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

(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.

Ta

Justin xx

See you soon friends

Justin xx

Hi

Just a quick update to let you know during the run of Two at the Royal Exchange, I’m going to be doing a very special Justin Moorhouse and Friends on 31st January 2012 at 7.30pm.

All the details are being finalised as we speak. It’ll be me and a few mates doing stand up in the round in the main theatre at the Royal Exchange – I’ve got a couple of names already onboard that will ensure this will sell out very quickly.

We will be giving the proceeds to two great local charities Wood Street Mission and The Children’s Adventure Farm – click on them to find out more.

I’ll be announcing the line up and how you can get tickets via my mailing list – so if you want to be in, fill in your email at the top of this page. I don’t send many emails out don’t worry. Just the odd one about rolex watches and making your winkie bigger.

Cheers

Justin x