Fat Friends the Musical - 2022 Tour

I completely agree with you for most points and I get what you're saying but in the same way I don't judge the state of Hollywood over the release of the Sharknado film series because this show and Freddie Flintoff is a tiny, minuscule part of a huge machine with more going on that you could ever even begin to know.

Touring as the ensemble in any show whether is be a huge production or a small production is an absolute joy when you're my age and like I mentioned earlier, most people I know are absolutely chuffed to be involved in any capacity. The latest example of what I'm saying is a very good friend of mine from drama school has been cast as a featured role in Gary Barlow's THE BAND. She certainly isn't going to pipe up and say how much she hates the fact the leads were cast via a reality show because she knows that biting that hand that feeds her would be honourable yet detrimental to a career in a famously flippant industry. As well as having a friend cast in THE BAND the two of us also have friends who have just premiered a new musical at The Other Palace. So, no I'm not rolling over and taking it. We always have so many different things going on that being involved in ONE production that has a celebrity lead doesn't affect our passion, talent or drive and it certainly doesn't define the entire industry. 

Not to make this about me personally but when I'm not employed, like many other actors who CARE ABOUT WHAT THEY DO and are PASSIONATE ENOUGH, I take part in multiple readings, workshops and varying development stages of new work, plays, musicals, etc. I can't be sure but I'm sure I've taken part in about 50+ readings/workshops since I started drama school and I've never seen a single celebrity near of any those productions. THAT'S where actors put their passion and their craft. THAT'S where our love of theatre lies. THAT'S what our training prepared us for - not some second rate show that we all know is a pile of pish but sign up for anyway because bills gotta get paid. 

I recently moved back to Scotland after a few years performing in France, Germany and Australia (and a lot of karaoke in South East Asia). I've just finished a well received show at the Edinburgh Fringe. Two weeks ago I auditioned did my second call back for a new drama on ITV and I'm in the process of setting up a Glasgow based theatre group exclusively LGBTQI+ performer so I reiterate to you, yes I am very passionate and I care about what I do more than you'd ever know. This industry pays my bills (as does Ted Baker but that's another conversation to be had).

If the producers of FAT FRIENDS want to hire a minor celebrity to star in a show that's based on a series that's been off the air for over a decade, written by a woman who has some alright credits to her name and composed by someone who just happens to be related to the world's most famous theatre composer then LET THEM. It's their money and their head on the board if it flops. Whatever happens the actors still have the pay check, the credit on their CV and they'll move onto the next job. Please don't think me, or anyone else, is being submissive and disrespectful just because we're not rioting at the thought of Freddie Flintoff being in a musical, we have just more important sh*t to be worrying about.

Sorry for the rant. This would have been easier to say if we were in the pub with a pint.