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!
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*Some information mentioned in this article may be out of date due to the progress of the current situation.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*
Sam Lathwood is currently in the cast of Mary Poppins at the Prince Edward Theatre having previously been in the show on the International tour. His other credits include Matilda: The Musical (UK and Ireland tour); Elf: The Musical (Plymouth/Manchester/Dublin); Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Theatre Royal Drury Lane); Disaster! (Charing Cross Theatre); Damn Yankees (Landor Theatre), Hairspray (UK and Ireland tours) and The Pirates of Penzance (Hackney Empire/Australian tour).
On Monday 13th 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 on stage at The Prince Edward with the rest of the Mary Poppins company, we were in the middle of the physical warm-up when our Company Manager came onto the stage to announce the cancellation of the show. I’d come into work early that day as I was on for one of my covers, Robertson Ay. I had physio, went up to the boys dressing room afterwards to get my stuff together and moved dressing rooms. I unpacked my bits and bobs (which are still in there now, sorry Jack), warmed up, clean shaved and blow-dried my hair into a rather fetching centre parting. Claire Moore (Miss Andrew) had baked 2 cakes to cheer everybody up during these weird times and this was even before we knew what was going on. I’m not embarrassed to say that I tried both. When our Company Manager walked onto the stage to give us the news there was dead silence, I would say that for 0.1 of a second there was that ‘schools out’ kinda feeling which instantly turned into this weird gut feeling of pure uncertainty. It happened to be our day off the following day and I’d have given anything to have been at work doing the show.
