Since having been dropped by Big Agent at the beginning of this year I have had more opportunities and work than ever before!

 

A lot of it has to do with the help of some fabulous friends and two such fabulous friends are the wonderful Anna Crilly and Will Andrews.  I know them both from the comedy circuit and at the moment they are doing some filming for CBBC.  They are both a part of the fabulous 'Sorry I've got no head'.  It's a sketch show for kids that includes lots of comedians from the circuit and is really good!  It's better than some of the comedy out there for adults.  One of the sketches within 'Sorry I've got no head' is called 'Game Over' and they have decided to do a spin off series with it.

 

One afternoon I got a phonecall saying would you like to come and play a zombie for the day, Anna and Will had put my name forward....Oh I bloody loved it.  I spent a day away from The Shop and had my hair and make up done (Not pretty hair and make up but real fun hair and make up), hung out on set with my friends, faffed about like a moron zombie, danced to thriller and got some credits on my CV....I did it so well they asked me back to do it all another time!

 

Hope you like my look...see below.

 

Love me xx

 

 

 

So, my good friend Ben Warwick has written and filmed and produced a pilot...well a whole series really.  He did it all the summer of 2008 and me and Sister with massive laugh were involved in it and it was so much fun to do and be a part of it.

 

Fast forward to the first May Bank Holiday of this year and I'm filming a part of it again.  It was a sequence for a music video which is connected to Ben's pilot 'Five Years'. The Story of 'Five years' (Click here for the website) is based on that old actor's saying of 'I'll give it 5 years, and if nothing happen's I'll then get a proper job' ....What do you do when the five years is up and nothing's happened?  10 years is up for me now and nothing's happened.  In the words of the 'The one who wasn't the one'...the music still plays on for me...

 

Here's some great photos of me as Nurse Donovan, my flate mate Serena, also an actress, Ben the Director, writer, producer, Duncan the camera man and Jez - the long haired half naked man who's band the video is for.  Will post it up here when it's edited.

 

Love me xx

 

We queued for 3 hours and 5 minutes in the cold and biting wind.

 

We cheered when the queue got smaller and each person in turn got a ticket.

 

We took two single tickets and then swapped one for two together.  Yippee!

 

We spent our weekly allowance on each ticket.

 

We took our seats and sat mesmersied at the amazing set. A forest was recreated in stage.

 

We feel in love with the anti hero of Johnny 'Rooster' Byron.  We didn't believe it when they said 'he was a drug pusher to minors', we didn't want to believe that he could have slept with minors, we ignored the state of his life.

 

We lauged at the stories and the accents.

 

We cried at the music and his suit and when he danced and the pain of it all.

 

We could have heard a pin drop when they came for him.

 

We wanted to shout 'Stop!  You don't understand' when they beat him and burnt him.

 

We gasped in horror when he emerged bloodied and broken.

 

We leapt to our feet when the curtain fell.

 

We couldn't clap hard enough when the curtain came up again and again and again.

 

We cried some more when he stepped forward for his bow.  We whooped and hollared with the rest of them.

 

We wanted to tell him his performance had marked our lives.  That it had been the best thing we had ever seen, that we would remember it forever.

 

On Friday 16th April 2010  we went to see Jerusaleum.

 

 

 

 

Jerusaleum:

And did those feet in ancient time
Walk upon England's mountains green?
And was the holy Lamb of God
On England's pleasant pastures seen?

And did the Countenance Divine
Shine forth upon our clouded hills?
And was Jerusalem builded here
Among these dark satanic mills?

Bring me my bow of burning gold;
Bring me my arrows of desire;
Bring me my spear; O clouds, unfold!

Bring me my chariot of fire!

I will not cease from mental fight,
Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand,
Till we have built Jerusalem
In England's green and pleasant land.

Gosh..I mean...well...Yes!  What has been occuring you might ask?  Or you might not?  I don't know it's hard to decide when I can't see your pretty faces.

Where have I been you ask?  Where haven't I been might be a better question? Eh.....To put it plain and simply it's been a real shitter of a year and it's only the 7th of Avril Lavigne.  So I last wrote about this year being the year I don't do things that I don't like and that don't make me happy.  It's seems that everything else seemed to give up on me as well.

Firstly I lost my comedy column 'Virgin trains Hotline' job which was a lovely little job and also a bit of cash so that always helped. Then I went and had a meeting with my agent and the next day they dropped me!  My PR company told me I'm supposed to say we parted company due to various reasons but basically they dropped me and then proceeded to drop 4 other people from the company...Upsetting to begin with but then I quickly got over it which makes me think it was for the best.  I hadn't felt right since September and so I guess that this all had to be part of my year of change.

Then I let my job at The Shop.  Had to go as I'd been there for 4 years and my manager was terrible but it was still incredibly sad (All this is going on at the same time by the way!!)...so no jobs, no agents.

My saving graces were I knew I was going to Edinburgh this year and I had my fabulous new comedy night happening...See below:


Oh it's so much fun to be a part of and I started working on scripts and doing workshops with Anna Crilly and Will Andrews and it was all going great.....THEN
I didn't get accepted for Edinburgh!

You have got to be kidding me!!!!  Are you joking?  Oh what an absolute bummer.  My first application got lost in the post (Don't even ask!!!!!!!!!!  I am one of the last few people in the world who still write letters and so am always championning Royal Mail.  Not anymore the bastards!) so my second application was late in the application process and then I got the rejection email.

'I'm sorry to say that this year your application has been unsuccessful'

Oh the tears..I had pinned so much on going to Edinburgh.  I'd get people to see me, I'd get an agent...All would be well.

So...jobless, careerless, agentless, moneyless and ...well surprisingly happy and free. I know it sounds strange after all that moaning but it's true.  Obviously the happy and free part took a while to kick in but it's here and once again, for the first time in what seems like months, the world is my oyster - Here's hoping I don't get food poisoning again.


Here are the good things that have been occuring in my life - Thank god there's some:

1.  Have found a new job at Another Shop (4 hours a week but we're taking it!)
2.  A casting director remembered me and put me up for a casting (Didn't get it but it's the thought that counts)
3.  I have a small part in the new 'Will and Greg' Radio 4. Pilot (Recording this Thursday. V. excited)
4.  I am perfoming my Edinburgh show from last year 'Regret me not' at the Camden Fringe Festival this August (More details to follow)
5.  I have colourcoded my wardrobe and it looks absolutely amazing.
6.  Not going to Edinburgh means I can go to Australisa for my friends wedding in November which is most exciting.

Phew....All change right?  Keep them fingers crossed for me.

Love
matt's little sister x

Ps.  Below is the video for Joke Party which I love.  It's finished now for the summer but we'll definately be back in September so I shall keep you all informed.

Hey Kids,

Bonne Annee Mes Amies - I think that's how you spell it!?  Ooppss! Should have maybe spent more time paying in attention in French class.

Oh well...I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and New year and are raring to go with 2010?

I feel particularly positive about this year and am starting it off with a big cleanse.  I have decided I am no longer going to do things I don't enjoy -At 31 I really shouldn't have to should I? 

So, 2010 starts with 'Out with the old and in with the new.' On 20th January it will be my last time performing with The Sketchy Collective at the Albany.  I do hope you come down and check it out but for me it's time to move on.  I've been running/co-running a comedy night there for nearly two and half years now and it's time for a change.

Enter Joke Party!

Yippeeee...There will be more info about this later but for now keep Tuesday 2nd February free and I will hopefully see you then....TBC

Love
matt's little sister xx

Returning for just one night only,

Andrea Donovan showcases her smash hit, sell out* 

Edinburgh one woman character comedy

'Regret Me Not'

on

Tuesday 24th November 9.30pm

@

Hen and Chickens Theatre

Islington
 
'Wickedly Funny' said The List
 
'Subtly observed, at times scary and always deliciously loopy, Donovan’s portraits reveal not only a consummate comic actor, but also an enviable writing talent'

said The Stage
 
'Darling, you've taken out the willy bit?' said Lorraine Donovan
 
For more information check out the trailer: 

'Regret me not' trailer

Tickets cost £6.50(£5 if you have your membership card)

 

Book now on:

0207 704 2001

 

Hope to see y'all there

 

xxx

 

*Not quite true...

For those of you unfamiliar with Bainbridge Hall...Shame on you!!!

Well, It's back and I know that'll you be dying to come along and check out what Kenton and Bibi Bainbridge have in store for you so this is just a little note to let you know that myself and the wonderful Mr. Glynn Reed will be hosting The Sketchy Collective live from Bainbridge Hall next Wednesday 21st October.  There is fabulous comedy involved  - amazing special guests and free cupcakes in the interval!!  What more do you guys want!!

We do hope to see you there. You can book your tickets by phoning this number: 0207 387 5706 and leaving your precious details.

So.
We're all done.
I say we, I, of course, mean me.

It was amazing.  The highs and the lows (Of which there were plenty!!), the drinking, the silent shows, the meeting new people, the compliments, the deathly bored stares, the North bridge, the cheap cider, the friends who came to visit and spur me on, the reviews, the fab girls who picked me up when I was down, the fab boys who laughed at my outfits on a daily basis, the seeing amazing shows, the silent discos, the weather, the flyerering, the awards, the cute boys and Lional Blair who on the last day I spoke to for an hour.

Just a few piccies as I merge myself back into 'The real world' that...unfortunately sucks right now...

.....You know me though.  Lots in the pipeline...Watch this space.

My Costumes and Set..Just a simple gal, don't need much:


My set in 'The Hut':


The Pleasance Courtyard where I spent most of my time:


My name up in lights...erm..I mean ..on the board:


The beautiful Ms. Aerosmith:


My quotes:


BC and AD:


Steve Mould aka Model:



See you Soon
Love
Me xx

Check it: (Don't know what a lot of the words mean but I find them quite impressive)

 

Regret Me Not

What a journey!!!

 

Jesus christ these past two weeks have been the biggest rollercoaster ride of my life.  I have learnt so much in this short space of time and have had incredible highs and pretty depressing lows. 

 

I do love a list:

 

The Lows:

• My first painful, harsh, one star review and the subsequent tears that followed.
• The flyering aka the rejection
• The weather
• The lack of sleep
• The second week where my show died and I didn't know how to revive it.  I did four silent shows in a row.  The sudience were silent...I wasn't, well, I might as well have been!
• The 5 minute slot I just did at a comedy night where I died on my ass and then ran away before the punters could lynch me
• Knowing in just over two weeks I have to go back to the day job.

The Highs:

• My Beautiful, resurected show
• My List Review
• My audience reviews
• The weather
• Eating beautiful japenese food with Sister With Massive Laugh and Tim.
• Seeing Matt and Jamie everyday
• Seeing The One Who Wasn't The One have sell out shows
• Hearing my tiny audiences laugh at my jokes
• Tom Basden
• Seeing Frisky and Mannish
• Seeing Phil Nichol who gives me a massive hug everytime I see him.
• Miriam, Sky and Wot who look after me in The Hut.

I thought I'd add a few piccies of my groudhog days where I guillotine my tiny but beautiful press quote:

I get friends and family (Tim and Sister With Massive Laugh) to help me staple them to my flyers so I can hand them out the next day:

I miss out on a much needed massage because Sister With Massive Laugh gets her 'cramp' seen to.

 

These are my flatmates Nick and Becky who have just recieved a four star review from The Scotsman for their mask show, Balloon Boutique:

 

My techie, Jacqueline:

 

Obsessed with watching Tom Basden on Youtube:

 

And Finally, me...in my bedroom:

 

You can still book tickets here if you want to see the show and I'd certainly love you to, if you've seen it already...Spread the word and tell your friends:

 

Book me!

 

Love a very weary but ultimately happy

me xxx

 

It may be small and not quite perfectly formed but it is a good start and I'll take it:

 

       Andrea Donovan

The lingering poignancy of Regret Me Not, in which Donovan portrays a range of fictional women, indicates a bright future for this comic. There are some duds, including a Geordie drug addict turned life coach, but her Aussie school swimming instructor is wickedly funny and her African-baby craving librarian could be one of Fringe 2009’s most tender creations.

 

It has been harder than I ever thought but it is a good lesson.

 

Albeit an expensive and extremely hard lesson but one that I'm listening to and paying attention.

 

Book your tickets here if you want to come see the show!!!

 

Love me

xx

 

'At least stand up' said The One Who Wasn't The One.

I am sat on a bench in The Pleasance Courtyard gripping my tiny but beautiful flyers in both hands and trying not to cry.

'I will' I tell him with a wobbly lip. 'In 5 minutes I will stand up'

He laps the courtyard handing out flyers and chatting to people, selling his show with a smile on his face.  He returns 10 minutes later.

'Come on, stand up now.  You'll be fine'  He's trying to be firm but also soft as he can see the absolute terror in my eyes.

'Look, go to those people over there and just give them a flyer how you'd like to be given one.  Have a chat, you're good at that'

I stand.

I stay rooted to the spot for another 10 minutes.

I phone Beautiful Tessa in London and tell her how scared I am of flyering.  How it makes me feel phsically sick to hand out flyers with pictures of myself all over it.  To walk up to a table of complete strangers who have been bombarded every 5 minutes by people trying to sell them a show and tell them 'Hey guys, got any plans today at 4.45pm?  You haven't? Great, why not come see an amazing character comedy with me in it'

'Have a little vodka' She tells me.

'Not a great idea Tess, doing a show in three hours'

'Have a cheeky one anyway, I would.  In fact I'll be there in two days and I'll have one with you...and for you'

 

I love her and I wish she was here now with her enthusiasism and balls and confidence and smile and big laugh and 'Who gives a shit!'  She could sell my show to anyone!!  ANYONE I TELL YOU!! I more terrified of the flyering than I am of the show.  I love my show and I know it off by heart and I can't wait to do it but if I don't flyer I will be doing it to Jacqueline my techie and Miriam, who looks after my venue.

 

I loathe self promotion.

 

Please come and see my show as I'm so bad at flyering.

 

See my first review here (Tee Hee):

 

Review for 'Regret me not' in the Edinburgh Fringe

 

Love me

xxx

 

 

I'm off!!

Shizer Minelli!!

I am finally off to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2009.!!

What a journey.  My last two previews couldn't have been more different if they'd tried.  The first one had so few people in I had to beg someone who'd done a show before me to come in and bring his friends.  The second one was a blast and had about 20 people!!   Then came the shoulder...apparently it's pretty much frozen.  It started on saturday and has progressively gotten worse until yesterday where I cried/spoke for most of the day, went for my first ever massage, came home felt like puking and went to bed for 15 hours!  I couldn't stay in one place for more than a couple of minutes due to the severe pain it shot to my head.

 

 

Oh listen to me moaning..SHUT UP!!!  I'm off and that's all you need to know.  I shall be performing daily at The Pleasance Hut at 4.45pm and (if you're feeling very orgainised) you can book your tickets here:

 

Andrea Donovan.  Regret me not. Click here to book tickets!

 

I do hope to see you there and, if you do come and see the show, please come and tell me what you thought of it as I need all the help and feedback I can get.

 

Will update you on all my reviews (Only the good ones mind as who wants to read a bad review!!)

 

Love

me (With a frozen back/neck/head!) ...ouch! xxx

This is it folks.  The last time to come and see my previews before I head off to Scotchland for the biggest thing in my life since brogues became fashionable.  If you can, would love you to come down and support.  Would be great to have a full audience just once this year:

So below is my Edinburgh movie trailer!

 

I love it so much!!!!  I felt like crying when I first saw it.   In a strange way, if it all went tits up tomorrow I'd be happy because I feel like I've already been in a movie...and this is the amazing trailer that goes with it!  What a tit I am!

 

My friend Bobbi, from University, is a producer/director and so I asked him to help me...We filmed it one sunny sunday and then I left it with Bobbi and his Editor, Justin.  The rest is them. 

 

I hope you like it.  I wouldn't have been able to do it with out the following fabulous friends of mine:

 

Dan Taylor (Asher on the bike)

Sam Sanns (Scottish friend, Black jacket)

Kate Dean (Scottish friend, Blue scarf in her hair which Sister With Massive Laugh thought was knickers on her head!?! and Sound woman)

Glynn Reed (Bruce Catar, all black in the garden)

Nick Wigham (Ray Whelan in the car and Sound Man)

Jim Johnson (Voiceover)

and last, but by no means least

 

Rob Fisher (Producer/Director/Cameraman/Editor)...and Justin (Editor)

 

The majority of these people worked together on another project a couple of years ago.  Check it out here:

 

Stackers: A taster/pilot of a sitcom set in a supermarket by Dan Taylor

 

Anyway, I do hope you like the trailer below.  Pass it on to anybody and everybody if you can and hopefully see you all there...

 

Lovings

Me xx

Check it man!

 

 

So below is me with Nemone on the radio last week.  Why am I holding her baby bump?  I look like the proud husband.  Anyway, I loved it so much and wore a playsuit with brogues and wanted to stay chatting about music and cupcakes and BMX's for ages.  Alas it was a mere 10 minutes but 10 minutes of fame so I'm well chuffed.

 

Anyway, I have two previews left and would love you to come along, let me know what you think and cheer me on in the bits that drag.

Lovings
me xx

My gorgeous little friend Audrey, who works at the office of The Shop, writes for a fabulous little internet magazine called Lecool and, after coming to see my show last Monday, wrote a review for my next preview which is next Wednesday.

Check it out here:

Le cool magazine

You have to scroll along to Wednesday 8th July but I'm there.  Hope you can come to the preview too - only three left (details on my gigs page) and I always need an audience.

Lovings
me xx

SO I'm going to be on the radio tomorrow!!

I'm well excited.  It's on digital radio which (only found this out recently) means you can't listen to it on your normal radio but you can on a computer so if you do want to listen you can check me out here:

The Nemone show on BBC Radio 6.

I'm getting there for 2pm so might be on at about 2.30pm?  Not entirely sure.

Also..afterwards I'm doing an interview with the women's section of G2magazine, The Guardian newspaper magazine.  Have to discuss women in comedy!?! 

Will let you know when it's out.

Love me xx

* Regina Spektor: On the radio

Yes!  I'm back again and there is just far too much to fill you in on seeing as my last post was....Oh...nearly a year ago!  Here's a brief summary of all things that have been occuring:

* I went to Africa over the new year and had the best time of my entire life.
* I got my very first agent!  Wooo whoooo!
* I'm off to the Edinburgh Festival with my one woman show.
* I went for my first proper audition a couple of months ago and it was for a Hollywood movie!!! (I didn't get it in case you were wondering)
* I filmed a small pilot.
* I am now the new regular comedy columist in The Virgin trains magazine 'Hotline'
* I still work at The Shop

Phew!  I know.  Crazy and no doubt you have found this blog, that originally 3 and a half people used to look at (my mum, D's and Catchick - Thanks guys!), from my website!!!

I HAVE A WEBSITE!!  I can't believe it and I love it....I designed it and then my friend Babs made it - If that's what you do with Websites - but I hope you like it too...Let me know what you think so that I can have a comment as well.

Anyway, yes, business....So basically I'll be posting all my news on here and will keep you updated on anything exciting that happens in my life...and also probably just tell you some randomness.

Anyway...Thanks for stopping by and hope to see y'all soon
Love  me xx