A Message From Hugh Hughes

Hello! I hope you enjoyed Saint David’s Day yesterday. Or the day of Dewi Sant, as we call him in Wales.

A big part of my shows is about meeting people and making connections with them. If you’ve seen one of my shows, maybe Hugh Hughes in...Floating or Hugh Hughes in...360, you’ll know that I like to get the audience involved a little bit. I like us all to have a nice time together. We are sharing a space together, after all, and we might as well enjoy our time together, in that space, together.

The purpose of this blog post here is for me to invite you to come and share some time and space with me again. Or maybe even for the first time. You never know, it might just put a spring in your step.

If you’ve seen one of my shows before, you might like to know that I’m performing all three of them in March and May this year. So you could come and see one that you haven’t seen yet, perhaps, or remind yourself of one that you have seen. If you enjoyed it and you know someone else who might like it too, why not bring them along and introduce us all to each other?

All of my shows are being performed under the title The Wonderful World of Hugh Hughes, which you can find out about on my new website here: www.hughhughes.me/wonderful-world-of-hugh-hughes.

Let me tell you the important bit here though:


15 –19 March at the Drum Theatre in Plymouth (tickets on 01752 267 222 or here)
22 – 26 March at The Junction in Cambridge (tickets on 01223 511 511 here)
17 – 21 May at West Yorkshire Playhouse in Leeds (tickets on 0113 213 7700 or here)

Sometimes people contact me through my website saying ‘Hugh, I really wish I’d brought my sister/brother/friend/mum/dad along to see your show, I think he/she would have really loved it, but we’ve missed our chance now’.

Well, you still have the chance to make sure your sister/brother/friend/mum/dad does see the show!

I’d love to see you in Plymouth, Cambridge or Leeds – so why not come and see me, and bring a friend along!

Best wishes,
Hugh x

Neon, brains and cake

I was most intrigued by Hugh’s recent ‘tweet’ about fluorescent clothing sales. In fact I thought I might be able to work this trend in with my ‘bed-linen chic’ collection. Sadly my trawling through news websites didn’t offer many neon revelations, although I did stumble across something else fascinating. Now I know I’ve been guilty of straying away from topic recently, taking what is essentially a theatre blog into the realms of fashion and gastronomy, however I am going to remedy this immediately with some very relevant news regarding what happens to an actor’s brain when they play a role. It’s fascinating stuff I promise...

Fiona Shaw recently had an MRI scan to assist with some brain research in London. This was very brave of Fiona. I had an MRI scan recently and can tell you that it is not at all pleasant. You get strapped down so that you can’t move and then shoved into a big tube which makes strange noises. Terrifying. Although you do get a picture of your brain at the end, which is rather exciting.

While Fiona was having her scan she recited some lines from T.S. Eliot’s The Waste Land. Personally I would’ve gone for a splash of Spike Milligan to keep my sprits up while stuck in the scary tube, but hey, each to their own. The results of the scan showed a few things. Firstly, that Fiona used more areas of the brain when reciting poetry than when counting. Good. Also, that she used the part of the brain called the ‘infra parietal sulkus’ . To me this sounds like the name of a dinosaur, but what do I know about brains? Or dinosaurs for that matter. Anyway, Wikipedia tells me that the ‘infra parietal sulkus’ is associated with memory, analysis and doing a complex transformation of a visual image. Interestingly, when they are acting, actors use a part of the brain to create a voice which is different to the part of the brain we usually use when we speak. So that’s what happens inside an actor’s brain when they’re on stage! Aren’t you glad that’s been cleared up?

The results of the experiment and other similar ones will be displayed in an exhibition on identity at the Wellcome trust. If you haven’t already been, the Wellcome Collection is WELL worth a visit. (Please excuse the horrendous joke. I just couldn’t help myself). It is a fascinating place and the cafe there is fantastic. In fact I’m going to take this moment for a bit of cake news (now a regular item on the blog): the Wellcome cafe has some of the most gorgeous cupcakes your eyes and taste buds may ever have the pleasure of enjoying.

Righty – o, from brains and cake back to our very own Hugh Hughes:

You can see him. Tonight! He is performing the marvellous ‘360’ at the Drum Theatre in Plymouth until November 28th.

Don’t forget that he’s also going to be in Sydney in the New Year. Last time he visited tickets were snapped up like hot cakes (cough, wink, cough) so make sure you visit http://www.sydneyfestival.org.au/ to grab yours in good time.

One final note before I depart for now... I am delighted to share the news that Hugh will be performing 360 at the Oxford Playhouse on March 3rd 2010. Although my heart lies with Cambridge, Oxford is pretty lovely too. Why don’t you book yourself a ticket and make a fun trip to Oxford for some punting and a wander around the Ashmolean or Magdalene College’s deer park? You can’t beat a bit of fresh air and spot of deer spying now can you?

Thanks to My Name is Rom for this fab brain picture

A return to Reading, Ipswich and Plymouth

Do you want to see Hugh Hughes in... 360 but are not able to make it up to the Edinburgh Fringe? Fear not, as today I have a some exciting news!

This weekend we're taking Hugh off to the Latitude Festival. He's particularly excited at the chance to be part of this fantastic festival on a hugely diverse bill alongside Grace Jones, the Pet Shop Boys, Dave Gorman, the RSC and our good friends at English Touring Theatre! His performance of 360 is on Sunday at 12.10pm in the Theatre Arena.

And I'm delighted to announce a further exclusive pre-Edinburgh preview at South Street Arts Centre in Reading on Thursday 23 July. We were last in Reading back in 2005 and so we're excited to return to share the new show with audiences there.

And following the show's run in Edinburgh, we'll also be returning to the New Wolsey Theatre in Ipswich (our co-producing partner on Story of a Rabbit) for a performance on Sunday 11 October followed by a week at the Drum Theatre Plymouth at the end of November.

All these dates are now on sale and we'd be delighted to see you there!

Full details here...

Thu 23 July, 8pm - South Street Arts Centre, Reading

Tickets: 0118 960 6060 or book online here

Sun 11 October, 7.45pm - New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich

Tickets: 01473 295900 or book online here

24 to 28 November, 7.45pm - Drum Theatre Plymouth

Tickets: 01752 267222 or book online here

And of course, we're in Edinburgh from 5 to 31 August. Book your tickets here!

The Doubtful Guest: Version 1.5

Posted by Holly Race (Assistant Director, The Doubtful Guest)

On the long train journey from Cambridge to Plymouth on Monday, I unexpectedly found myself sitting opposite an old friend. Having carried the memory of her – her physicality and personality, and how much I liked her – around with me for years, it was surprising to realise how much about her I had forgotten.

You can see where this analogy is going: walking back into the rehearsal room on Tuesday was strangely shocking.

Having worked on /The Doubtful Guest: Version 1.0/ it has been fascinating to re-visit the play and watch it change and grow over the last week. Some of my favourite moments from the original version have been reworked, and while it was a wrench to watch them go, the piece has without doubt become stronger as a result. The themes and drive behind the play are far clearer and, if possible, I have grown to love the ever-so-proper Bishop family even more.

So even if you met the Guest on its first escapade, why not come and see it again, and witness even more of the trials and troubles of the Bishop Family. If you haven’t seen it yet – you’re in for a treat!

EXCLUSIVE - first glimpse of the set

Posted by Simon Bedford (Marketing & Touring Manager, Hoipolloi)

After bringing you an exclusive look at the costumes, we're delighted that the show's set and props are also progressing towards completion. Like the costumes, everything is being created at the Theatre Royal Plymouth and we're grateful to them for providing us with these photos.

First, here's a doll's house that will be used on stage (note also the grand staircase on the desk in the background):


A freshly painted fireplace surround and speaking trumpet:

These wooden beams will form a truss above the stage:

And finally, here's a portrait of the Doubtful Guest itself:

EXCLUSIVE - first glimpse of the costumes

Posted by Simon Bedford (Marketing & Touring Manager, Hoipolloi)

Stefanie Mueller who is the designer for The Doubtful Guest (and also Hoipolloi's Associate Director - in addition to performing in the show!) has been working hard over the last few months deciding what the performers will wear in the production.

Using the original Gorey illustrations as inspiration, she is now working with the Wardrobe Dept of the Theatre Royal Plymouth to actually make the costumes.

Last week, Steffi along with Jill Norman and Ben Frimston (two of the actors in the show) and Richard, Hoipolloi's Production Manager headed down to Plymouth to see how things are going and to take part in the first costume fitting.

I'm pleased to give you, our blog readers, the very first look at how the costumes are developing.

Here is Ben trying on one of his costumes:

And here he is again in his coat.

Jill in her undergarments!

And slowly gets more dressed...

Finally here she is in her coat.

The creation of the Guest itself is also well underway but we're keeping that top-secret and underwraps until the very first performance!