“Are you ready to board sir?”

Two weeks today on Wednesday 22nd December, I would have worked my last day at Sadler’s Wells {sad face}. I’ll probably be strolling slowly towards Victoria Coach Station with my polka-dotted bindle bag slung over my shoulder waiting to board the splendid and luxurious coach (!) back home to Cardiff… Cue ‘The Lonely Man’ theme from The Incredible Hulk...

Gareth takes a step onto the coach. He pauses, looks over shoulder and give his best ‘I’m gonna miss you kid’ face.
Coach Driver: “Are you ready to board sir?”
Gareth’s reflects upon the last 4 months. His eyes well and a tear rolls down his cheek.
Coach Driver: “Sorry Sir, are you ready to leave?”
Gareth: “Yes driver. Yes… I’m ready”
Gareth boards and the coach departs. Coach takes 12 hours to reach Cardiff.

Well the journey only cost £4, what do you expect?

Yes my time here is almost at an end, I have contracts to complete and Christmas parties to attend and that’s it: wedi bennu. It is going to be strange not living in London, I’ve grown accustomed to its pace. I’ll miss the constant journeying - I've really have become fond of the routine. I’ve appreciated the opportunity to spend time in the Big City and have honestly loved the experience of working at Sadler’s Wells. You know how it is, you meet nice people and you have a giggle – what’s not to like? That said, I am really looking forward to being back in the Pod* come January 4th, although I have no doubt I’ll be coming back east in next to no time as there are so many things I want to come and see here. By the way I hope you’ve had a chance to see the Centre’s new programme, even I didn’t know Avenue Q was confirmed on its way to Cardiff! I can’t wait to see this again, it hilarious, rude and very naughty. Perfect.

With Christmas upon us the perpetual conveyor belt of productions has halted with only 3 offerings from now until the New Year; The Snowman, Bourgeois & Maurice and Matthew Bourne’s Cinderella, which I saw last night. Now I'm a fan of his work, I think he's a bit of a genius. His last production to visit the Centre, Dorian Gray, was witty, sexy, dark, which are all very good things to be. Cinderella, although very watchable, for me feels too comfortable. The shoe fits neatly as a slipper should. Hmmm... it felt safe, much like Prokofiev’s score which it's nice but bit dull perhaps {and you can't do much about that}. The design {as always} is massive and magnificent and the character driven performances really pull you in. I don't know how I feel about it, it’s definitely not my favourite MB piece but I would recommend you see it {I'd love him to take on Romeo & Juliet, although I suspect it would become Romeo & Julian}. Here’s a clip, what do you think?

Oh yes, there is one more thing to tell you. I’ve fractured and chipped my elbow {proper sad face}. I slipped on ice outside the Co-op in Tulse Hill last Wednesday {there’s glamour for you now} much to the delight of Jamie who stood over me crying with laughter: “You looked like a teddy bear, legs apart and arms thrown in the air!"... So I’m Sad Sack the raggiest of dolls and to make matters worse, it was my Birthday. My elbow is now less a hinge and more a bracket and in dire need of lubrication, so I've been given arm exercises to perform by Dr Fracture Clinic, which are best done in private as they make me look as if I’m pretending to be a robot; a robot that can’t move its arm.

Siarad cyn hir. G

*The Pod is where I sit with Louise, Rob, Simon, Sarah and Tabi. Our Pod rules.