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*Some information mentioned in this article may be out of date due to the progress of the current situation.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*
Michael Vinsen is due to play Corny Collins in Hairspray at the London Coliseum. His other credits include Ensemble and cover Young Ben in Follies - Original NT cast (National Theatre); Ensemble and cover Charlie Price in the Original London cast of Kinky Boots (Adelphi); Ensemble and Cover Kevin Price in The Book Of Mormon (Prince of Wales); Brad in the Original London cast of Hairspray (Shaftesbury); Eugene in Grease (Piccadilly); Aaron and cover Emmett in Legally Blonde (No.1 UK tour); Peter in Bare (Union and Greenwich); Hunter in Title Of Show (Above the Stag); Just Another Love Story (Above the Arts); We Will Rock You (Theatre 11, Zurich) and Friendsical (Associate Choreographer).
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 on my way home after my first day of rehearsals for the Hairspray revival at the Coliseum. To be honest, I felt guilty, the announcement was such a blow to the theatre community and I had so many friends that were in warm-up ready to do their show that night, meanwhile, I was on a high. I’d been waiting to start Hairspray for 5 months and had just spent the afternoon singing ‘Nicest Kids in town’, we didn’t know how long theatres were going to be closed or if we would still be able to rehearse so I was perhaps naively optimistic. Then when I read about it all on social media I just felt guilty.
Can you tell us anything productive you’ve been doing?
I feel like a jack of all trades at the moment. I’ve been enjoying cooking, I love sewing so I’ve been making masks for my family and I've made a cushion. I’ve been knitting, I’ve been working on some stuff for my students that I teach at weekends. We cut the dog’s hair last week, that was an experience. I’ve cut my husband’s hair twice now (I’m getting better at it). To be honest I haven’t been using my performing talents that much. I miss it.
