I’m on the train to Manchester, ready to start rehearsals tomorrow morning at The Circus House with director James Macpherson. Now, James and I have a long history of collaboration. We met in my first year of University, and he introduced me to the wonderful world of Street Theatre and has been my mentor ever since.
I first toured with James’ company Artizani in 2008, with smash hit show Desert Island Discs. I think we performed at over 40 places across the county for that first year, doing 2 shows a day. What an introduction! It rained, it scorched, I got sunburnt, I almost got arrested for accosting the mayor of Barnsley. Classic memories and epic fails. No two days were the same and I bonded with our collection of lobsters. After that we co-devised larger scale commission The Cabaret of Dr Caligari as part of Lakes Alive. Here I began to develop a taste for circus, music and escapology. I have a lot to thank him for, so James directing my first solo show feels like coming round full circle. And going home to Manchester to do it feels like the perfect place.
Molly Orange 