Sunday 15th December 2024

Woke around 0700 but managed to drift back off until 0930. Aki brought me some tea in bed. Got up for her cooked breakfast. She headed off for the Rowing Club. I ran through the numbers for tonight’s gig, and got all my instruments and bits of costume ready to transfer to the car. Made a pitta bread sarnie, then packed the car boot and headed for Stoke Newington. Managed to park up out front of the theatre to unload, then parked up in Alkham Road around the corner. Walked back to the theatre to find Colin and Matthew busy setting up the stage and sound system. Lawrence will be on the mixing desk as per usual. Spent most of the remainder of the afternoon rehearsing through the material with the various acts. Shaping up well. Aki came to find me around 1730. She'd managed to smuggle a pork pie out of the Lea Rowing Club festive lunch do...she also bought some salad from Wholefoods, and we ate in the Smith Studio in between songs. 

Audience started coming in at 1850 for a 1900 start. We kicked off with Matthew singing Elvis's "You'll Be Gone", and Bee and I sand a couple of songs in the first half which went down well...got to debut my shruti box! Chaachi James rounded off the first half, singing show tunes, including one she'd written herself for a musical she's been working up...excellent stuff! 

Aki nipped out to bring the car round to the front of the theatre during the interval while I gave out song sheets for the communal singalong. The Reverend Jesus Treacle lead the singalong, which went down well. I later played harmonica for Emma who sang a rather flat rendition of Dylan's "It's All Over Now Baby Blue", and mandolin on Emily's rendition of "The Dark End of the Street", and the finale "Come Dancing". Part of my motivation in taking part had been impressing Colin, our MD, with my versatility, in the hope that he'd use me in the band for the summer production of "Moby Dick" at Minack...but I was collared by Angharad, who is writing and directing it, offering me the opportunity to audition for the role of Stubb, my interest being piqued by her describing the role as being "silly"! Aki helped me load the car, and we had a drink in the bar afterward, before driving home. Late bath before bed...