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!
Kara Lane is a musical theatre actress who most recently has been working with The Girls From Oz and The Jive Aces. Her theatre credits include Mrs. Banks in Mary Poppins (Tour), Beggar Woman in Sweeney Todd (Derby and Colchester), Baroness Elsa Schraeder in The Sound Of Music (Dubai), Gertie Cummings in Oklahoma! (National Tour); Dolly Tate in Annie Get Your Gun (National Tour); Anais Nin in the UK premiere of The Mistress Cycle and creating the role of Zurline in Claus (Both at the Landor Theatre, London); Reno Sweeney in Anything Goes (Kilworth House); Rose Seller and first cover Nancy in Oliver! (National tour); First cover Diana Divane the Opera Diva in Lend Me a Tenor The Musical (Gielgud Theatre); Magenta/Usherette in The Rocky Horror Show (National tour and Singapore); First cover Eva Peron in Evita (National tour); Ghost of Christmas Past in Scrooge (National tour) and Mary Magdalene in Jesus Christ Superstar (National Tour).
*Some information mentioned in this article may be out of date due to the progress of the current situation.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*
Kara Lane is a musical theatre actress who most recently has been working with The Girls From Oz and The Jive Aces. Her theatre credits include Mrs. Banks in Mary Poppins (Tour), Beggar Woman in Sweeney Todd (Derby and Colchester), Baroness Elsa Schraeder in The Sound Of Music (Dubai), Gertie Cummings in Oklahoma! (National Tour); Dolly Tate in Annie Get Your Gun (National Tour); Anais Nin in the UK premiere of The Mistress Cycle and creating the role of Zurline in Claus (Both at the Landor Theatre, London); Reno Sweeney in Anything Goes (Kilworth House); Rose Seller and first cover Nancy in Oliver! (National tour); First cover Diana Divane the Opera Diva in Lend Me a Tenor The Musical (Gielgud Theatre); Magenta/Usherette in The Rocky Horror Show (National tour and Singapore); First cover Eva Peron in Evita (National tour); Ghost of Christmas Past in Scrooge (National tour) and Mary Magdalene in Jesus Christ Superstar (National Tour).
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 received a text from a friend who’s in a West End show saying that they’d just been called into the stalls for a meeting before their performance and were told they all had to go home as SOLT theatres were closing until further notice. I was heartbroken for all my friends who thought they had the security of a long-running show, especially those with families. At this point, I wasn’t sure if my theatre shows with The Jive Aces were cancelled or not as there was talk of smaller, independent theatres continuing their runs. We didn’t have confirmation that they were until a few days later.
Can you tell us anything productive you’ve been doing?
Before all of this happened I felt like I had so much going on and a lot of things I was striving to achieve. To be honest, I was feeling overwhelmed. I was desperately in need of a break from it all and just needed some time out in order to get back on top of things. Well, I guess it’s a case of “be careful what you wish for”, because I certainly have that now, which is great on a personal level, but at such a huge and horrible cost. I certainly feel a sense of guilt and selfishness when I start to look at the positives in my own life while there are so many people suffering right now, but maybe that is exactly what we all need to be doing in order to get through this and to lift each other up. Our own happiness is going to have a knock-on effect on others (even when social distancing), so I think if we want to make a difference then perhaps we need to start with that?
