These recent times have been some of the hardest challenges we've faced and as a community, it hit us pretty hard. However during these difficult times, here at Pocket Size Theatre, we wanted to spread a little positivity and share some peoples experiences because we are all in this together. Each day we'll be speaking to our friends in the industry to share their experiences with you all so take a read and see how people are getting through these hard times.
Let's stick together, share the love and get through this as a community!
Abigayle Honeywill was most recently seen playing Lorelai Lee in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes at the Union Theatre, a role she was nominated for an Offie for Best Actress in a Musical. Her other credits include Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (London Palladium); Princess Aurora in Sleeping Beauty the Musical (Gordan Craig Theatre & UK Tour); Ensemble & Swing in Funny Girl (UK Tour); Ensemble in Dick Whittington (London Palladium); Ensemble & Cover Sandy in Grease (Leicester Curve) and Ensemble in Guys and Dolls (UK Tour). On-screen she has appeared in Beauty and the Beast and CATS.
Let's stick together, share the love and get through this as a community!
*Some information mentioned in this article may be out of date due to the progress of the current situation. Please keep that in mind when reading*
Abigayle Honeywill was most recently seen playing Lorelai Lee in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes at the Union Theatre, a role she was nominated for an Offie for Best Actress in a Musical. Her other credits include Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (London Palladium); Princess Aurora in Sleeping Beauty the Musical (Gordan Craig Theatre & UK Tour); Ensemble & Swing in Funny Girl (UK Tour); Ensemble in Dick Whittington (London Palladium); Ensemble & Cover Sandy in Grease (Leicester Curve) and Ensemble in Guys and Dolls (UK Tour). On-screen she has appeared in Beauty and the Beast and CATS.
On Monday 16th March 2020, The Society of London Theatre announced the closure of all Theatres in London. This followed suit with regional venues. Where were you when you found out and what was your initial reaction?
I was at home when I found out, I was on social media and one by one all my industry friends started to post about how they had been told to go home after warm-up. I was heartbroken to see a picture of the main strip of west end productions all dark. I think the most heartbreaking thing is really the unknown, being told that everything including theatres are going to be closed for the ‘unforeseeable future’ creates a fear that nothing will ever reopen again.
Can you tell us anything productive you’ve been doing?
I, unfortunately, haven’t discovered any talents yet, although I did learn how to make garlic croutons and an espresso martini, so every cloud! I have been doing a lot of pre-recorded streamed concerts, due to them being cancelled from the outbreak its been amazing to still be apart of the concerts in the only way possible at the minute. Wonderfully the industry has really proved how indestructible we all are, with all the tap, ballet, jazz etc classes going on every day I've been absolutely loving doing these classes in my garden. I have even been doing little fitness and stretch classes with my two best mates as one of them wanted to be able to touch her toes and a week later she did it! Sounds like the silliest thing but the build-up and improvement to her touching her toes was amazing and we all celebrated and had a gin over facetime! Luckily my husband had already turned our garage into a gym/studio, so I have been in there a lot whenever I haven’t been sunbathing! Also like any singer I've been using the time to really annoy my neighbours by belting out any tune I can find!
