Glasgow at a glance - Doors Open Day, the Kings Theatre

Last weekend Glasgow celebrated 23 years of its successful Doors Open Day event.

This festival is designed to make the hidden gems of Glasgow more accessible . From the buildings, to the history of the people, it's all covered.

With me being a wannabe thespian (or maybe just a drama queen), I jumped at the chance of a backstage tour at the Kings Theatre . I arrived at the theatre bright eyed and bushy tailed, at a time I would not normally see on a Saturday morning, and was met by our tour guide for the day, Ronnie. His knowledge of the theatre was really extensive and he regaled us with facts and stories about the Kings throughout the years.

I'm a regular visitor there, but I never really stop and take in the impressive building that I'm sitting in and it was really interesting to see things from another point of view. I heard of the many ghost sightings that had been reported, saw inside the orchestra pit and - my personal favourite- got to stand on the stage that so many of my idols have stood on before.

The Kings run these tours all year round and if you're a lover of the arts, or really just a lover of interesting buildings , I suggest you book a place - you will not regret it!

Social Media Week Glasgow!!

From the 24th-28th of September Glasgow will be one of the  many cities playing

host to all things social media.

Social media week is aimed to 'explore cultural and economic impact of social media'. The mission is to 'help people and organisations connect through  collaboration, learning and the sharing of ideas and information'. 

Being a social media junkie myself (there's not one SM website I can think of that I don't indulge on a daily basis)   I really wanted to be involved in one way or another, so I decided to apply for a volunteer position.My application was accepted and I attended the volunteers event a few days ago.  For some reason I was really nervous, meeting new people usually doesn't bother me but I was worried I was going to be overwhelmed and had maybe gotten in over my head... I could not have been more wrong. I was met with Tim and Daniela, the very enthusiastic and encouraging  curators for the event, and a table full of like minded people who were ready to jump in (free wine too which is always a bonus).

If you live in and around Glasgow I'd highly recommend having a look at the event schedule and sign yourself up for some events. There's something for everyone and it's a great chance to learn more about the online world if you're interested but don't know where to start.

I'll be blogging more throughout the week but I just wanted to put the word out, I hope to see you at some events :). 

Louise Dearman proves pink goes good with green!

Everyone - myself included - seems to be buzzing about the new Wicked cast change announcement. If you're not familiar with the musical Wicked then get yourself out from under that rock and check out the website here -www.wickedthemusical.co.uk

Louise Dearman - a previous firm G(a)linda favourite - is returning to the land of Oz as my favourite musical theatre character, Elphaba. Louise jumps into the Wicked book of records as the only actress ever to play both lead parts.

                                                         
When I first heard the news I couldn't make up my mind about it. I loved Louise's interpretation of G(a)linda, but the character is polar opposite to that of Elphaba, so I wasn't really sure how it would fit.

However after a short YouTube sesh looking through a lot of Louise's clips, you can tell straight away she is a chameleon and - sorry to go all Mary Poppins on you - 'practically perfect in every way'. That power house of a voice can belt out 'Defying Gravity' with ease and her stage presence is simply brilliant.

I will definitely be taking a trip down the yellow brick road to witness Miss Dearman smash yet another role.

What are your thoughts on the new cast?

Glasgow at a Glance - Riverside Museum

Having just completed one of my New Year resolutions - let's gloss over the fact that it's 8 months into the year - I am now in the process of moving in to my very first apartment. That being said, my trips to London will be few and far between while I deal with being an adult and having to pay bills.

I have set myself a mini goal to try and get to know my city better. For some reason I've always had issues with Glasgow - not for any justifiable reason - we have just never bonded and I want to change that.

This new section of my blog will be known as 'Glasgow at a Glance' and will focus on everything this city has to offer.

First up - The Riverside Museum

There's an old saying 'you don't get something for nothing', but in this case you do. The Riverside Museum is an interactive and informative attraction, and the best part... it's free! 

For me, the Riverside ticks all the boxes. The open plan space allows the visitor to freely explore the exhibits and be drawn in by interest, rather then having to follow a set route. The variety of themes represented  throughout the museum are so diverse, there really is something for everyone. 

From taking a walk down cobbled streets...

source

...to hearing how a visit to the cinema used to be, first hand from people who actually experienced it...

...to a walkthrough of how transport has evolved throughout the years 

You could literally spend hours here. There's also a coffee shop with a licensed bar where you can take in the lovely view of the River Clyde . 

This has definitely been a great place for me to start and if all the other attractions in Glasgow are as good as this one then I can't wait to jump in.  

Katy Perry- PART OF ME MOVIE

This time last week I was a normal Katy Perry fan, who enjoyed her music and liked her a normal amount. After going to see a showing of Katy's new movie 'Part of Me' I have Perry fever. 


I'm not really sure what I was expecting from the movie. I thought it would be a fun way to experience her sold out concert that I wasn't lucky enough to get tickets for. I thought it would be interesting to get a glimpse into the life of one of the biggest acts of the moment. I did not for a minute think I would have been laughing, then crying, then relating to the events that were going on in someone's life that I had never met. 


'Part of Me' guides us through the highs and lows of Katy Perry's life from the last year. From huge success in her career, to falling in love and importantly, how the music industry can sometime take its toll on people. 


Throughout the full movie Katy is honest, endearing and dedicated - not only to her job, but to her fans. Her entourage is filled with people she has known for years and the chemistry they have really shines throughout the film ( in particular, a certain fart sound box scene ). 


I think the thing people tend to forget with celebrities - myself included - is that they're just normal people. 'Part of Me' really shows that we all have heartbreak and bad days, but it's how you deal with them that counts.  


I would encourage anyone who has ever had a dream to watch this movie. It's such an inspiring tale of how if you have enough passion for something ( and in this case bucket loads of talent ) you will succeed. 

A lot of #FiveMinuteFun

On Saturday I took part in something amazing. 

Five Minute Theatre is a genius idea thought up by a team of people at the National Theatre of Scotland. The tag line - created by anyone for an audience of everyone - could not sum this event up more. 

I witnessed 56 five minute shows, from a range of people, in a range of countries. Some pre recorded, some live in Glasgow, even live shows streamed from a shopping centre in Fife!! It really did feel like the possibilities were limitless. 

Being in the NTS head quarters for the day, I got a first hand look as to just how much work goes into a project like this and the office was buzzing with nervous excitement, which was really awesome to be around. Myself and fellow Champion George were asked along to help out with the live chat that would be going on throughout the day.  This in itself was a great experience for me, but I got  a lot more than I bargained for. 

The theme of this particular round of Five Minute Theatre was 'Youth'. I watched people of all ages and backgrounds interpret this theme and what was produced was a selection of relatable, hilarious and thought-provoking pieces from an online community coming together.  

If you missed the live stream on Saturday, or if you just want to watch again you can do so here . 

For now I will leave you with a few of my favourites from the day. 

162 Bars Out

Every Cloud

9am Monday Morning

Advice to My Teenage Self

Album Review - Scott Alan, Live

When  I heard Scott Alan was releasing a new album, I knew instantly it was going to be genius. And that's exactly what 'Live' is, 25 tracks of complete brilliance. 

The CD was recorded live from Scott's most recent Birdland concert, and features performances from a host of West End actors and recording artists. As well as the winner of the 'I'm a star' contest Alexander Sage Oyen. 

Each and every track from the album is filled with so much emotion and gives the audience a chance to connect with Alan as we get a glimpse into his inner thoughts and feelings. 

His style of writing is simply beautiful and the lyrics easily lend themselves to others lives. This is definitely the must have album for all fans of theatre. That being said this roller coaster journey of what life can throw at you should be experienced by everyone. 

My favourite track on the album is Never Neverland sung by - my favourite West End Lady - Kerry Ellis. I also love Blessing featuring RJ Helton and I'm a star featuring Natalie Weiss. Basically all the tracks are amazing and could not recommend more that you purchase this album. You can buy the album from Dress Circle here and it is also available for download.