I haven't blogged in a long time, so I figured that I ought to fill the dead space with some words.

Big news is that I am currently living in Venice! That's right - for four months I actually have acting work and as my rent and travel is covered in addition to weekly payment, for the first time in my life I am actually living off acting work, and it really is lovely. As an actor you get so used to being unemployed, constantly seeking and applying for work and generally worrying about it, that to be actually employed is a phenomenol weight off my shoulders in addition to the joy of acting, and living somewhere like Venice.

I'm in a tourist show about the history of Venice, so whilst it certainly ain't Shakespeare and is more like '(F)acting' I still love to be on stage and I still get that little tingle of pre-show adrenaline before each performance. I am understudying one of the lead roles, which sees me onstage twice weekly in said role, and then 4 nights a week I play 'Greeter' which is a combination of front of house/stage management and clown. Whilst I'm only on stage for a matter of minutes, it's nice to be packing a punch as some well timed comic relief and I love the opportunity to do what is essentially clowning and a lot of mask work (suitable for Venice and Italy) to add to my acting repetoire. As a 'Greeter' there is little fixed dialogue so its a great opportunity to improvise and a lot of fun for an actor.

The show has been a nice confirmation that I'm happy to be on stage night after night, and a further confirmation of all that advice from drama school about being alive in the moment and continuing to react and improvise to keep it fresh for both you and the audience whilst delivering a consistent performance for each audience.

Of course nothings perfect and it is sometimes difficult and unrelenting pressure as the director also happens to be the lead actor, which is not an experience I would like to repeat the length of my career, But the fact that I live in Venice, and am free to explore the city, surrounding islands, history, beaches, food... all day (plus doggedly learn Italian every day - I remember languages being so much easier at school. A sign that I'm getting old?) and then rock up at the theatre at 6, leaves very little to complain about. A slightly unreal experience.