Hello!

So it has been rather a while since my last update, but that doesn’t mean that I haven’t been doing anything!

I have had a few auditions over the past couple of months for productions in Theatr Clwyd, Theatr na nOg and the Welsh Millennium Centre. I felt prepared for them, and gave them my best shot. Not to say they were perfect, of course, but they were certainly a lot of fun. It also means that I have had the opportunity to meet some more directors and casting directors along the way, and hopefully, they will bear me in mind when they are holding auditions for roles in the future.

I have also been writing some of my own material. What will come of them, who knows, but I am trying my best to stay creative where I can. Those writings include an idea for a one man play, and some songs which I intend to use in a musical idea I have at the moment. Of course, these are both just ideas, but they are both things that I would love to produce at some point. At the very least, it is an exercise in seeing whether or not I am any good at writing itself, but it is good to have a go nonetheless.

I have been reading some plays too, getting through Uncle Vanya again for an audition, as well as some Samuel Beckett and Simon Stephens. I think it goes without saying that Beckett is rather absurd, and not normally the kind of writing I am into, but I have enjoyed his work more than I anticipated!

I have seen a fair amount of theatre too:

“Rosencrantz and Guildernstern” are Dead by Tom Stoppard
“Don Juan in Soho” by Patrick Marber
“Killology” by Gary Owen
“The Trials of Oscar Wilde” by  Merlin Holland and John O’Connor
“The Play That Goes Wrong” by Henry Lewis, Jonathan Slater, Henry Shields
“How My Light is Spent” by Alan Harris
“The House They Grew Up In” by Deborah Bruce

The standout production for me, mainly because it starred my all-time favourite actor was “Don Juan in Soho”, starring David Tennant. He was incredible. I don’t really think I can add any more to it than that. I was quite lucky to get his autograph after the show, which thirteen year old me was really happy about!

So I have been actively involved in watching theatre over the past few months, as well as auditioning for roles too. It is a tough business, and it is in rather quiet periods like this where you really do feel it. But I really do think it is worth a go!

I am aiming to get some more headshots done in the near future, so hopefully once they have been done, that will open up some more opportunities. In the meantime, hopefully some more auditions crop up, I’ll be getting involved with Theatr na nOg and their ambassador programme, and I can get some of my own work on the go.

Thanks,

Josh.

At the end of last month, I got involved with Theatr na nOg’s young ambassadors’ workshop – take a look at what we got up to here:

 

I will be appearing on Radio Cardiff 98.7FM on Saturday 7th January between 12:00pm and 1:00pm

I will be performing two acoustic originals, as well as an acoustic cover!

Make sure you listen in!

http://radiocardiff.org/listen/

 

My first single, “Future Fades”, is now available to download and stream!

ITUNES – https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/future-fades-single/id1176074006

AMAZON – http://amzn.eu/cxl1roO

SPOTIFY – https://open.spotify.com/album/22eBEb5vFFl4hkwYirBy64

GOOGLE PLAY – https://goo.gl/H5qpDQ

The music video is now available to watch on YouTube too, so take a look below!

Thank You!

It would be very hard to discuss 2016 without mentioning how interesting a year it has been. There have been many ups and downs, some good, some bad, and some that we have no idea if it’s good or bad yet.

We have had many celebrities pass away, the country split down the middle over the European Union, Donald Trump, the refugee crisis as well as so many other things.

But there have been some wonderful, more hopeful moments this year. Leicester City beat 1/1000 odds to become Premier League champions, Andy Murray was seeded No.1, the population of Tigers rose for the first time in 100 years, and the Ozone layer is in repair. So there has been plenty to be positive about this year, through so much difficulty.

I have been very fortunate this year to have had my first two paid acting jobs, firstly working with Image Musical Theatre on a production of “The Sword in the Stone” from late January to July, and with LADA Productions on their production of “Puss in Boots” in December. I learnt so much working these jobs, which I have discussed in my vlogs, and I really have begun to understand how difficult Theatre in Education can be. Especially when it comes to sustaining top quality performances for the duration of a tour. The experiences have been very valuable, and I will ensure that I will take all I have learnt forward into acting jobs in the future.

I have had the opportunity to go and watch more theatre this year than I have ever had before. My lecturer in university always told us that watching theatre is an important part of being an actor, to see how it should be done, and just as importantly, how it shouldn’t be done. It doesn’t matter what theatre you should go and watch, just as long as you are watching as much of it as you can. And I have seen some excellent shows, “Groundhog Day”, “Blackbird” and “1984” to name a few.

I also feel that this advice is also applicable to film and television. They are mediums that I am very interested in working in. There’s something about putting something to camera that really excites me, and that once it’s been released, it’s out there forever, for everyone to watch. But I have really tried to expand my understanding of films, watching videos on YouTube that dissect films and scenes, discussing what makes them so wonderful. I have endeavoured to watch some of the ‘classic’ films, from “Citizen Kane” to “The Godfather”, “On the Waterfront” to “Schindler’s List”. Watching them semi-critically, seeing the quality of the acting, and trying to find why they are considered some of the greatest films ever made. Sometimes, you have to step back from looking critically and just take the film in to understand.

Of course, I have managed to get through a fair few plays too. I have read much more plays than I ever did while I was studying in University, eager to find more stories, more ideas. I want to have a greater understanding of theatre generally, and plays often highlight issues that were prominent during the time of their writing. Theatre to should raise questions to an audience, and plays that manage to do that are among my favourites.

Looking towards 2017, who knows what will happen in the greater scheme of things.

But for me, I will try to further my career. Try and find more acting work, keep auditioning, keep reading, keep going to watch theatre. Keep learning.

I have a single coming out on the 6^th January, with a music video that I made, with the help of a few friends, which I am very excited to show the world. And I want to keep making videos in the new year too.

I’m not too sure what they will be about yet.

Happy New Year!

Josh

Hello! Check out my final acting vlog of the year, where I discuss my most recent acting job;

Working on LADA Productions’ tour of “Puss In Boots”:

I have an exciting announcement!

I will be releasing my first ever single on January 6th 2017! The song, “Future Fades”, will be available on Spotify, iTunes, Apple Music, Google Play, Amazon, Rhapsody, Deezer and Tidal, along with the B-side, “To Make You Mine”. I will also be releasing a music video for “Future Fades” on the same day, which was produced by TWR Visuals in association with Landscape Pictures.

Available to pre-order on Amazon now: https://goo.gl/gYcQ8k

I look forward to showing them soon!

Check out what I’ve been up to in my 19th Acting Vlog!

Hello!

I shall be performing a short set of original songs on ‘The Open Mic Show with Kate & Luke’  on the University of South Wales’ ‘Dragon Radio’ station at 6:30pm on the 26th October 2016! You’ll be able to listen live on Dragon Media and make sure you check out their Facebook pages below!

Many Thanks,

Josh

https://www.facebook.com/Theopenmicradioshow/

https://www.facebook.com/DragonMediaUSW/