I’m going to be Lois of the Lane-ing as part of a variety fundraiser for Whizz Kidz at The Bedford in Balham on Sunday the 17th of July. I’ll be doing 3 of my 5 minute acts. There will also be, for your pleasure, a ventriloquist, acoustic guitar, a dj, a band, and some vocalists. It runs from 3pm – 8pm and tickets are £8.50 – you can buy them on the door 🙂
Cropped and ready to rock!
I appear to have had all my hair chopped off 😀 Renders my headshots slightly out of date, but it certainly feels good! Hello Summer. The pixie-esque crop will have useful photographic evidence soon-ish.
In less hair-based news – my show GLITCH made another appearance last week: I was support to 2 bands at The Lexington in Angel. Wasn’t sure how it would go down in a gig setting, but it worked surprisingly well!
This Saturday I’m off out to do some Lois of the Lane air guitaring at The Stag’s Head in Hoxton for the legendary night that is Gypsy Hotel. I’ve even bought me some rockin’ wristbands for the occasion. Splendid.
A Holloway’s Day’s Night
I’ve just come to the end of a long day’s sound editing on my computer and my brain is pretty fried, but I am determined to push a blog out before I collapse into bed. Hmm… that sounds wrong.
The sound in question was a long overdue re-edit of my Lois of the Lane Air Guitar act which I’m going to be doing at tomorrow (today’s!) monthly Village Green Preservation Society night at The Betsey Trotwood. Much happier with the act now – just got to find some time to rehearse it…
I’m back at The Betsey next Monday the 30th of May where I will be very pleased to be playing a couple of songs for John Hegley‘s monthly night.
The week after, on Saturday the 11th of June at 2pm, I’m going to be doing a one off performance of my show GLITCH in the Old Fire Station on Mayton Street (N7 6QT) for the Mayton Street Festival which is part of the Holloway Arts Festival. It’s freeeeeeee!
Circuit went down really well the week before last and Iris Theatre have plans afoot to get it on again. Here are some pictures of me as the malfunctioning musician android:
and here’s a snippet of my act:
Now, to sleep….
A very Lane-y new year
Happy slightly new year all!
2011 ain’t been too bad for me so far. A few bits have been going on…
I made another appearance at the Village Green Preservation Society at the end of January with a Lois of the Lane based guitar/voice over happening which, despite being very last minute, seemed to work! This was a very, very basic try out of an idea I have for a new full length show this year that I want to take up to the Edinburgh Fringe in August if I can scrape together the monies. Watch this space! (I am very excited about it…)
I’ve finally created a Facebook page for Lois of the Lane. You can find her here:
Lois of the Lane
Promote your Page too
I’ve also just uploaded the versions of ‘Me and Mr Bones’ and ‘The Last Two Zombies in the World’ that I recorded for The Other Woman Podcast. You can find ’em on my singing page.
Onwards into February…
Lots of guitar stuff and a smidgen of cat
Crimbly times approach…
What news? Well, last week I was Lois of the Lane air guitaring at Oh My Lord!, the opening of the first Japanese style cosplay cafe event in the UK (^_^)
At the beginning of November I had my first ever comparing gig at FanSHEN theatre company’s 5th Birthday bash at Southwark Playhouse. I survived, and managed to do a few songs and a Lois of the Lane slot in amongst the fantastic musicians and DJ who were playing that night. Grand evening!
At the end of November I made another outing to the Village Green Preservation Society‘s monthly night. It looks like I may well be a regular there if I manage to keep pulling songs out of the bag! I’ll be back there in January all being well. (As my blog updates on here are sometimes quite sporadic, you could join my Facebook group if you want to be kept more in the loop with such stuff… mebbee?)
Following this I made an appearance this week on The Other Woman Podcast, chatting about the kind of stuff I get up to and playing a couple of songs. You can listen to the whole thing here:
…and the songs I played, here:
Thank you, ladies, for having me!
The tracks’ll end up on my singing page at some point soon. As one of them includes “Me and Mr Bones”, here is a picture of said legendary animal, just because I can 🙂
Guitar, maaan
I’m currently sat all beatnik-ed up in my room, ready to go and perform at the inaugural night of The Village Preservation Society‘s monthly residency at The Betsey Trotwood this evening.
Slight changes (or rather: additions) are now afoot in my cabaret offerings following my jaunt up to the Edinburgh Fringe last month. I went up to busk on the mean streets of the Royal Mile and prepared some cover versions and original bits to sing and play guitar to. I even made the very serious investment of purchasing a kazoo and bastardised harmonica holder to spice up the proceedings.
Considering I would never have dreamt of singing and playing in front of people under normal circumstances, coupled with the fact that I haven’t picked up my guitar regularly for ages, it went really well! I made a few bob (I do really mean ‘few’), didn’t have rotten food thrown at me and massively upped my confidence levels. I had NOWHERE NEAR as big a crowd as some of the old hands, but it was muchly useful nonetheless.
I subsequently had a radio interview on Leith FM, where I played a couple of my original songs (I’ll upload the catchily titled ‘A Chinese Food Loving Vegetarian’s Lament’, based on a song you’ll aaaaall know, soon…) and a couple of gigs at the legendary Bongo Club Cabaret where I had a fantastic time and realised that playing and singing in front of people and actually speaking(!) in between that, isn’t actually all that bad. Lovely friendly place to discover that. Thank you Bongo and Rhymes with Purple! Who’d’ve thunk it? Lois of the Lane made a brief but triumphant appearance at the Bongo too. She’s definitely here to stay 🙂
So, on the back of this, I’ve decided to start writing some more songs and do them on the comedy/cabaret circuit – as well as Ms of the Lane – and this evening I’m premiering a jaunty new song entitled ‘The Last 2 Zombies in the World‘ which I knocked out on Sunday. A month or so early I suppose, but it’s good to be prepared. (You never know when they might strike..) I’ll get it recorded at some point soon and stick it on my singing page. Keep your eyes/ears peeled for more…
Since I’ve been back from the beautiful ‘burgh I was a part of Jennifer Farmer‘s première performance of her new immersive theatre/sound play ‘Conversations I Wish I Could Overhear’ which was part of the Spit ‘n’ Scrub open studios at ASC Studios in Bow. I’ve also just found out that I’ve got a cracking part in a great piece called ‘No Surprises’ by Mikail Chowdhury, that’s going to be part of a one off charity event on the afternoon of Saturday 16th of October. More details on this one soon. Really looking forward to getting my teeth into it!
Until then, here’s a couple of picture of me busking on the Southbank, just before heading up to Edinburgh, taken by my friend Sarah:
You’ve gotta love a kazoo…
Tragic Cabinet Freakshow Twin Application Symposium and Waterloo East Busking!
Another 4 months appears to have zipped past. They do that don’t they?
Well, in April I was being all tragic in a masked version of The Bacchae for Chris Vervain which was filmed for use in schools. Helloooooooooooo Thebes!
In May I had another private Lois of the Lane gig and then subsequently found myself hanging out at Paul Zenon‘s cabinet of Curiosities at the Brighton Fringe:
I was generally being a helpful sailor and keeping an eye on Paul Garner‘s freakshow artwork:
June saw me freaking out with the Gawkagogo Freakshow again – this time at the Udderbelly on the Southbank as part of the Time Out Live Friday Night Freakshow. There was pigging and a bit of Siamese Twin action:
(Lots of black wig wearing going on over the past few months!)
Also finally put in an application to the Arts Council in June, for funding to re-develop and re-vamp Super Situation. ALL TOES ARE CROSSED. I’ve just been on a fund raising course too, so NOTHING WILL STOP ME…
Moving on to July, last Thursday I was part of Jennifer Farmer’s 10 minute slot during the Brand writers symposium at the Southbank Centre as part of the London Literature Festival. She presented 4 small sections of piece she is developing entitled ‘thefadingcity’ which will ultimately be a large scale immersive theatre piece. I was doing random, absurd, interactive improvised stuff with kitchen implements, imaginary toxic ingredients and song. Love it 🙂
Coming up…
I’m putting on Super Situation and Glitch at the (almost) newly opened Waterloo East Theatre on Brad Street next week. Here be map. Also on the bill is ‘Baby Rice Cakes’ by Michele Hallak; performed by Michele and the Director of Super Situation: Jamie Rocha Allan. (We have the honour of being the first professional shows on there – whoop!) Important details below:
Thurs 22nd and Fri 23rd of July
7:30pm – Super Situation
9pm – Baby Rice Cakes followed by Glitch£8 for one time slot, £10 for both
Box Office: 0207 928 0060
Click here for Facebook event.
It’s part of the Best of Festivals season produced by Theatre6 which is warming up the theatre before it officially opens in September. Looking forward to cracking on with rehearsals next week 🙂
In August I’m going to be disappearing off to the Edinburgh Fringe to do a bit of busking for just over a week. As yet, I still have to dust off my guitar and come up with the songs, but, seemingly, I like a challenge!
The March-ing of Time
Erk – another long update hiatus. As ever, stuff’s been going down despite the radio silence.
First up, I had some marvellous new headshots taken at the end of October by Ceri Ashcroft. They are waiting in the electronic pile of bits to upload to my website when I manage to squeeze a long overdue website updating session in. Soon I hope! Soon… Here is one of ’em for now:
There are more on my Spotlight CV if yer interested.
The beady eyed of you will also notice on said CV that I have an agent! I’m now represented by Sharon Foster Management 🙂
Over a couple of Sundays in October I also got round to recording my little song with my bruv. It’s called ‘Really and True’ and it’s been uploaded to the site for a while now so you can listen to it here. ( For those with a more offend-able disposition than my own, there is mild ‘language’ from the start…) It’s me on guitar, kazoo and vocal and my bro on thigh slapping, faux glockenspiel and faux accordion. Very pleased with how it’s turned out. There’ll be a proper link to it added during my next update session and, at some point, there’ll be a video for it too. Raaaah!
In December, the Gawkagogo Freakshow descended upon The Lowry:
Much freakiness abounded and I got enjoy being part of the inaugural outing of the all new, literally all singing, all dancing Siamese Twin act, as well as the premier of the new Beatnik Piggy act and various other freaky gubbins. More Freakshow news at some point in the near future…
As for Lois of the Lane, she performed at the Comedy Cabin at the end of October and has had her a private gig so far this year at the RVT, with another private gig booked for elsewhere in May. On the Super Situation front, plans are still afoot for the next stage of the show. STILL VERY EXCITED!
Coming up, I’m going to be involved in a film production of The Bacchae in April. Amongst other things, it’ll be a great chance to learn a good chunk of lines again. (So much silent performing over the past few years – which I LOVE, but speech based things do also most definitely float the boat.) Until then though, there must be a veritable cracking on with the stuff that needs to be done. Let me at ’em…
What a to-do
Whilst all quiet on the blog front it’s been all go in the real world…
My new show Super Situation was somehow finished in time after me spending most of the year hurtling at breakneck speed towards the ever looming deadline. We had a great couple of previews at Theatre 503 at the end of July and then off I headed to The Bongo Club for the whole of August for this year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
Wearing a Super Hero outfit almost every day for a month really ain’t that bad and a great time was had by all. You can find reviews, photos and the rather wonderful Extraordinary Watch blog here.
I managed to get a great team on board to help me with the show (you knows it) and the plan now is to develop the show further and get ourselves a nice tour booked. Yum. Lots of work to be done.
Lois of the Lane also made a number of cabaret outings up at the Fringe this year including Sweet Venue‘s open mic night, the Generation Crunch night at Bedlam Theatre, the MOOnlight Sessions at the Cow Cafe in the Underbelly and last, but certainly not least – the Bongo Club Cabaret. Then, upon our return, she nipped straight off to do a gig in the teeny tiny Comedy Tent at the Offset Festival, where she ate lots of food and drank some oh-so-delicious free beer.
In Gawkagogo news, preparations are well underway for the next, re-vamped outing of the Gawkagogo Freakshow which will be rearing its beautifully ugly head on the 3rd of December at The Lowry in Manchester. I’ve got one half of a great new character to get my teeth into and some new Piggy antics to attack. Can’t wait.
Some photos of three of the characters from the Freakshow, including me as the Pig Faced Girl, are up on Alexandra Jasper‘s website – taken for her collaborative ‘Burlesque Grotesque’ book project.
Finally, after picking up my geetar on Sunday for the first time in ages, I wrote a silly little song which there’ll be a link to once I’ve got round to recording it. For now though, the to-do list must be tamed and the backlog of my life must be vanquished. Have at you!
WANTED! – Producer/Partner in Crime
It’s full steam ahead over here at Tucker HQ. Preparations for my next show ‘Super Situation‘ are well underway and I’m now looking for a Producer to help me sort all the stuff out that needs to be sorted out aside from writing the show – which I really ought to be getting on with – aaaarrgggh!
I’ve just posted an ad to www.artsjobs.org.uk which should be up in the next day or so all being well. Here it is in all its glory:
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Job – Producer/Partner in Crime
London, profit share, part-time, starting ASAP!
I’m a London based Actress who’s been writing her own work for several years. I now want to step this up a gear and am well aware I can’t do this all by myself…
I’m currently writing a one-woman visual comedy show to be performed at the Bongo Club during this year’s Edinburgh Fringe. I’m looking for someone to help me with:
• securing more funding/sponsorship
• liaising with the people I’ve got lined up to help me with Press, Marketing, Directing, Design etc.
• putting together a venue pack for organising tour dates
• researching possible venues
• publicity during the Fringe
• flyering and promotion
The show will be great fun to work on and I will provide free accommodation in a very central location for the entire Festival.
You’ll need:
• a good sense of humour
• good people skills
• a willingness to get stuck in
• experience of working at the Fringe
• a drive to make this work
I need someone who can be as excited about this project as I am and help me take it as far as it can go. I also need you on board asap so that I can get on with writing the show!
Ultimately I’m looking for someone to work with me long term so the role would suit someone interested in getting involved in/developing a small scale Theatre Company. Otherwise it’s simply a great opportunity to gain more experience.
More details about me and my stuff can be found here: www.loistucker.net
If you think working with me on this project would be of interest to you – please email me, detailing your previous experience and why this ridiculous venture is for you, and we can arrange to meet up over some kind of beverage and edible thing.
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Hopefully the right person will pop up very soon and the next phase of world domination shall begin.
Apart from lots of show preparation gubbins, I managed to sneak in a little Lois of the Lane gig at the end of March at Bar Kick. I really am totally snowed under with stuff at the moment so that might be the last one for a while. (I am of course a sucker for punishment and this is probably all lies.)
Onwards!