Who saw that coming?

Another year and I'm still here! (Rhyming on purpose because I'm like that).

Every January we usually start off by saying 'Happy New Year' to each other. Normally because it is a new year. Happy? It's too early to tell yet. We wished each other a 'happy' new year at the beginning of 2016 and look what happened to us.

Me? I'm not really complaining. Last year, while long, tedious at times, depressing, and sickening, was also an amazing year of my life. I decided to step into a theatre class and I ended up performing in three of Brisbane Arts Theatre's main house shows and I got to perform in a 10 minute play in a couple of theatres as part of the South-east Queensland Drama circuit.

I met so many awesome people and learned so many new things last year. I quit my old job (one of the best decisions of my life), I started a new job that's at a fantastic restaurant and I'm working with some top notch folk, I finished another year of study, I performed in plays, I competed in NaNoWriMo again and came out a winner with a finished book. It was a pretty good year.

I don't mean to brag or rub my year in anyone's face. It's the last thing on my mind. It's just a quick update as to how my year went. It's also sort of an explanation as to why I haven't written a blog post since September.

My last update was about Jurassic Park: The Musical. The Australian premier was a sold out success, and they are bringing it back later this month for another run that will hopefully also sell out. I'm not in it this time, the original Gennero is back and I can't wait to see him perform.

Straight after Jurassic Park I auditioned for a role in A Christmas Carol (at Brisbane Arts Theatre), and I got the role. Five roles actually. Thankfully I was able to have that changed to four. So many amazing costumes. Also, so very hot! Imagine dressed up in Victorian winter dress in the middle of summer and you'll get how I felt because that's exactly what I was doing.

And then during A Christmas Carol rehearsals I started a new job, wrote another book, finished studying for the year, then it was show time, then it was Christmas, then it was laze around and try to relax after almost a constant 6 months of rehearsals and performances. So, you get the picture? Right?

Now my goal for this year -it's not my resolution because I only half-halfheartedly make a resolution and I like to keep those to myself in case I fail and embarrass myself- is to edit and hopefully self-publish my 2015 NaNoWriMo novel by mid year. But I also have work, and I'll have studies starting up in February, and I'll be looking for more theatre work, so really we shall see how that turns out. Even if I just get it into a nice shape for sharing online for free, that'll be fine with me.

I have plans for the second half of the year, writing wise. I've got books to finish off, and I have to plan NaNoWriMo 2017's novel. This year is going to be busy, hectic, probably just as weird as last year's, and, hopefully, it will very much be a 'happy' year. Which I also hope, if you're read this, and even if you aren't, I also hope your year will be very happy.


-Peter

I'm in the world of Theatre.

Wow. That was unexpected. So I have been so busy lately that I had completely forgotten I had a blog. In fact, it was only due to my course, currently on blogging and how it is a Zeitgeist form, that I remembered.

To sum up. My internet sucks. My studying is going okay. It would be better but, yeah, you know, no internet to study. Today I am having a rare day where the internet is actually working enough for me to load one of my video lectures. I am very happy about that.

I am also tired and I'm not sure how much of the lecture I'm taking in.

Reasons for being tired: late nights due to rehearsals. Yeah, I'm in another play! During the week of our last run of Equus, I happened to bump into the director of Jurassic Park: The Musical: 3D, the next show that planned to go on at Brisbane Arts Theatre. Due to date changes they lost the actor playing Gennaro, and so I was asked if I wanted to join the cast.

With two and a half weeks to go till open.

Sure! A challenge can be fun and it's Jurassic Park: The Musical: 3D, who could say no?

I have to sing.

I've never been in a musical before. I enjoy singing but it was never something I thought I would have to do in front of a live, sold out, audience for 6 performances. Or, for that matter, sing well.

Last night the show opened. It has been a grueling past few weeks of rehearsals, hurriedly learning lines, cues, blocking, everything. But last night we opened to a success. A whole week before we opened, the tickets sold out for every performances. It was amazing. And the show is amazing. It took a bit to get there, but the whole cast and crew is happy with what we have come up with and are pleased to show it to everybody who was lucky enough to catch a ticket.

Me? I'm just happy that I could learn everything in less than 3 weeks and not to completely stuff up the show. As the lawyer, I die on the toilet, eaten by the T-Rex. It is my absolute favorite part of the show. I love dying on stage. And I will get to do it for 5 more shows!

So, anyway. That is a brief rundown of everything that has kept me busy for the past few months. The shows have been an absolute pleasure to be a part of and I am looking forward to all the other shows I will get to be a part of one day.

Equus at Brisbane Arts Theatre

Earlier in the year I took a day off work to audition for a role in a play at Brisbane Arts Theatre on Petrie Terrace. A few days after the audition I received a call that I was actually cast! Shock of shocks, fantastic news! My first play. So now, two months later and many hours spent rehearsing, we are two weeks away from opening.

Equus.

"Dr. Martin Dysart, a dissatisfied and disaffected psychiatrist, is faced with a unique case when a young man, Alan Strang, is brought to him for treatment. In his efforts to coax Alan out of his shell and treat him, Dr Dysart begins to unravel the complex psychological puzzle of Alan's obsessions. Underneath Alan's complacent manner, Dr Dysart discovers a fervent, passionate, almost religious power that has both the ability to destroy Alan, and perhaps, the save the doctor himself.

English playright Sir Peter Shaffer (1926-2016)'s international hit is a dazzling, complex, and thrilling look at passion, sex, religion, and sanity" (Brisbane Arts Theatre 20016).

With 17 shows, opening the 30th of July to 3rd September, Equus is a show not to be missed. Starring yours truly as a horse and young horseman (role shared between myself and another actor), and a cast of amazing people, it is the best show you will see all year.

Tickets found at Brisbane Arts Theatre website:
http://www.artstheatre.com.au/equus