You just can’t keep a good woman down

Especially if she’s Dame June Bloom, “Australia’s favourite ukulele playing Shakespearean grandma”!

After the success of our mini-tour to Scotland last month, we’ve been offered a spot at the cornerHOUSE Theatre, Surbiton in Surrey, on 23rd November.

Here’s what our Scottish audiences thought:

Edinburgh, 21st September…

“Congratulations, Flloyd on your great show in Edinburgh. Such a fine variety of voices packed into one hour of pure entertainment! ”

Westruther, Scottish Borders, on 20th September…

“Fabby!”

“U know when you’ve been ‘uked’ – straight to the quick and straight from the heart – incisive, heartfelt, and tingly fun.”

“It was a great night and we really enjoyed ourselves – power to your elbow””Very enlightening”

“Great show – good variety”

‘Very entertaining – lots of variety to the show – it made me both laugh and cry and was very honest too. Would highly recommend Yes! Because… to anyone with a love of music, Shakespeare or the brutal honesty of life in general.’

FEEDBACK FROM THE VOICE WORKSHOP:

‘Really interesting and quite exhilarating’

‘very intelligent & knowledgeable workshop leader’

So join us in Surbiton, for another episode in the June Bloom saga – I mean adventure!

On the Campaign Trail

The publicity campaign, that is.  Always a challenge, so here is my latest version of a quick promo image to shoot out on social media. Click on the image for more information and Box Office.

united-solo-jb-image

And I’d like to re-acknowledge my gratitude to the gorgeous Barb Lowing for the photography, the fabulous Emma Moubarak of Oblong+Son for the image design, and #UnitedSolo for the gig.

A World of Laughter and Self Acceptance

Dame June in Fairy mode
Dame June in Fairy mode

“I was captivated…..June’s storytelling and songs had me both laughing and crying in equal measure”

There was so much love in the room, on the streets, and in the cafes and bars of the Baltic Triangle during the 2016 Threshold Festival, it was just a joy to be there. My Liverpool son Roderick billeted me in his spare room, and fed me delicious home made soup and lots of lovely red wine. He became my tour manager for the duration, chauffeuring me back and forth to the theatre for tech and dress, and running the equivalent of a 3 minute mile to collect my ukulele, which I had left in the carpark of his office several blocks away. I only realised it was missing as the house was opening, and audience members were making themselves comfortable, so the fact that it appeared before I had finished setting myself on stage for the opening scene was a minor miracle, and evidence that he is fitter than even he knew!

Sadly, I didn’t think to arrange for photos or video to be taken during the performance, but the amazing community dance artist Vicci Riley was in the house, and she kindly provided some for me.

Dame June at the Lantern Theatre
Dame June at the Lantern Theatre

“I felt as though I was the only person in the room as Dame June immersed me into a world of laughter and self acceptance.”

Roderick also made his first appearance at the festival, playing along with me as I performed a sonnet and a couple of my own songs on the Sunday evening.  We were invited to be part of Secret Circus, a fabulous collection of independent circus and burlesque artists based in Liverpool.

(video courtesy of Irina Shmell)

It was a total blast, and I hope to take advantage of Secret Circus’s invitation to come back!

Meantime, preparations are in hand to take Yes! Because to the US.  We have a gig lined up at Theatre Row, 410 42nd St West, New York as part of the United Solo Theatre Performance Festival, and tickets are ON SALE NOW (details below).  Please spread the word!  If we fill the house with pre-booked tickets, we may be offered a second date, and that would be such a gift.

“2016 United Solo is the world’s largest solo theatre festival, currently in its 7th season. All shows are staged at Theatre Row: 410 West 42nd Street, New York City. TICKETS, with a price of $20.25 (including a $2.25 theatre restoration charge) are available at the Theatre Row Box Office and online through Telecharge at www.telecharge.com. You may also call Telecharge at 212-239-6200. When placing your reservation, please provide: the FESTIVAL name (United Solo Theatre Festival), the name of THEATRE (Theatre Row – The Studio Theatre), and the specific DAY (12 November 2016) and TIME (6.00 pm)  of SHOW (YES! BECAUSE…) you would like to see.”