I initially created this blog to chronicle my journey towards becoming a professional actor, with emphasis on the training I had received and my experiences on stage and on camera. I had hoped to inspire others to follow their own dreams in the realm of the performing arts, however all it seems to have done, especially recently, is remind me of the mistakes I've made and the things I have turned down or never followed up. This has been particularly brought home to me in the last couple of weeks.
Four years ago, I had the good fortune to work with some remarkably talented people when I was studying for my Level 3 BTEC, one of which was Ryan Moss, still a close friend and someone I continue to follow career wise as he is simply awesome at his craft.
Last year, we were due to work together on a project about Charlie Chaplin in which he had secured the lead and I was going to be playing two people who were crucial to Chaplin's early career; the leader of the Lancashire Lads clog dancing troupe, and Mack Sennet of Sennet Studios with whom Chaplin had his big break in movies. The script was great, Pamela Howard was going to direct, and all was going swimmingly.
I was on a break with the family shortly after the opening rehearsal, and it became clear to me that health problems within the family was going to effect my ability to be able to continue to be involved and I had to call the producer and tell her that I could no longer be part of it. I remember my wife asking me at the time if I was sure, but the show dates coincided with a major operation that she was due to have and I said I had made up my mind. It even led me having to cancel another show I had committed myself to at around the same time, but that one didn't have nearly as much regret tied to it as Chaplin did.
One year later, and Chaplin is currently in London enjoying a professional run and is already receiving high praise, particularly for my friend Ryan.
Ryan has worked really hard to get where he is, with his work with the Forge Initiative, and the contacts he has made through that and over recent years, and he deserves every success.
However, I can't help but feel a tinge of irony about the whole thing. Here I am, an actor with 25 years experience throughout which I have had two professional gigs, and because I said "I'm sorry, I can't do it." I have had to watch as one of the biggest opportunities of my life - even though I didn't know it at the time - passed me by. Funny how things work out, isn't it.
I suppose the moral of the story is, if you are an aspiring professional in any field in the arts, don't turn ANYTHING down unless you absolutely have to. You never know where those opportunities might lead.
In the meantime, good luck to Ryan, Pamela, and all the cast and crew as they take the show forward, and if you'd like to know more about the show, you can look here:
