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*Some information mentioned in this article may be out of date due to the progress of the current situation.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*
James Phoon is probably best known from his time in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child at the Palace Theatre where he played Craig and covered the role of Scorpius. His other credits include the title role in Peter Pan (Storyhouse); Benny/Iona in Southern Baptist Sissies (Above the Stag); and the UK & Ireland tour of the Regent's Park Open Air production of Lord of the Flies.
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 actually at a friends’ house celebrating her birthday. We pretty quickly realised that this would probably be the last time we’d be seeing friends in person for a while!
Can you tell us anything productive you’ve been doing?
I was in the West End company of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child for a couple of years. Since the lockdown started, the global community of company members from all years of the West End, Broadway, San Francisco, Melbourne and Hamburg casts have been joining together multiple times a week for online group workouts. My boyfriend and I are also making the most of having this uninterrupted time together, enjoying each other’s company and taking on all the odd tasks around the house which we’ve been putting off!
