Hi, Everybody.
It's Lillian here.
Wow ........ so much to tell you.
I know that I haven't been on here to let you know what's been happening with 'Pattie-shop Diaries', but I've been so busy with my own life and diary, and Mike & Gerrard have had their hands full with all sorts of things.
They've only just got in touch and told me what's been happening ......
I'll try to condense the news:
Mike had rather a crazy start to the year when (as mentioned on a previous post) he was informed by his mother that his step-father, Mr. Claudius Leon Phillips had died on Feb. 9th.
Naturally, he dropped everything and went to Tobago for the funeral.
During this period he and Gerrard were awaiting a decision by the 'Arts Council on a proposal they had submitted in November 2009.
Soon after arriving back, Mike found out from the Arts Council that, although the proposal that he submitted was deemed to have been a good one, he and Gerrard had been turned down for funding of the 'Pattie-shop Diaries showcase' planned for May 2010.
Also, shortly after Mike came back, Gerrard got a call and found out that HIS father in Jamaica had died suddenly;
needless to say, he had to go over there for the funeral for 2 weeks.
What a start to the year !!!!!!!!!!!
Naturally (aside from the emotional upheaval), they were both concerned that the showcase @ The Albany Theatre, and any forward-momentum for 'Pattie-shop Diaries', was in jeopardy.
The proposed funds were to pay the actors, the director, and for recording-studio and filming costs.
HOW WERE THEY GOING TO GET IT DONE ????????
Well, The Lord works in mysterious ways !
Apparently, the guys got in touch with cast members, and most of them agreed to still be involved (despite the financial set-back).
Not only that but a friend of Mike's offered to give him computer-software that would enable him to turn his laptop into a 'portable studio', and so record 'Pattie-shop Diaries' songs/soundtrack himself.
So, for the past 6 weeks Mike has been arranging, recording, producing, and mixing (sometimes through the night) the songs using his laptop, mixer, and a borrowed acoustic guitar, microphone, and keyboard;
he's been back-and-forth to various cast-members' homes/work-places (as well as a few friends who won't be performing on the night) to record their vocal/keyboard performances.
Dan Edward 'laying down' some keyboards
Apparently, this is the 1st time that he's used the music-software but is very pleased with the results.
He told me today that he had finished the final mixes in a hotel yesterday, just before getting on a plane back from the Derry Jazz Festival (he was performing with 'The Extraordinaires' over the weekend), and will be posting the results up onto the 'Pattie-shop Diaries website' tomorrow.
There are 22 tracks in all so I think he's done quite well !
Mike says that it's a good job that they got turned down because he would never have got the performances that he has done if he had not recorded it himself.
Noreen Stewart recording @ her yard
Anyway, the guys also had a meeting last week with the people at The Albany Theatre and, despite there being a 'mix-up' with the date of the showcase, everything has been arranged.
The showcase for 'Pattie-shop Diaries' will be as follows:
biggerthanME productions presents....
Pattie-shop Diaries
A FREE SHOWCASE
‘an every day story of love ,family, identity, gossip, redemption and burnt rice’n’peas’ Based on an idea by Gerrard Martin and Mike Scott-Harding, Pattie-Shop Diaries is a tragi-comedy music-theatre production, focussing on the lives of a modern Black Family running a pattie-shop in Brixton, London. Original music and dialogue by Mike Scott-Harding. Live music and a compelling cast.
Tuesday, May 25th 2010 @ 7.30pm
The showcase for 'Pattie-shop Diaries' will be as follows:
biggerthanME productions presents....
Pattie-shop Diaries
A FREE SHOWCASE
‘an every day story of love ,family, identity, gossip, redemption and burnt rice’n’peas’ Based on an idea by Gerrard Martin and Mike Scott-Harding, Pattie-Shop Diaries is a tragi-comedy music-theatre production, focussing on the lives of a modern Black Family running a pattie-shop in Brixton, London. Original music and dialogue by Mike Scott-Harding. Live music and a compelling cast.
Tuesday, May 25th 2010 @ 7.30pm
Reserve your tickets via Box Office: 020 8692 4446 http://www.thealbany.org.uk/
Email: biggerthanme1@hotmail.co.uk
Website: http://www.pattieshopdiaries.co.uk/
‘If we just sit and wait, nothing changes but the date.......’
Well, it sounds absolutely fantastic, and I am soooooooo proud of the guys for persevering with the whole thing.
I'm looking forward to seeing how the actors will play me and my family ( I can see that they are a really talented bunch of guys although they look nothing like us ...... lol).
Anyway, I'm sure that in the lead-up to the performance Gerrard and/or Mike will keep me informed about any developments ......... at least so that I can tell you guys (lol).
Lots of Love.
Lillian. x x x
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