I’ve been slacking recently updating here. Just been busy.

In the meantime have a look at this. It’s probably the saddest thing I’ve seen in about 4 weeks.

It’s to mark the this week’s anniversary of the passing of Jim Henson, remarkably 22 years ago.

Hello Friends

You know me I don’t like to talk about all the great work I do for charity. I do loads, in fact it’s a nightmare for me going on a flight, forever held up at the security scanner with my huge heart of gold.

Seriously though it’s very easy for comedians to raise some money for worthwhile stuff. Twenty minutes of our time at a local gig costs us nothing in real terms, add in the fact that most of us enjoy being on stage and the audiences tend to be really nice at these events and everyone is a winner. It isn’t a selfless thing either – the great feeling you get doing something you enjoy doing and raising money is unbeatable.

I have arranged a gig on the 17th May at The Chorlton Irish Club for the opening night of Chorlton Arts Festival. It promises to be a great night and all money raised will contribute to the Festival’s digital arts work with young people.

If you have ever been to one of my gigs like this or this that I’ve done before for charity then you’ll know the drill. We don’t release the line up until it’s sold out. We always put on bills that people can’t believe and the bonus is they come to see a great show, possibly are a bit surprised and they’ve bought a ticket for the right reason. Once again this is the case. Tickets cost £10 and you will not be disappointed. Buy then now to avoid looking like a lemon when you find out who is on.

Tickets are on sale now from here

Spread the word friends.

Justin

Just wanted to share this with you, I’ll not make any comment except to tell you this was confiscated from a stag party at a comedy gig by the MC and posted on Facebook by Susan Murray.

Hello Friends

19.4.12 revised after first posting – see EDIT later on.

It is with a huge amount of trepidation that I bring you the following thoughts. I stand on the precipice of my humble life in comedy. Frankly I may blow it all for ‘speaking my mind’. However speak it I must.

Two separate things have happened to me today that have made me think about comedy and my fellow comedians. I woke up to receive the following email from Jongleurs. Jongleurs if you don’t know are famous brand in comedy, blah blah blah history – it was sold, used to be called something else (Highlight), blah blah, went bust, got name back, different company. Whatever. Jongleurs/Highlights do get a fair bit of stick. I’m no expert I’ve never been a regular. I’ve played three different Jongleurs/Highlights clubs in my time. I liked the Battersea one; Graham the soundman is a dude. He’s at the Comedy Store in London now. The Leeds one is lovely, low ceiling – I played it quite a few times haven’t done for years.

The Manchester one was a hole. Horrible, I played it a few times always last minute. The last time I was there someone threw a chicken wing at me (chewed). I walked off stage and never went back. I’ve not gigged for them for years. So I was surprised to be on their email list.

Dear all,

Maria x

With the Sun? Really? Of all the brands you could have gone with you went with The Sun? But let us not dwell, let’s remember this is ANY form of comedy – songs, magic, mime, poetry, sketches and of course stand-up itself. Good I do stand-up.
I’m presuming I’d fall into the circuit veteran category. Well that sounds like something I can’t afford to miss. A performing contract with Jongleurs. Oh and a cash prize. I don’t know why – but I couldn’t resist clicking on the link. It gets worse.

The live event will be hosted by Cole Parker (ITV1′s Show Me The Funny) and The Sun’s Comedy Columnist Tommy Holgate, with comedy actress Lou Michelle and Lauren McAvoy (Britain’s Next Top Model winner) ensuring the very best video reportage.

The judging panel will consist of Jongleurs founder and owner Maria Kempinska, Comedy Producer Jerry Palmer and iconic ‘Allo ‘Allo! actress Vicki Michelle.

It doesn’t sound like it’s going to be good does it? Doubtless though people will enter. Even some from the circuit. I’ve seen a little bit of discourse on social networks today, one or two people have texted me. No one though has said publicly – hang on this sounds a bit shit. It’s like this every time. You know why? It’s because comedians are insular self-centred pieces of work. All of us.

There is a huge amount of jealousy in comedy, a good dollop of backstabbing and more than a fair share of bitchiness. Comedians rise up the ranks through either hard work or by being lucky. I must say I’m sick of the number of really poor comedians who rise to Arena tours and television shows through luck alone.

It happens nearly every week. Monday they are dong the Dog and Broom Open Mic night in Huddersfield next thing you know they are swapping bon mots with Gwyneth Paltrow on Graham Norton’s show the very next weekend. Bollocks obviously. Every single comedian that has risen to a level of success one could be jealous of in the least ten years has had ‘something’. You might not like what they have BUT enough of an audience do – fair play hey? Yet, I can think of only one or two comedians that have made the leap who have escaped barbs and sneery comments from the ‘circuit’. Ah that word – the ‘circuit’. Literally it can be taken as meaning a continuous loop of doing the same thing over and over again, going nowhere, but tiring yourself out as you plod endlessly towards death. For some of us that’s what the circuit is for others they build up enough momentum to launch themselves from it.

However it could be perceived as a community of like-minded souls, all with a common purpose to entertain (and inform) audiences up and down this land. A band of comedic brothers. It’s never that though. There isn’t a community, a union, and a common set of values. It is by its very nature a bitchy narrow-minded ego fest. You know what – that’s fine. The adage it’s show business not show friends is very true, I’ve made some great friends during my time, I’ve also met people I like enough to spend evenings and weekends away with. I’ve travelled to far corners to do gigs with very different personalities and in the main I’ve got along fine with all of them.

However there are people I don’t like on the circuit. There are others I mistrust, can’t abide, and am bored of – y’know like life itself? There are a number I wouldn’t throw the complimentary water from the dressing room onto if they were on fire. Yet another old adage rings true – it’s nice to be nice, or even if you have nothing nice to say – say nothing at all. I’m of the opinion that you’ll never get along with some people and what is the point of worrying or trying to make friends with people you wouldn’t in real life. I’m nearly 42 – I’ve got enough mates.

EDIT I’m editing this paragraph in after speaking to a couple of people I like and respect – I don’t wish to come across as someone who HATES comedy and comedians – I don’t at all. I love comedy and get along with 99% of my colleagues, I just get a bit tired sometimes with the negativity that maybe I’ve projected myself in this piece. Hope you allow me the courtesy of slightly altering my position – please like me! EDIT

However today I got a little bit annoyed. There are pictures in the media of John Bishop (and David Walliams but I don’t know him) posing for photos with David Cameron.

They are from a Downing St event where people (celebrities to be fair) were thanked for their efforts during the recent Sport Relief campaign. I’m not a Cameron fan – far from it, but I understand how these things must work. It’s Downing St who invite you, you meet David Cameron, have a glass of fizz, eat some canapés, shake some hands, photos get taken and the charity gets a bit more profile.

It’s quite a naff picture, an opportunistic PR grab by Big Society Prime Minister, he ends up looking good supporting John and David Walliams and the rest in their efforts. Where is the problem in that? It seems though this is distasteful to the circuit. Through social networking I saw a number of people I like (and like a lot in one instance) had posted the picture and this led to some frankly horrible comments. Now John is a big lad and I’d go as far to imagine he couldn’t give a shit. However I couldn’t help think wouldn’t it be nice to be nice for once about someone who has done well for himself, and done something nice for other people. It’s taken me over a thousand words to realise it’s because what I have known all along – comedians aren’t always lovely.

Hello

Despite giving the impression in my previous post about not being sure about stand-up comedy courses, I’ve only gone and and agreed to get involved in the following with the Royal Exchange Theatre. Just to be clear/wriggle out of accusations of being a hypocrite – these are for young people. I’m not sure there is a guarantee you’ll end up being a comedian at the end of it, plus if the worst happens and we just have a laugh and some kids end up a bit more confident about stuff – who loses?

Taking a little break from writing series 2 of Everyone Quite Likes Justin for Radio 4 – we have a deadline coming up and it’d be nice (and contractually necessary) to hit it.

In the meantime I’m in London this weekend doing the Comedy Store (best club in the world) and Headliners (best club in Chiswick). I’m also popping up at the Udderbelly on the Southbank on the Saturday night (best upside down purple cow next to the Thames). All the details for the Store and Headliners are on the come and see me page, click the link for the Udderbelly.

The fabulous and funny Jo Caulfield has for some time been posting advice for new comedians on her website. It began in response to new comics asking her advice, she posted  a few nuggets and then over time she asked friends of hers from the circuit to contribute.  I’ve enjoyed reading them and I was thrilled when she asked me.

I love stand-up comedy – it’s the single best thing I could ever possibly do for what is laughingly called a job. I’m happy talking about it and meeting new people ready to step up and have a go, I’m always happy to give advice. In fact a couple of years ago Mick Ferry (he also has contributed to Jo’s website) ran a very informal get together for stand-up rookies at his Space Cadet nights at TV21 in Manchester’s Northern Quarter. He asked me to do a couple and I think the people enjoyed them and got something out of them.

I’m not a massive fan of stand-up comedy courses, for some people I’m sure they can be a help, in fact one or two really good comics you may have seen on the television started out doing on – I’m pretty sure they would have got on with or without doing them.

The really good courses tell you quite clearly that learning to be a stand up isn’t done in a classroom, you have to get out there and just write and do the gigs. Die a bit, storm a bit and do very average for a lot of the time. What the good courses teach you is the basics of holding a mic, doing your time, how to get gigs etc. It’s up to you if you want to do one -it won;t do you any harm that’s for sure. Have a read of the advice Jo has gathered and here’s my contribution.

• Avoiding name dropping and using other people’s anecdotes.

• Don’t just bang on about what happens at other gigs on stage.

• You can’t be a stand up comedian unless you have to be one. (Mick Ferry told me Lee Evans told him that at the Glee in Birmingham)

• Avoid the word ‘genius’ on your Edinburgh poster.

• Write jokes every day. Write better jokes than you did the day before. Rewrite the jokes you have leaving a space after each punchline to put another punchline in. Seriously, you can’t improve your performance skills off-stage, you can improve your writing though.

• Do every gig you are offered and can do. Nothing beats stage time. Try and see as many of the acts on the show as you can, you’ll learn lots quickly.

• Try and get open spots at the best clubs – make this your focus when booking gigs. I know it’s harder than it used to be, but it’s the only way you’ll progress to paid work.

• Don’t talk about ‘progression’ – no one ever uses this word who goes on to be a comedian.

• No one in any audience will be thinking that you may be the ‘bastard love-child’ of any strange pairing of famous people.

• Keep your fucking hands off the mic stand when you wrap up until you have actually finished if I’m MC’ing.

• For every £100 you earn, keep a third for tax, a third for expenses, spend the rest at the bar.

• Learn from your deaths. It’s always your fault in some way, even if the gig is badly organised, sparsely attended, badly lit, over-heckled, full of Japanese only speakers, beery, in a strip-joint, south of the river, on a bank holiday – whatever. If the other comics didn’t die as badly as you – then you did something wrong.

• Record all your gigs and listen to them twice and twice only (on the way home and on the way to the next gig if possible) make notes. Refer to those notes next time you gig, and repeat.

• Chances are if somebody is doing the same gag as you they didn’t nick it, it was just an obvious joke. Write another one to replace, don’t waste time and energy bemoaning it.

• Try and talk about something else other than comedy with other comedians. You’ll be surprised how interesting it might be.

• There are no hard and fast rules to clothes. Though as I’ve got older I’ve realised the looser and shabbier your clothes are the tighter your stuff has to be on stage. Conversely if you look sharp and like you mean business you can get away with waffling for a bit.

• Topical stuff works well when it’s topical. In fact you can get away with easier/obvious/hack material if it’s clear you’ve wrote it that day. The audience will give you leeway with it. Couple of days after and you need to make sure you have ‘the’ joke to do stuff about a big news story.

• I’ve never understood the point of “give us a cheer if you……”. Seriously, what is the point? Please will someone let me know?

• Try and fill your car up with fuel before you get on the motorway. Have a big wee and a pooh too, take a snack and some water. Anything to avoid service stations in Britain – they are the work of the Devil.

• The first time you headline it should be a thrill. Savour it and strive to always be the top of the bill. There will come a time when you will gladly go on first at any gig so you can get home at a decent hour (providing the money is the same of course).

• If you do compere then every act on the bill should have the same introducing line, something like…..please welcome our next act….John Smith. Not “our next is a woman” or “our next act is quite new”…or “I worked with this act last week, he had a bad one then but I reckon he’s got something about him…”

• Enjoy it. It’s not just a job – it’s the best job in the world.

I’ve just come back from Tokyo. The single most exciting place I have ever been to. I’ll write a bit more about when I get the chance, but in the meantime here’s some photos I took. Click on them to make them bigger.

It’s a beautiful sun-shining, birds-singing, song-singing kinda morning. The kind of day when nothing is getting in my way. Today is going to be a good day. I send the eldest one off for his bus with a cheery wave and drop the little one off at her school with a big squeeze and a promise we can ride our bikes later. Life is grand, almost feel likes a Disney musical as I whistle and skip to the car to nip to the bank to do some stuff.

Life smells good, I’m at the bank early and because I knew I would be I do a little work sat in the car park on the iPad I’ve brought with me because I knew I would be early, and hey – every moment counts when the world is as grand and sun filled as this morning. I see the bank open, go in and smile and do my business (paying in a cheque not defecating in the RBS in some kind of protest at the state-owned business not making lending easier for struggling companies) – I bid the cashier a lovely day and trot back home.

The dog greets me with a waggy grin and I get her lead to give her a run in the park before settling down to finish editing the first draft of episode 2 of Everyone Quite Likes Justin. The park is quiet, only the usual other dog walkers and I exchange pleasantries with a smile and an acknowledgment that isn’t it a lovely day hey? I throw the ball and my gorgeous chocolate labrador pelts off to retrieve it, her coat glistening in the warm bathe of the sun. She returns with the ball in her mouth, drops it at my feet and goes to do her ‘business’ (not like mine in the bank – you know what I mean). I poop-a-scoop and we continue up the path past the park keeper who is tidying up the beds next to the toilets and and I give him a little wink – ordinarily two middle aged men exchanging a knowing wink outside a public convenience could be misconstrued, not today – today is sunshine day, first day of a glorious Spring.

It’s then everything starts to go wrong. I launch the ball from its launcher for the dog to chase over a large tree. I often do this to make the ball throwing game more interesting for her and for me.

The ball doesn’t drop. It’s lodged quite high up, but it’s not a problem. I throw the ball launcher up into the tree’s canopy to release the ball. The ball launcher gets caught in the branches. No problem, I’ve got something else. I throw the lead to dislodge the ball launcher. The lead gets stuck. The dog is circling the tree thinking this is the best game ever.

It’s then I make the biggest error of the morning. The only other projectile I have to hand is a small black bag. A small black bag tied and containing the ‘business’. I fling it skyward toward the lead, the ball and the ball launcher stuck up in the high branches. It misses all three targets. Gravity -that reliable bitch – kicks in. The small black bag, tied and containing the ‘business’ begins to hurtle toward the ground. Like a fielder in a game of cricket (or baseball US readers) I steady myself and cup my hands to catch it. I catch it. Unlike a cricket ball (or a baseball) it splits.

Whilst a crowd gathers and watches an out of breath, overweight man, wiping excrement from his hands on the grass with a labrador staring at him and a collection of detritus above him stuck in a tree, all the time shielding their children’s eyes from the horror, I think to myself, this isn’t how I thought today would be.

Fantastic song but it is getting on for 23 years since it was released and it is still relevant.

When you cast your eyes upon the skylines
Of this once proud nation
Can you sense the fear and the hatred
Growing in the hearts of its population

And our youth, oh youth, are being seduced
by the greedy hands of politics and half truths

The beaten generation, the beaten generation
Reared on a diet of prejudice and mis-information
The beaten generation, the beaten generation
Open your eyes, open your imagination

We’re being sedated by the gasoline fumes
and hypnotised by the satellites
Into believing what is good and what is right

You may be worshipping the temples of mammon
Or lost in the prisons of religion
But can you still walk back to happiness
When you’ve nowhere left to run?

Andif they send in the special police
To deliver us from liberty and keep us from peace

Then won’t the words sit ill upon their tongues
when they tell us justice is being done
and that freedom lives in the barrels of a warm gun

Word to your Mothers, Happy Mothering Sunday!

Just back from my trip to do some gigs in the U.A.E. and I’m glad I went and am glad I’m home. I learned a lot from my brief sojourn to Dubai and assorted other emirates and here they are in handy list form.

1. Despite being very close (at times 200 metres away) from the tallest building in the world whilst in Dubai – the Burj Khalifa (the tall thing in the picture above) I am so unimpressed by heights (read scared) that I didn’t go to it.

2. Buffet food in hotels is fine, though as a veggie the prospect of any more hummus, salad and unleavened bread for the next few weeks isn’t something I wish to contemplate. Plus after ten days I was screaming just to have a meal on a plate brought to me.

3. Everyone in Dubai drives with one hand poised on the horn. The reason being is that the horn is used more in Dubai than any other part of the car. The reason being ist that 95% of the drivers in Dubai are imbeciles, who have no spatial awareness, road sense or understanding of the laws of physics.

4. I saw more orange faces in Dubai than anywhere else in the world, and I’ve seen Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

5. Paul Sinha is on The Chase – I think he mentioned it once or twice.

6. Simon B. Cotter‘s kids play hockey – again I think I may have overheard it.

7. I bet I was a pain in the arse too.

8. As I sipped a cappuccino in Carluccios reading the Guardian I thought it is good to get out to the Middle East and understand and absorb another culture.

9. Gigs sponsored by both a beer company and a plastic surgery clinic make for a strange mix.

10. British Airways really are stretching it with the World’s Favourite Airline reputation. In fact the long drawn out drone about giving some money to Comic Relief on our return to Heathrow was perhaps the final straw that made the decision that I will never ever fly BA again if I have the choice. Seriously, the work that Comic Relief does is obviously well known and respected. I’m all for corporate responsibility and the idea of BA and Comic Relief raising money to help kids is noble. More than noble. It is a good thing. However a five minute lecture read out by a bored BA worker, repeating the same phrases over and over again without any variation of pitch and tone left me not wanting to reach for my small change but a small bore weapon to finish myself off.

See you soon.

Justin xx

Dearest Friends

I hope you are well and life is treating you well? Just a quick note to let you know I’m alive and well. I’m currently in the Middle East doing a run of gigs. I could moan and say I’m missing my family (I am) but those feelings are subdued by the fact that it’s gloriously sunny, the food is great and the company of Paul Sinha and Simon B. Cotter is comforting. Had a strange experience this morning – I got asked by Jason King who used to do a show on Key 103 until a year or so ago to appear on his show out here in the U.A.E. His studios aren’t in Dubai they’re a 40 minute ride into the Emirate next door but one. To be greeted at the hotel by a man driving a sponsored Hummer was bizarre – he drove me there in absolute silence. There was a moment as we sped towards the radio station’s compound (really) that the glitz and glamour of Dubai fell away and the environment became more like you’d expect the Middle East to look like – that I started to feel a little strange. It had the feel of a Jason Bourne film about it. That all disappeared when I got in. I don’t think the ‘asset’ (you have to have seen the films) would have offered me coffee and let me blab on about comedy for half an hour. It was good to see Jason and the other people at their sister station that I also went on. Off to Abu Dhabi tomorrow and then a few more gigs back in Dubai before flying home on Saturday.
I’m gigging next week at the Comedy Store in Manchester then I’m off to Tokyo the week after.

See you soon friends

Justin

Hello and I hope you are just swell.

It’s Monday lunchtime and I’ve just cleaned my office. Sprayed the desk with Mr Sheen and everything, it smells all executive-y. I feel like asking some one one to come in and ‘take this down’. Which reminds me of this

In the meantime if you could, will you answer the following questions? They’re not exactly that important but they vex me, really vex me.

1. Why won’t Apple let people merge Apple ID’s?

2. Why does Virgin Media not have Caller Display where I live – you can 1471 and get the number after but it won’t do Caller Display – what is this 1989?

3. Do you know anyone who could come round to my house and sort my iTunes out? It’s like a kitten has been playing with wool in there while high on crack.

4. Why is the Southport newspaper called the VISITER? Not the VISITOR?

5. You know Jesus? You know when he rises after three days – isn’t Sunday (Easter Sunday) only two days after Friday (Good Friday)?

6. When are you coming to see TWO at the Royal Exchange? It’s nearly finished you know – please don’t let your life be forever worthless by not coming.

See you soon chums – oh and answer the questions if you can.

Justin x

What was wrong with that?

It’s Thursday and I’m sat at Euston station waiting to get the train back to Manchester – I’ve got about an hour to kill due to a combination of train companies making the cheapest fares available only if you decide ages before travelling what train you are getting and not trusting London traffic/casting agents/tubes and me running to time.
So I thought I’d tell you some stuff that’s on my mind.

1. Thanks for all the nice messages asking after my welfare as I’ve not been on air at Key 103 for a while. I’ve stopped doing the TeaTime show now. It wasn’t my idea to quit neither was I fired but a number of things happened as are happening that left me unable to re-sign. Good luck to OJ who has taken over and I’ll still be on air Sundays 8-12 am.
2. The play I’m doing TWO at The Royal Exchange has gone very well. You might have noticed I’ve been banging on about it a bit. We finish next Sat – 25 February – get booking!
3. My Radio 4 sitcom EVERYONE QUITE LIKES JUSTIN has been given a second series. Tickets will be available soon for recording in May I think. Sign up to the mailing list for first dibs.
4. I am back doing stand up from March – here there and everywhere. I’m hoping to tour on my own again this Autumn.
5. My dog is still beautiful.
6. Kids are ok too.
7. Not got my priorities right have I?
8. Running out of things to say now.

See you soon.

Right now on my Facebook page- if you LIKE the post I’ve done about TWO at the Royal Exchange – I’ll enter you into a draw to win a pair of tickets. On me. I’ll have to buy them – only TWO weeks left.

Click on Facebook on this page – up a bit to the right

See you there

Justin

Hello

(c) Jonathon Keenan

Well we are a couple of weeks into Two at The Royal Exchange. It seems to be going very well, certainly audience reaction has been great and everyone at the theatre appears to be quite pleased with what we are doing. I’m really enjoying it and I know Vicky is as well. I always find myself in a tizz at what to do about ‘blowing my trumpet’ with things like this. I cringe sometimes at people I admire a lot tweeting every last little bit of praise they get – be it just a message about a gig or a review. It’s a funny one – if I was on tour doing stand up and getting loads of reviews that said I was the best thing ever but I wasn’t selling enough tickets then I’m sure I’d be a bit more forward at spreading the received love.

As it is – it doesn’t really matter how many tickets we sell for Two – I don’t get anymore dosh. Honest – I’m only getting one wage as well despite playing seven characters in the bloody thing.

However, I’m dead keen for as many people to see this as possible, houses so far have been really great for this time of year (I’m told) but we could always do with a few more bums on seats. So, I’m cutting and pasting some of the comments and reviews we have received. Obviously not the rubbish ones (there haven’t been (m)any). There are some great deals around especially early in the week – be great to see you.

‘* * * * *  THIS PERFECT LITTLE PLAY…BRILLIANTLY PLAYED..I CANNOT THINK OF A PLAY I HAVE ENJOYED MORE, OR FELT MORE MOVED’ The Independent

‘The design gets it JUST RIGHT… so do…Justin Moorhouse and Victoria Elliott..WARM, TENDER & WRYLY COMIC.’ The Guardian

‘TREMENDOUS performances – thanks to Moorhouse and Elliott, TWO is ENGAGING and WITTY yet FULL OF PATHOS.  They’re QUITE A DOUBLE ACT’ The Stage

* * * *Comedian Justin Moorhouse and actress Victoria Elliott work WONDERFULLY as a team..the two actors do an INCREDIBLE job..Elliott in particular is A JOY to watch.’ whatsonstage.com

‘Moorhouse and Elliott are SUPERB throughout..Moorhouse..is both BRILLIANTLY DISTURBING and TOUCHINGLY POIGNANT…Elliott is EXTRAORDINARY ‘ Exeunt Magazine

‘AN ABSOLUTE JOY TO WATCH.  As landlord and landlady they CRACKLE AND SPARKLE, loving and hating each other, picking at the raw nerve until the secret is out. IF YOU ONLY GO INTO ONE PUB THIS YEAR,MAKE SURE IT’S THIS ONE. ‘ The Daily Post

‘Elliott is EXCELLENT – Moorhouse is a REVELATION – BOTH DESERVE THE OVATION THAT THEY GET’ The Times

‘Moorhouse – ENGAGING , FUNNY AND WONDERFULLY ABLE TO EVOKE PATHOS…Elliott – ACTS HER SOCKS OFF – MOST DELICIOUSLY FUNNY’ Manchester Evening News

‘IF YOU’VE NEVER SET FOOT IN A THEATRE – TWO is SURE TO GIVE YOU THE BUG…THIS PLAY HAS EVERYTHING’ The Messenger

@Anne_L_Kershaw
Thoroughly enjoyed Two at @rxtheatre with @justinmoorhouse very funny and very intense. Really loved it.

@wifenotlodger
Thanks @rxtheatre for a night at the ‘pub’ watching Two, where our emotions were tickled, torn and twisted in the name of Love! #RXTWITIC

@ladybehave
Laughed & (almost) cried tonight @rxtheatre & @justinmoorhouse had me nearly convinced he was a small, duffel-coated boy at one point.

@st_murphys
@justinmoorhouse @rxtheatre Me and @coatsy82 loved it. Well done to you all.

@lisadonnelly33
Just seen Two @rxtheatre. Go and see. Its ace. Funny and poignant and sad. @justinmoorhouse was brilliant

Well it’s Saturday night and I’m tired, so tired. We did the last run through of Two today at the Royal Exchange. Tonight is the last performance of ‘You Can’t Take It With You’ which if you saw it you will know was absolutely fantastic. Audiences and critics loved the show and it did great business. No pressure following that then. I remember this night last year – our last show of Zack and a drink in the bar to celebrate, reflect and have a think about it all was spoiled by the sight of our beautiful set being ripped out moments after our final show. It felt horrible, like something delicate and gracious being stood on whilst we watched through the glass unable to stop it. Ok enough now, it’s only pretending and fannying about isn’t it?

Tomorrow morning our set will be going in and Monday we start our technical rehearsal. I think it’s been the hardest few weeks of my life. Learning lines isn’t something I’m very good at (in fact I’m still doing a bit of that). Slip in there the fact we each play seven characters, mime all the actions (no props) and there is a bit of dancing – not to mention that this play has comedy, sadness, tragedy, slapstick and little bit of violence for your psychopath has left me shattered. Shattered body and head. It’s worth it though. If we pull this off I reckon it’ll be a cracker. There is definitely the feeling that we have to do the play, the theatre, Greg Hersov the Director (and his team) justice. You just can’t hide with this one. Jim Cartwright wrote this for Sue Johnston and John McArdle when they left Brookside years ago and they’ve both really helped Vicky and me come to grips with it. Jim came in during rehearsals to meet us and talk about the play and it was a joy to have him in for therunon Friday. (We think he liked it – that or he is a brilliant liar).

Previews start on Tuesday which is a day earlier than usual for the Exchange but I think it’ll be good for us to get an audience in. It’s looking like the previews are mostly sold out but there are some tickets for Tuesday – half price for preview and you can find them here.

Hope you like it if you come and let me know if you are.

Cheers

Justin x

ps Just reread what I’ve wrote and I’m aware it sounds like the ramblings of a pretentious luvvy but that’s probably what I am now – sorry.
pps The title of the blog is weird hey? You’ll have to come to the theatre to find out why.

So tomorrow morning we are going to announce a cracking night of stand up comedy in the round at The Royal Exchange in Manchester. Got a couple of cracking guests that will probably mean it’ll sell out very quickly. The night is 31st January and all the proceeds are going to Wood St Mission and the Children’s Adventure Farm. Two great bunches of people who do amazing stuff for the most vulnerable in our society.
Join my mailing list to make sure you find out how to get priority tickets.

Ta

Justin xx

Just a quick note to say I’m on Celebrity Mastermind BBC1 tomorrow today at 630pm. Hope you watch it and enjoy it. I have to say I spent a considerable amount of nervous energy beforehand so if I look shaky that’s what it was. Also I think I laboured this point before I did it – I don’t consider myself a ‘celebrity’ but that seems to be the word they use these days – a lot. Believe me I’d have been much happier appearing on ‘Had a small part ten years ago in a sitcom and done a few bits since’ Mastermind but it wasn’t an option. Besides the chance to give Wood St Mission a few quid and have fun was too good a chance to turn down. I’ll be avoiding social networking tea time tomorrow today as people (even people I really like) have been quite scathing about the Celebrity aspect. Yeah yeah. Very funny – you think you’re the first?

See you soon friends

Justin xx