact I was unsure of my objectives the finishing line grew further and further away so I left it to one side and decided it was defiantly a job to do small amounts of but regularly.

I began whittling down my options...

What was always present in my life?
What aspects have changed my acting life?
What subject will interest me for 6 months?
What subject will interest other people, to make it worth the research?

I realise some of you may be sick of hearing about the fact I recently became a mother, however this is a permanent fixture in my life and also the reason why I took this course rather then A standard 3rd course so I began to think about my situation and how the different factors have affected my future plans.

Having a child has put my career aims on hold, being a Mum and a West End star is something that I'm not comfortable with epically while Hollie is so young, you see Hollywood mums giving birth and being back on set the next day - some of them don't even bother with the whole pregnancy thing and adopt one.

So this became a choice however I was not sure which angle to take on the subject...

• Unemployed because I'm a Mum
• Is there and age limit to acting, or can I wait that extra 4 years till Hollie is in school?
• Has having a child ruined my chances of a sparkling acting career?
  
  

BABY HOLLIE

I don't care that this has nothing to do with the course I'm to excited...

Baby girl arrived on Sunday 20th December at 15.47 weighing 8lbs and she is beautiful. Hope you all have a great christmas...

Writing Style 3

So far we have seen twenty one different boys play the role of Billy, Liam Mower, James Lomas and George Maguire being the original three who in the first anniversary of ‘Billy Elliot - The Musical’ performed the role together each going on for various slices of the action, they were later joined by Sir Elton John, as a person who has seen the musical twice do I feel that have so many different boys play the same role take away from the magic? Not at all.

I feel the success of Billy Elliot has a lot to do with the fact that it is realistic. It is quite easy to fit any situation into the story of Billy weather it be something as simple as admitting that you secretly sing along to Barbie Girl or a more serious issue such as divorce, as a human being you must learn when you need to push yourself to achieve your dreams - this being an issue that Billy Elliot brings to light in a fabulous way.

As Billy Elliot’s writer Lee Hall had first hand experience of many of the issues bought up in the story it is only right that he can portray the feelings and emotions of the people and the general area in the correct way, a lot of films/plays find realistic issues a thing of the past allowing us to only imagine vampires and talking dogs, Billy Elliot is that of a traditional story and one of few that has successfully made the transition from screen to stage and still had a strong following many years on. “Billy Elliot - The Musical” a perfect example of a successful transition from screenplay to stage, as many would agree, The Daily Mail newspaper describes the show as ‘A Theatrical Masterpiece’ and Natasha Tripney of the Music OMH website suggests that “Billy Elliot - The Musical” - ‘touched a national nerve’. Both of these statements I feel people would agree with on seeing the film or the West End Show.

“Billy Elliot - The Musical” will be celebrating it’s 5th year anniversary in May 2010, although this may not sound like a long time for Musical’s these days it is a very promising figure, it can not yet compete with the likes of “The Phantom of the Opera” however does it ooze the magic that Billy Elliot does - I’m sure people will be cursing at the screen by now but are we not tired of a scary man in a theatre by now? Maybe not this is purely down to personal opinion.

Has Lee Hall done the story of Billy Elliot justice, he took his inspiration from a novel called ‘The Stars Look Down‘ however the book is aimed more at the serious side of life dealing with the political issues of mining, yet the moral still being ‘follow your dreams‘. Lee Hall created Billy Elliot and was in charge of his initial journey bringing his story from paper to the big screen, now he has taken on the job of transferring him from film to The West End and many other famous theatres around the world. The story of Billy Elliot is that of an individual one and one that I feel will be around for the long run.

Writing Style 2 - Draft 2

As you walk into London’s Victoria Palace Theatre your imagination begins to run wild. I compare this sort of feeling to reading a book and then going to see the screenplay - will the director have done the authors words justice? Will the set look as you imagined it? or will the thrill of an imagination be forgotten?

The theatre is full of people discussing the event which is about to take place, as we hear the final call bell the sense of urgency fills the air as the last remaining punters take their seats and we all relax into a world which we have no control over. As the orchestra strikes up the chills run down my spine and we begin our journey with Billy Elliot. The fact that the musical is home grown makes me feel even more inclined to enjoy the show, the talent that oozes from the young boys that play Billy is astounding and also adds to the magic of the piece as each section of the show begins you wish it never to end however your intrigued to know what comes next.

The set is a simple one using movement more to make the show work which allows the audience to use their imagination - in some ways I wish I had never seen the film previously because this is all I can picture at this point, however pushing that feeling to one side I place myself in a rough area of the North East and allow the feelings to enter my body taking allowing me to take a piece of Billy throughout the show. His house just a staircase with a bed at the top of it and a table at the bottom highlighting the lack of anything material being present in Billy’s life - this also an element that sets the adrenaline running through your body, you want his story to end with the simple words “…And they lived happily ever after“.

As each number begins you feel that it can never beat the last, the chorography and composition of each song are spectacular allowing the music to take the story of Billy Elliot into a completely different league to what the film did, although I agree that watching a film is nothing compared to the feeling of watching it at the theatre, 'Billy Elliot - The Screenplay' is one of few films that leaves you pondering for hours even days you I to be Billy, I want to dance my way into an audition and dance out with a yes. The beauty of the story is that each character fills an area of an average persons life making the story easy to relate to everyone has a Mr. Elliot who thinks that dancing is for poofs or think people and everyone has a Mrs. Wilkinson the one who wishing for you the best in life and tells you to fight for everything you want, especially those in the performing arts world.

‘Electricity’ has to be the musicals most famous song. You can feel Billy fit to burst with passion, the song itself is very mellow and slow it allows me as the audience to explore all areas of Billy’s emotions his movements are slight and his voice is soft part of me wants him to burst into a big number yet the simplicity of the words, set and choreography make this song all the more enjoyable to experience, we have watched Billy fight his feelings up until this point, try and play down his love for dance in front of his father - this is the first time we see him really tell his father how he feels and I speak for everyone in saying that we all have our fingers crossed that his father will give in to his cry for help. At this point it all gets to much for Billy and the audience you can fell people itching to jump out of their chairs and scream at Mr. Elliot ’take him to London’, ’Let the boy live his dream’ or something of the sort however the tension is keeping each person glued to their seats in the hope he will do it with little encouragement, the young boys who have been cast to play Billy have been cast for a reason its like they were born into the role they portray his story so well.

The magic of 'Billy Elliot - The Musical' is felt through out the theatre and if it portrays one message to us as an audience it’s that we make the life that we live, we must follow our dreams and aim high - if a 12 year old boy whose family live on the breadline can believe in himself then so can everybody else.

Writing Style 1 - Draft 2

Having made it’s debut in London’s Victoria Palace Theatre on March 11th 2005 Billy Elliot is still one of The West End’s most successful musical’s. The Musical has won a number of awards including four Olivier Awards, Ten Tony Awards and Ten Drama Desk Awards.

Set in the tough North East area of Tyneside Billy has spent his childhood longing to impress his family. With his mother dead and father caught up in the bitter mining strikes of 1984, Billy’s father has hopes for him to fulfil his dreams of being a boxer little does he know that the art of ballet has caught his sons eye. While he trains in the gym he spends his time fantasising about ballet - the perfect pirouette rather then a mean right hook, the beauty and grace of ballet is something that Billy cannot forget.

As his struggle to become an established dancer begins Billy finds it hard to keep it from his father in failing to do so Billy comes clean and after a little persuasion; from various people Billy’s father gets behind his son and works to fulfil his dancing dreams which looks promising as he manages to land an audition at ’The Royal Ballet School’ in London. The strains of being on strike begin to take its toll on the family especially now his son has big dreams of stardom, getting to London is not going to be easy on a strikes wage, the suspense of weather he makes it keep you gripped and leave the audience yearning for Billy’s father to return to work. Will he turn his back on his work mates? Or do it for his son? On one hand we experience a group of hard faced miners who think Billy may be harbouring homosexual feelings due to his passion for dance on the other we see a community who stand by each other and encourage all to do their best.

The story of Billy Elliot will have the family chanting ‘GO BILLY’ the whole way through the show, pulling at your heart strings and crying with laughter, this is a real must see for people of all ages. ’Billy Elliot - The Musical’ has been a West End sell out for nearly five years and has been taken across the pond showing in Broadway and debuting in Chicago in March 2010. Australia’s version of the show has bagged itself 6 of Australia’s most prestigious awards - The Helpmann Awards. Korea also want a slice of the Billy action and have been holding auditions throughout the year in search of their perfect Billy Elliot.

Lee Hall - a name all male ballet dancers should highly respect as he is the man who bought us the 2000 screenplay of Billy Elliot, his work was taken from the big screen to the stage and he went with it, beginning life as a modest boy from North East England, he managed to launch his playwriting career on radio with a piece called ’Spoonface Steinberg’ however to date ’Billy Elliot’ is his most successful work, which I’m sure is why he is so keen to have a say in every direction the story of Billy takes. The directing skills of Stephen Daldry and chorography by Peter Darling (who also worked on the screenplay) shine with perfection and professionalism much like the film allowing none of the Billy magic to be lost in translation.

'it's like forgetting who you are and at the same time something makes you whole.' a quote taken from the song ‘Electricity’ this is Billy all over although it’s not what is thought normal of a 12 year old boy from the North East in the 1980’s however it’s what makes him go.

If you haven’t seen “Billy Elliot - The Musical” yet then your missing out and it defiantly needs to be added to you Christmas list…

Victoria Palace Theatre,
8 Victoria St, London, SW1E 5EA
Transport Victoria

Telephone
0844 248 5000, bookings 020 7432 4220

Times Mon-Sat 7.30pm; Thur, Sat Mats 2.30pm
Prices £17.50-£60. Runs 3hrs. Booking to Dec 18 2010

Writing Style 2

As you walk into London’s Victoria Palace Theatre your imagination begins to run wild. I compare this sort of feeling to reading a book and then going to see the screenplay - will the director have done the authors words justice? Will the set look as you imagined it? or will the thrill of an imagination be forgotten?

The theatre is full of people discussing the event which is about to take place, as we hear the final call bell the sense of urgency fills the air as the last remaining punters take their seats and we all relax into a world which we have no control over. As the orchestra strikes up the chills run down my spine and we begin our journey with Billy Elliot. The fact that the musical is home grown makes me feel even more inclined to enjoy the show, the talent that oozes from the young boys that play Billy is astounding and also adds to the magic of the piece as each section of the show begins you wish it never to end however your intrigued to know what comes next.

The set is a simple one using movement more to make the show work. His house just a staircase with a bed at the top of it and a table at the bottom highlighting the lack of anything material being present in Billy’s life - this also an element that sets the adrenaline running through your body.

As each number begins you feel that it can never beat the last, the chorography and composition of each song are spectacular allowing the musical to take the story of Billy Elliot into a completely different league to what the film did. Each character fills an area of an average persons life making the story easy to relate to especially those in the performing arts world.

‘Electricity’ has to be the musicals most famous song. It highlights the part of the story where Billy takes matters into his own hands because that’s what he feels inside. He tackles his and his fathers problems taking the form of dance to do so, this really his the peak of the show the piece allows the audience to get behind Billy and feel his emotion and the fact that this is done by a 12 year old boy makes it all the more special. He tackles his demons on stage in front of the whole audience, to his fathers dismay Billy has no intention of caging his feelings for anyone, as he gets into the song you can see the love sparkle in his fathers eyes as he begins to realise that this is his child’s dream and he must get behind him and encourage him to fulfil it.

The magic of Billy Elliot - The Musical is felt through out the theatre and if it portrays one message to us as an audience it’s that we make the life that we live, we must follow our dreams and aim high - if a 12 year old boy whose family live on the breadline can believe in himself then so can everybody else.

Writing Style 1

Having made it’s debut in London’s Victoria Palace Theatre on March 11th 2005 'Billy Elliot - The Musical' is still one of The West End’s most successful musical’s. The Musical has won a number of awards including four Olivier Awards, Ten Tony Awards and Ten Drama Desk Awards.

Lee Hall - a name all male ballet dancers should highly respect as he is the man who bought us the 2000 screenplay of Billy Elliot, his work was taken from the big screen to the stage and he went with it. The directing skills of Stephen Daldry and chorography by Peter Darling (who also worked on the screenplay) shine with perfection and professionalism much like the film allowing none of the Billy magic to be lost in translation.

Set in the tough North East area of Tyneside Billy has spent his childhood longing to impress his family. With his mother dead and father caught up in the bitter mining strikes of 1984, Billy’s father has hopes for him to fulfil his dreams of being a boxer little does he know that the arts of ballet has caught his sons eye. While he trains in the gym he spends his time fantasising about ballet - the perfect pirouette rather then a mean right hook, the beauty and grace of ballet is something that Billy cannot forget.

As his struggle to become an established dancer begins Billy finds it hard to keep it from his father and after a little persuasion from various people Billy’s father gets behind his son and works to fulfil his dancing dreams and work towards an audition for ‘The Royal Ballet School’ in London. However as he is on strike he has no money coming in leaving him no choice but to return to the mines to fund Billy’s dreams Billy’s brother becomes infuriated seeing his father cross the picket line and the two come to blows, he sees his father as a ‘scab’ for breaking the unity of the miners, however one by one the miners back Billy’s dreams and offer the strike money for his bus fare to London yet this is still not enough, another of the ‘scabs’ offers Billy £100 from his wage - this is his chance Billy and Mr. Elliot make their way down to London to follow the boys dreams.

The story of Billy Elliot will have the family chanting ‘GO BILLY’ the whole way through the show, pulling at your heart strings and crying with laughter, this is a real must see for people of all ages. ’Billy Elliot - The Musical’ has been a West End sell out for nearly five years and has been taken across the pond showing in Broadway and debuting in Chicago in March 2010. Australia’s version of the show has bagged itself 6 of Australia’s most prestigious awards - The Helpmann Awards. Korea also want a slice of the Billy action and have been holding auditions throughout the year in search of their perfect Billy Elliot.

So far we have seen twenty one different boys play the role of Billy, Liam Mower, James Lomas and George Maguire being the original three who in the first anniversary of ‘Billy Elliot - The Musical’ performed the role together each going on for various slices of the action, they were later joined by Sir Elton John.

To book tickets - which I suggest you do go to the following link...

'BILLY ELLIOT - THE MUSICAL'