FIRST WEEK AT RADA
The Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts is wonderful. It is certainly the teachers that make it what it is- they are exceptional. Many of them continue to work as performers in the industry as well as teaching. Rather, they teach as well as acting. There are 28 of us as students on the Acting Shakespeare summer course, from various walks of life, aged from 19 to late 30s. I enjoy their company greatly, though I do wish I had a QUT companion with me so we could share, compare and discuss the different approaches and discoveries. I am keeping a separate diary of all the classes and exercises I undertake, for those who are interested; I will attach the link shortly.

I caught up with Jacobie on Thursday night, and we saw a fantastic production of Edward Albee’s “The Lady from Dubuque” at the Haymarket Theatre Royal. It was quite harrowing in subject matter particularly in the first half, but then became quite surreal towards the end. And all the while, utterly enthralling. The actress who played a woman in her early 30s, dying of cancer, was brilliant. And Dame Maggie Smith as her ‘mother’ was great – truly in her element on stage, full of confidence and presence, and quite adept at playing with the audience. There was actually a fair bit of audience interaction in this play, and I think the cast got it just right. I am surprised this play of Albee’s has not been produced more often. Or is not more widely known.