I went down to Manchester on Friday to say a quick hello and drop some things off for Hard Graft patron Amanda Holden. Amanda is in her fourth year of judging Britains Got Talent and by the number of paps outside waiting for a glimps of her they're doing rather well. Good luck Amanda.

Knife Edge - our next production had a brilliant reading last week at the Lowry. 25 industry friends (actors, writers, agents, directors and producers) came along to have a listen to what I've been writing for the last 6 months. I was bricking it! Adam Sunderland and the cast had worked their butts off to get it into shape and it was moving, funny, interesting and everything I want it to be with 3 months to go till D -Day. I have a feeling about this play, a deep sense that this is it, this is the one.

I'm also pleased that I've been asked by Reform Theatre Company (great company in Sheffield) to re-think Thick As Thieves. I can report that it's going very well indeed. You'll be able to see this one October and November 2010 in a theatre near you.

knife point for knife edge.

Happy new year.

Hope you had a good Christmas? We're still digging out after the longest cold spell since the last one when the dinosaurs 'got it'.

I am bored with snow, with pushing cars and things being cancelled.

Any way thank you if you came to see the Elves and the Shoemaker we doubled last year's audience and look set to move next year's show to a 200 seater venue to keep up with demand. This week we had an extra performance in Helmsey North Yorkshire. We left Manchester at 7am because of the - 17 temperatures and arrived in Helmsey with more snow falling. there is no business like snow business. 2 shows later and we're driving home in treacherous conditions with a £1,500 insurance excess on the hire van down Sutton Bank.

Bloody bricking it! three actors in a van making life and death decisions based on how quick we'll get home (if you go round you add an hour on the journey). I'm still having flashbacks 4 days on.

Hard Graft Theatre Co. are having a rehearsed reading tomorrow with 4 actors at the Lowry of Knife Edge a new play I've been writing. It's a scary time for me, I've spent weeks alone thinking and writing this story only to have complete strangers have their say on my work.


wish me luck

Mark Whiteley

The show always goes on.

Since I started Hard Graft we have only ever cancelled one show back in 1999 when we were doing Thick as Thieves in a shop in Nottingham. The first night was packed with friends and family and went down a storm. however, someone forgot to tell the population of Nottingham that we were on for three weeks and our second night was supported only by one lady. The Equity rule I think has something to do with the amount of cast out numbering the audience so Dan and I decided to cancel and offer the lady a ticket at a later date. Word soon spread and we played to packed houses for three weeks.

This week Saddleworth has been covered with snow. our sell our houses have been diminished to those willing to walk to the theatre in ski suits. My mobile and the office phone has been rung off the hook with people asking if we've cancelled. I will never cancel a show Clare comes from the other side of Manchester and David drives from Leeds, so I feel if they can get through the blizzards we must go on.

I'll leave you with these words

There's no business like show business like no business I know
You get word before the show has started that your favorite uncle died at dawn
Top of that, your pa and ma have parted, you're broken-hearted, but you go on

There's no people like show people, they smile when they are low
Yesterday they told you you would not go far, that night you open and there you are
Next day on your dressing room they've hung a star, let's go on with the show!!

Merry Christmas and thank you all for your support.

See you next year

mark

Elves and the Shoemaker opening day

Hard Graft Theatre Company's second Christmas Cracker opened this morning in Uppermill Saddleworth with the elves and the shoemaker and what a show. An audience is so important to a show, they are one of the magic ingredients that finishes off they process of making theatre. today to two sell out houses magic was made and an old hall in Saddleworth became a theatre. Children laughed, grown ups groaned and I sat with a grim ear to ear listening to the lines that before today had only lived in my head.

Best thing today was - I play Santa after the show and a little girl came into my grotto and I asked her, " what did I bring you last Christmas?" She said, "I'm polish you didn't see me last year". Now, if you didn't know I've been touring the country with Dan doing a show called Poles Apart and Dan taught me about 6 words of Polish, one being Hello, How are you? You should have seen the smile on her little face when I spoke Polish to her -

Jak sie masz

Oh and I nearly forgot - Holly our helper over heard a kid telling a teacher "It's not the real Santa, I went to Lap land last year and he's tall and thin, not fat."

Elves and the Shoemaker

Well, what a hectic week. We started rehearsing for the Elves and the Shoemaker our second Christmas show with Claire Lever and David Crowley magnificently directed by Judith Barker. I'm doing what I do best - collecting props and building a set.

We have now had to put on two extra performances to cope with demand on Sunday 20th and Christmas Eve. both shows start at 4.00pm -

I thought I learnt last year about how best to run these shows, only thing I didn't consider was the popularity of this year's show. We have sold out many shows and probably doubled last years audience, we can only build and learn from this experience. Costumes are nearly made, lines learnt lights ordered. The Elves and the Shoemaker will be a great Christmas show, see you there.

Update - I watch a run this afternoon and it was lovely. It's going to be the best childrens show we've produced

I'm living in beautiful mono again.

You may remember my dog ate the hearing aid and left me sad and deaf, well thanks to the NHS I know have an aid for both ears. Unfortunately the left ear is so damaged I can't really get any noise I recognise from it.

Rehearsals are going well for Poles Apart. Dan has been up all week and we open tonight at the Lowry to a sell out crowd. The promoter there emailed me yesterday to tell me they had one seat left, thank you Manchester. Dan has written a load more material about the BNP and last night I dreamt a load of Brown Shirts were waiting for me outside the theatre. Hope dreams don't come true.

Hollyoaks

Could I play his Dad? Answers on a post card.



We've nearly sold out at the Lowry, I'm so excited. Poles Apart is the most successfully show we've done. I know Dan reads this, (just in case I write about him) so listen. What you doing messing about in London when the world wants to see and laugh with you. 'Get on board the friendship train.' Write a show and tour with Whiteley, you're both good at it.

If you live in London though buy a ticket for Rich Mix

Enough already. I auditioned today for Hollyoaks as a dad with MS. If I got the gig I'd have to act in a wheel chair. Deaf and disabled - is there no limits to my talents? I spent all day learning the script all three scenes only to be told by Dorothy Andrew not to bother.

The Elves and the Shoemaker is also exceeding expectations. It's going to be an excellent show.