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!
*Some information mentioned in this article may be out of date due to the progress of the current situation.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*
Andy Mace is currently in the London cast of Only Fools and Horses the Musical at the Theatre Royal Haymarket. His other credits include Standby Scar/Pumbaa in The Lion King (Lyceum Theatre); Nuttall/Wormold in Betty Blue Eyes (Novello Theatre); Professor Callaghan in Legally Blonde (UK Tour); Dad/Callaghan in Legally Blonde (Savoy Theatre); Dr Dillamond and cover The Wizard Of Oz in Wicked (Apollo Victoria Theatre); Ensemble/Percival Glyde in The Woman In White (Palace Theatre); Bishop/Javert in Les Misérables (Queens Theatre); Swing/Roger/Mark in Rent (Prince of Wales Theatre); Teddy/Jerry/Harold in The Full Monty (Prince Of Wales Theatre); General Radet/Fouche in Napoleon (Shaftesbury Theatre); Riff Raff in The Rocky Horror Show (UK Tour); Ensemble/Roger/Mark “Rent” (Shaftesbury Theatre); A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Troilus and Cressida & Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (Open Air Theatre Regents Park) and Ensemble/ Guillaume/ Father Dominic in Martin Guerre (Prince Edward Theatre).
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 in the Theatre Royal Haymarket, ready to start our performance of Only Fools and Horses when the announcement was made. As events transpired the performance was eventually cancelled. It had become clear that our audience weren’t going to be keen to be in the theatre so the producer Phil McIntyre decided to pull the show. We were all shocked but had to accept that we were facing a prolonged layoff. Spirits were pretty low!
Can you tell us anything productive you’ve been doing?
Well yes! I’ve been writing children’s stories for a couple of years and with this extra time we have I’ve managed to write four more so far. I’ve also had them copyrighted and am arranging for them to be read as audiobooks and maybe turned into animated shorts. I’ve also been writing songs in collaboration with a poet, and keeping fit by walking every day. I’m trying to make the most of life at the moment!
