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!
Mark Anderson was most recently seen in the West End company of School of Rock playing Ned Schneebly, a role he previously played on the South Korean Tour. His other credits include Bloody Bloody Jessica Fletcher (The Other Palace); Salad Days (National Tour); The Grinning Man (Trafalgar Studios); Anna Of The Five Towns (New Vic); The Toxic Avenger (West End/Southwark Playhouse); Love Me Tender (National tour); The Book of Mormon (Prince of Wales Theatre); Once Upon A Mattress (Union Theatre); Legally Blonde (National tour); Mary Poppins (National tour); Hello, Dolly! (Regents Park Open Air Theatre); Honk! (Watermill, Newbury) and The Boy Friend (West End).
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*Some information mentioned in this article may be out of date due to the progress of the current situation.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*
Mark Anderson was most recently seen in the West End company of School of Rock playing Ned Schneebly, a role he previously played on the South Korean Tour. His other credits include Bloody Bloody Jessica Fletcher (The Other Palace); Salad Days (National Tour); The Grinning Man (Trafalgar Studios); Anna Of The Five Towns (New Vic); The Toxic Avenger (West End/Southwark Playhouse); Love Me Tender (National tour); The Book of Mormon (Prince of Wales Theatre); Once Upon A Mattress (Union Theatre); Legally Blonde (National tour); Mary Poppins (National tour); Hello, Dolly! (Regents Park Open Air Theatre); Honk! (Watermill, Newbury) and The Boy Friend (West End).
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?
Long story, so basically on Thursday 12th March I landed in New York. I’d been planning the trip for the best part of 8 months and had loads of shows planned including Mrs Doubtfire, Little Shop Of Horrors and Beetlejuice. I also couldn’t wait to see Diana! The main reason I flew out was to see the opening night of SiX on Broadway because I have a lot of friends involved and wanted to support them. Plus I’d never been to a Broadway opening and I was so excited. Anyway, I landed around 1pm and checked my twitter to see that ALL Broadway theatres had closed. I couldn’t believe it. I would call myself quite stagy so, like most theatre people, I wanted to see SO many shows. Instead, I met my friend at a bar and had 4 margaritas in the space of 90 minutes. Then we went over to party where all the SIX people had gathered (social gatherings weren’t banned yet). Everyone was obviously devastated that the big opening wasn’t able to go ahead. Anyway, because Broadway was shut, there was no point me really being in New York so I booked an early flight back to London. I landed back in London on that Monday 16th. So, I guess you could say that whenever I entered a country, they shut down the entire theatre industry. I don’t think it’s my fault though.
