Jake Oldershaw

Oh yes, there are so many excrutiating ways to die on stage. I did a version of Titus Andronicus, goth horror from a youthful Shakespeare that's got about 30 or so characters who cop it i think. I got mine after having to eat a human pie, stabbing somebody and getting the knife turned into my own back. All a bit risky, brandishing these vaguely blunted down ikea knives - There was one night when Chris, whose dedication to realism was admirable, actually drew blood as he ran the blade up my spine.

The kind of pain which is nothing in comparison with watching a comedian die on stage (obviously not the Tommy Cooper kind of stage death).

Last night I went along to the very fine Comedy Kav night in Moseley which is back after a few years break. With a solo show coming up down in London it was pretty reassuring to think that i couldn't really be any worse than this. Not that my show is in any way comedy. That expectation is what is so painful - 'You have to make me laugh otherwise it's shit'. I find myself hiding behind anything I can so as not to catch the eye of the performer, i feel so embarrassed for them.

After that long a break, the Kav audience seems to have got more balls. There used to be a time when a crap act was just politely ignored. Conversations would start up, the comedian becoming nothing more than background noise. But heckling seems to have made its way into the room and there was a real buzz to the room as acts started to get ripped apart.

Fingers crossed it doesn't feel so embarrasing for Midland Aquaphiliacs in a few weeks time. There's a few gags, there's a bit of audience participation, but with any luck nobody will be witnessing any stage deaths...

Posted by Jake at 12:35 PM | Permalink

Here's a reminder of some of the stuff that i'll be up to over the next few months.

April
Sat.22nd - The Black Maze - Stans Cafes spooky installation in a 7.5 ton lorry visits Chatham during the Medway Festival
Sat.29th - More Black Maze in Loughborough University

May
Tues.11th - The Black Maze does a yearly stint at the Metropole Hotel Brighton for South Coast NHS

Tues.16th
Weds.17th - Midland Aquaphiliacs makes its premier during Burst Festival at BAC - Starts 8pm - Box Office 0207 2232223 - http://www.bac.org.uk

Sat.27th -The Black Maze visits Victoria Park, Hackney

June

All sorts of stuff with Stan that i can't tell you about because they're still waiting on the contract.

Sun.18th - Intimate History makes a welcome return to the Whitstable Bienniale - I'll also be collaborating with a local big band and crooning for a local pensioner group - Should be a blast! Does anyone know any good one liners for the over 60's?

Site is in progress but go here for details http://www.whitstablebiennale.com

Posted by Jake at 01:42 PM | Permalink

Just back from a welcome few days back home on the Isle of Wight. It's hard to describe how good it is to get back there when you live in such a post industrial environment as Birmingham is. Stepping onto the ferry, standing on deck and taking in the salt air whatever the weather - Better stop there before i go all soft focus.

One of the many good things about the islands slow pace is that you can catch up on films that are long gone on the mainland. So last night I dragged the entire family along to see Michael Haneke's Hidden (Cache). A real grower. I've seen a few films of Haneke and had forgotten how slowly they can unfold - 3 minutes in and the single shot of a suburban french scene was beginning to make me think twice about bringing the folks. But relax into the pace and the suspense is unbearable. Entirely plausible and brilliantly acted, the lack of resolution while frustrating and bemusing at the time, in retrospect is fantastic. Lee Beagley, a director friend had told me the ending was awful but sorry Lee, i loved it!

Also got a chance to catch up with local musicians and friends, the fantastic JC and Angelina. They've been gigging on and off the island solidly since I was back at school and just get better all the time. Great playing and beautiful singing, they are still redefining their sound and staying fresh, even on the regular wednesday at the Bargemans Rest! It's been a plan of mine for ages to get them involved playing live during a show but still not to be. There's still time and as JC said last night, as soon as you stop enjoying it you may as well give up.

Have a look at their site here

http://www.geocities.com/yakawaga/vbhome.html

and be sure to catch them if you ever make it over to the wonderful isle.

Posted by Jake at 05:58 PM | Permalink

This is maybe not the place to write this but what the hey.Yesturday I did some of my semi regular work for BBC Asian Networks radio soap 'Silver Street'. The show started a couple of years ago now and I've had bit parts on and off since then.

My characters have ranged from deranged security men, irate landlords, bank managers, drunkards, I even played a young George Harrison. (Hopefully the evidence of that has long since been erased). At one stage I had to hold a conversation with myself as a different character - like the guy who used to play Zippy and George in Rainbow.

Yesturday on paper was a simple enough job - A school headteacher telling a pupil he needs to resit a year. 2 pages - in -out- easy money. Unfortunately a couple of fairly direct comments from the director and it all went to shit! I'm still trying to work out whether i was genuinely shit or whether the part was so boring it came out in my delivery. Still that's not the point is it - Do the bloody job!

Adding insult to ego-injury Saeed Jaffrey OBE was in the studio to record. He looked bored, I knew he'd have some stories to tell about the old days so I piped up tried to get him chatting. Trouble was I'm crap at remembering actors in films and couldn't place what he'd been in. 'What have I seen you in Saeed?' was all i could muster for an opener. This got open mouthed silence in response. 'Your famous roles that is', I added realising i should never have started. 'Gandhi, Passage to India, My Beautiful Laundrette'. Oh shit, where do you go from there?

Mondays, who needs em?

Check out Silver Street here http://www.bbc.co.uk/asiannetwork/silverstreet/
It's normally very good!

Let's hope the radio version of Intimate History for Radio 4 goes a little better

Posted by Jake at 02:54 PM | Permalink