My Mate Charles – Long Read

I’m normally a little vague when it comes to naming people in the blog unless I’ve specifically asked them if I can, but this week I haven’t asked, but I’m going to wang on about my mate Charles anyway. I saw Charlie last week for the first time in a long time. We haven’t seen each other for years. A pandemic hasn’t helped, but also because he’s a young man, making his way in the acting world, keeping busy living in London and travelling around studying and working where he can. And I’ve been busy too, apparently. We keep in touch on the old text.

Charlie is a professional actor. Unfortunately unless you know him personally, you probably won’t know his name. For me this is a travesty. He’s dynamite on stage, gives 100% at all times and well he’s just damn fucking handsome. I’ll stop because his cheeky ego is big enough. There are many actors like Charles, who are talented, but have not yet reached the heights of well known names that you see every week at the cinema or on your telebox. And I could give you a list of well known actors who Charles could run rings around on stage. There are very few chances and / or opportunities for these lovely actors. And I admire his enthusiasm for his craft. After the show I saw him perform in last week, I asked him if actoring was still the main drive in life and he emphatically responded in the positive. And I asked about his other job, personal training, and he was enthusiastic about that as well. He knows what he needs to do to build up a side business that fits around his acting and that will support him when times are lean.

He advertised recently that he was doing some Shakespeare in the open air at the Roman Theatre of Verulamium in St Albans. Now me and Charlie met doing some amateur Shakespeare in the park for Masque Theatre in Northampton back when he was at university so this was my excuse to kick my arse in gear, buy a ticket and go and see him. And see him I did. The play was funny, musical and best of all, they dragged the audience up on stage for the encore to have a dance and I got to dance with my mate on stage. Big hugs all round. I’d never thought about it before, but afterwards I realised that after his last show for Masque Theatre there was very little chance I’d end up on stage with my mate again. And for me there’s something magical about sharing the stage with family and friends. My friend who came with me described the show best by labelling it as ‘batshit, but good’… to the Director’s face. Fortunately he agreed. The play itself finishes on Saturday 11 June, however there is a smorgasbord of shows on this summer at the open air theatre and you can find them by clicking on the button below, including The Importance of Being Earnest, from 2 July to 17 July which happens to star… my mate Charles. I’ve got my tickets already.

I suppose the main reason I admire him so is because of that enthusiasm he has for acting, which keeps him going and his entrepreneurial ability to diversify his working life to include personal training so he can continue his want and need to be a professional actor. I don’t think I could do it. There’s too many unknowns for me. I like knowing where my office is and where I’m working tomorrow and I have trouble enough juggling my life now, without having two jobs which could be in vastly different places.

One last thing which is a little more general. ‘Theatre friends’ are some of the best friends that I hardly ever see. I can go years not seeing ‘theatre friends’ and then we’re auditioning for the same show or we’re watching some other ‘theatre friends’ perform and bang we’re straight back to where we were when we last saw each other. There is a sense of family and for me a special bond I have with those that I’ve acted with on stage and become friends with during that process. If you’re ever thinking about getting out and meeting new people, find your nearest amateur dramatical society and get involved. You don’t have to be on stage if that’s not your bag, there are many other jobs to do in theatre. You’ll meet inclusive, friendly people, I promise.