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*Some information mentioned in this article may be out of date due to the progress of the current situation.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*
Cameron Bernard Jones was most recently seen in the London company of Tina: The Tina Turner Musical in the ensemble and understudy Ike Turner at the Aldwych Theatre. His other credits include ensemble in Motown the Musical (Shaftsbury Theatre); Jupiter in Out of this World (Ye Olde Rose & Crown); Gilbert in Hairspray (Austria); Charlie in Showboat (Austria) and Papa in Tamar of the River (NY Theatre Barn, Oratorio World Premiere).
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 had just finished my contract with Tina: The Tina Turner Musical on Saturday 14th March so that Monday was the beginning of my first week off between jobs. I was at home relaxing when I found out. Before actual lockdown, my husband’s job had sent all their employees to work from home indefinitely so he was also home with me when SOLT’s closure of London theatres was announced. Because I had recently heard of Broadway’s closure as well as the closure of other European productions in Holland and Germany, I thought that it was just a matter of time for the West End to follow suit. I know for a lot of folks it was such a shock so I really felt for them but I also felt that it was a good thing because I know folks were already highly concerned (and some paranoid) about the virus spreading rapidly in theatres. Definitely a double-edged sword type of situation that jolted us all.
Can you tell us anything productive you’ve been doing?
As soon as the theatres closed my NYC hustle mentality kicked in. I thought to myself ‘what can I do to both get some sort of income and also help other actors and performers keep artistically active during these trying times?’ I decided that with the new popularity of online video conferencing I could start teaching and coaching American accents online. I had only done it previously in the setting of a show (Motown the Musical) so I never had it as my own business with my own private clients before. I threw myself out there and it was received very well! I managed to grow a decent-size client base and I couldn’t be happier. Now that I am fully in the groove of it all I realise that I have a knack for teaching. I absolutely love doing it!
