Just finished produced The American Forever, Etc. - A Library for saltpeter's launch of The Brautigan Book Club.  We had a tremendous line-up including Gruff Rhys (Super Furry Animals), Martin Carr (Boo Radleys) and H.Hawkline with their Brautigan Suite,  Joe Duggan with his tremendous backdrop and charming self (he's also keen to produce The Fever - YES!), Thom Tuck and Zoe Gardner, and friends. Thanks to Nemonie and Polly who curated the show and to Warren at BGWMC who is a constant source of support, and David Duchin at People Show, who is 1000% a hero.

Gruff, Martin and Huw with The Brautigan Suite. Watch the film HERE.

Am so pleased that the evening went well, a whole swathe of new work generated from a very simple starting point - respond to Brautigan. New personal connections made - new friendships and creative partnerships sown - and existing ties reinforced.

Why start The Brautigan Book Club? Read my article for The Reading Agency here. Follow the work of the BBC via this blog.

What next performance-wise? Monday I read, for the first time to the public, Anna Sulan Masing's new script in progress.

I hope to be back in Etampes with Philippe Gaulier for Melodrama. Can't wait!

So, I am up & on the computer. It's late. I have tonnes to do and am reflecting on too many things. However, my main task here tonight is to wish you all a wonderful festive season and a great start to the new year. I place a lot of stock in a future full of optimism, idealism, forward-looking, good friends, meaningful relationships, building towards something we believe in. Recent months have brought me in contact with some more tremendous people. I have learnt some bitter truths but they've been outshone by the incredible generosity of spirit I've encountered. 

I am about to enter my final week at Ecole Philippe Gaulier in Paris. I cannot wait to learn all I can this week and I am looking forward to coming back. If time and money were no obstacle, I'd do the entire two years that he offers, and it's really telling that students come back to to up on their 'pleasure', as and when they feel the need. Being in the room with Philippe is always a privilege.

Off to Paris on Saturday to train at Ecole Philippe Gaulier for three weeks, studying Le Jeu. It all started years ago when I got back in touch with the lovely performer, Adrian Gillott - I saw his work and thought, "I have to be able to perform like you". He is an angel on stage. 

Off to Borneo to work with Iban performers for two weeks. Hurrah!

Ok, right, the multiple question marks and the capital letters only indicate my surprise at how quickly this year has gone by! Also, I find that I am only going to be in London for less than 6 weeks (in total) from now till the end of the year. Insane.

Hello folks! It's been far too long. Many apologies. I have been incredibly busy with saltpeter. Am not going to repeat myself, so do have a look at the site www.saltpeterproductions.co.uk. 'Like' the facebook page  for updates, castings, events, workshops and follow us on twitter . AHA. That's what I have also been spending time on: twitter. It's fascinating, the construction of digital personae. Yes, plural, constantly shifting, and as affecting as it is effective.

I have tonnes of news, but I will have to get back to you on this. Very quickly, non-saltpeter news includes: new agent, Jess Jones at Global Artists (what a fantastic name), my films with Adrian have been selected for Coracle's 'Stranger' project, I am on the Genesis Young Vic Directors Scheme (but this is saltpeter too. I'm not doing very well). Oh! Filmed a C4 ident for the Olympics featuring Hussein Bolt. That was jolly.

Sleep calls but really, do have a look at the News on saltpeter's website as it's ALL there. Am working with extraordinary people on extraordinary projects and it's a great feeling.

Filming begins week after next for me, for the super-sexy Japanese noir detective thriller, Random 11. Trailer and information here. It's getting lots of interesting European film magazine coverage, and so it should: I've worked with TS Ukpo before and not only is he a great person, he's got a lot of style.

Previous projects with Tony include The Nemesis of Man - the teaser is an Homage to "La Jetee" by Chris Marker, and Future Perfect. 

If you can spare UD$10, and want to support the creation of quality independent film, have a look at the project in more detail here. It's increasingly common to find independent filmmakers, bands, & creatives in general, raising capital in this way. It provides greater ownership for all, and moves us away from dependency on central/government/evil corporates. And simplistically, it indicates if the public actually want your product. 

For saltpeter, 

- the performance with Anna Sulan Masing went well. A great starting point for further work in Borneo later in the year. I am particularly interested in Anna's exploration of truth, truths, storytelling and diaspora. We played with each other's stories - swopping, changing, fantasising, creating different realities - and have made something new which will keep evolving.

- plans for the Brighton Fringe are going well. Follow the saltpeter facebook page or follow us on twitter - 'saltpeterprod'. We've got industry interest and are very pleased with the image and copy we've recently produced for this new version of Wallace Shawn's The Fever.

- super-exciting script found and we're holding a reading on the 27th with some lovely new actors I've discovered. Again, see the saltpeter facebook page (Discussions tab) for regular information on who we're working with, opportunities, and events.

Dear Folks, 

This is a fantastic new show that I am rehearsing for, Talking in Bed by Tom Green, running Jan 10th - 15th.

Cecily Boys, the director, is a joy to work with, as is my partner-in-bed, Dan Maclane. Can't wait for it to open! Am VERY excited.

Four couples. One bed.

A play about sex, lies, and entire bank holidays spent between the sheets.

James Holmes (BBC's Miranda) leads our cast in an acutely observed, wickedly real look at just how naked the truth can be.

Praise for previous Old Bomb productions:

"Greatest theatrical treat of 2008" 

- British Theatre Guide

"Wonderfully crafted drama" 

- York Evening Press

Preparations for The Death of Tintagel are well and truly underway.. the show's been cast, the technical crew is planning, the first wave of teaser flyers are out there, and funding is trickling into place.

This is going to be swell.

HALLOWEEN 2010

www.deathoftintagel.com

www.facebook.com/deathoftintagel

www.twitter.com/deathoftintagel

Monday October 25th - Saturday 6th November, People Show studios, Bethnal Green

July is a busy month. Have started rehearsals for To Moscow, To Moscow with the New Factory of the Eccentric Actor www.eccentricactor.com and am incredibly happy to be working with them again. Their ethos, what they work for, and how their work, inspires me incredibly.

In conjunction with The Death of Tintagel, Saltpeter Productions has organised a week of workshops. We've had generous donations of time from Mick Barnfather (Complicite), Vik Sivalingam (RSC), and Adrian Gillott (The Same Person), and V Lewis and Krystian Godlewski (Bones Theatre) are incredibly supportive. All details are on www.saltpeterproductions.com

I'm curating Samantha's Sunday Night Supper Club which takes place on July 11th in the Old Boys Hall in Dalston and we've got a line-up of wonderful performers. Fully booked so am very pleased.

Last Vanya performance tomorrow. It's been a ride - I've learnt a great deal and the team has been lovelier than most. Can't wait for the next theatrical project to see if I can put these new ideas to use again and really bed them down.

Looking forward to To Moscow, To Moscow. The collectively gorgeous Penny Dimand and Gary Merry from The New Factory of the Eccentric Actor came along to Vanya and we talked more Chekhov (is it possible?). Must tell them more about plans for Tintagel, which is coming along rather nicely.

Speaking of good people, a huge thanks to all the friends who came along to see Vanya. All your support and feedback has been immense and much appreciated.

Lots of fun and games with filmmaker Lucy Pawlak. We're all set to start serious devising in preparation for our shoot in Poland in September - The Inspection House. We've got exciting experts and workshop leaders coming in and take us through new ways of working and the experiments with be full of adventure.

Table reading tomorrow - Tina Chiang has been super pro-active and organised the reading of a new screenplay. It'll be filmed - I should catch some shut-eye.

I received the call today - I'll be playing Yelena in a production of Uncle Vanya, to be directed by the wonderful Vik Sivalingam, who is currently a resident assistant director at the RSC!! I know I'll be challenged in a way I haven't been in a long time and I've so much to learn from Vik (the auditions put me through my paces, goodness me they did. In terms of naturalistic stage work, I haven't done much for what seems like ages), so I am thoroughly excited. Terrified and excited - the best state to be in.

The show will run for three weeks at the Camden People's Theatre from 25th May - 13th June and will be produced by a Poor School alumni company, The Sturdy Beggars. It'll be great to work with Poor School grads from different years, and I hear we've got some great guest actors in as well. Can't wait to start rehearsing.

Ooooh, I nearly forgot - www.saltpeterproductions.com is on its way..

I am still immensely discombobulated, having been away from London since September (3 months in Ipswich with the marvelous Eastern Angles team) followed by 4 hectic days of play readings, 5 weeks in Malaysia where I squeezed in a short film, Chinese New Year, and a paradise holiday at Petani, 1 week in Leeds with a tight filming schedule for Talent Boost and now, preparing for FOUR WALLS, a behind the bikeshed show.

Now, I've been waiting to work with Anna Masing, the brains and the beauty behind the bikeshed, for around three years, no joke. Happily, it looks as though we'll have a sickeningly exciting project on our hands later this year - I'll tell you all about it once it's firmed up a little more, but I am squealingly terrified and marvelously happy that it may all just happen. I am hoping to bring together Adrian Gillott, Lucy Pawlak and Vik Sivalingam, resident assistant director at the RSC - all firm favourites in the Camp Vera - this year. More on this as we go along.

Anyhow, if you're about, come to see FOUR WALLS. As well as performing in two sketches, I am responsible for writing one of them.

Goodness, first off, here is another lovely review from BBC Suffolk: http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/suffolk/hi/people_and_places/arts_and_culture/newsid_8395000/8395195.stm

My fantastic agent, Hazel trekked all the way here in the snow to support me a few days ago. It's been a lovely week for having visitors: the ever-inspiring Lucy Pawlak came and we discussed the Samsonov project more and celebrated the news of her next group exhibition in March, organised by sweetheart and maestro Adam James www.mradamjames.com . I am very much looking forward to being a part of the next stage of Samsonov.

Unfortunately, Adrian Gillott was unable to attend on the same night as Lucy due to the lurgy but I am looking forward to his next performance: Samantha will be appearing at Earls Court on Jan 25th in the first round of the Laughing Horse New Acts competition and I will be there hooting. Am of course, mildly jealous that he has been busy working away with his company TheSamePerson on new material for next year, but 2010 awaits, pregnant with possibility.

I recorded some fun pieces in Malay with the kind help of Bryan here in Ipswich, and look forward to more. Jamie Zubairi was key in getting me this work and I hope to use more Malay in the future (That is, beyond appearing with Jeremy Tiang on stage and listing foods this has happened in TWO plays already!)

The BBC Talent Boost scheme is rattling along and I am happy to be able to attend one day in Jan before we shoot in March - I hope I won't be as tired or as food-poisoned as when I was down recently to sing at RTYD's last gig of the year at The Libertine. Michael Caines was, as ever, charming, delightful, and talented, and we got to follow Warren Meneely who has the loveliest voice and disposition, and was wearing blue suede shoes. Dom St Clair, MJ and Jen from the Hacket Hill shoot (TV pilot) were there and news of HH nearing completion is beyond exciting. All in all, I had one of the best Sundays in recent memory.

Thank you to everyone who came to the gig, and to those who fought off the locals to get tickets for Mansfield Park and Ride. We enter a period of many extra shows to meet the festive demand and so it's head down and go go go till the new year.

Have a lovely festive period and a year ahead full of love, delight, warmth, adventure, and inspiration.

Lovely reviews from our opening night:

1. The Stage
http://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/review.php/26429/mansfield-park-and-ride?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheStageReviews+(The+Stage+%2F+Reviews)

2. What's On Stage
http://www.whatsonstage.com/reviews/theatre/Southeast/E8831259852874/Mansfield+Park+&+Ride+(Ipswich,+Eastern+Angles).html

3. East Anglian Times
http://www.eadt.co.uk/content/eadt/whats-on/story.aspx?brand=EADOnline&category=ReviewsEADT&tBrand=EADOnline&tCategory=xWhatsOn&itemid=IPED03%20Dec%202009%2010%3A02%3A06%3A403

Hello from Ipswich! Here is a brief sleep-addled report on the opening night of Mansfield Park and Ride following our opening night last night.

We opened to a full house and the show went down really well, HUZZAH! The wet shirts were wet, the rippling torsos were ripply, the bonnets were bonkers and all our [Austen] endings had been sufficiently fiddled with. Guffaw.

The company is especially pleased given that this is the first time in YEARS that they haven't used the usual writer and creative lot behind this famous Christmas show.

It was a jolly, cosy (if not steamy) Christmassy show and it's a pleasure to be working with such a fantastic team - cast and crew are lovely. (Super credits too: we have actors who've tread the boards at the NT, RSC, Globe, Chichester etc and been on the box, if you fancy that kind of thing!)

And if you haven't booked, please do! It would be lovely to see you.

Ipswich shows are pretty much almost sold out. Woodbridge (near Ipswich and still only about an hour from London) is still ok for seats as we can always stick you in the balcony, but it's worth seeing this show on home ground, amongst the locaaaals.

And if you're about in London on Sunday 13th Dec, I am swooping into the smog SPECIALLY to sing at a gig at the tasty, civilised pub, The Libertine, near Borough. Sunday-roast is tasty. And cheap. And this is our super special end of the year gig! What's our music like? Acoustic, pretty, melancholy slash tongue in cheek. Kinda. It's FREE. Details below:

http://www.facebook.com/#/pages/stephenmcaines/177552361345?ref=ts

Lastly, if you have anything going on yourself eg a show, gig, event, workshop, or know any hot info, do let me know and I'll pass it on via my info-network Loose Lips on facebook.

Over and out x

Mansfield Park and Ride - Two rehearsal weeks have passed and we're rolling merrily along towards opening night! It's very exciting to see that, as predicted, the show is well on its way to selling out, with large sections of the run already booked out. I am constantly in fits of giggles during the rehearsals - the cast is so janglingly full of funny bones and clever actors it's a pleasure to observe my colleagues improvise and work on scenes. We're having tremendous fun. The show has also given me the opportunity to play the piano, which has been such a nice surprise. A huge thanks to all you busy Londoners who have booked tickets to come out during the chaos which ensues over the festive period.

On the gigging front, Michael and I are probably playing our last gig this side of the new year at the lovely Libertine www.thelibertine.co.uk on December 13th (Look up stephenmcaines on Facebook to follow our exploits in more detail). I'll catch the last train outta Ipswich and swoop in and out of London, catching a Sunday roast along the way. I'm looking forward to this as the last gig DID go ahead and we reckon it was our best-sounding to date, although there was a huge hoo-ha with venue changes at the 11th hour. A huge thanks to those who followed our saga and turned up anyway despite the odds. The Libertine slot promises new material and a more solid set. Hurrah!

On the art front, Lucy Pawlak's show opened in Zurich www.karmainternational.org and I'll be meeting her tomorrow to view some of the material we shot and to catch up. I am extremely pleased and flattered to be working with her on her Samsonov, and can't wait for more wonderful adventures with Lucy.

More soon x

Exciting times! I start rehearsals for Mansfield Park and Ride, the new Eastern Angles www.easternangles.co.uk Christmas show on Nov 9th. I'll be playing Fanny within the ensemble of six and I am looking forward to it. Several shows have sold out already and I'll be based in Ipswich till Jan 23rd.

Before then, I'm squeezing in as much as I can. Tonight I will be at Area 10 to watch more showings from The Sawmill Collective http://sawmillcollective.org/ . A fantastic group of dedicated artists who work at Area 10 in Peckham. The space is incredible.

Singing-wise, my new venture with Michael Caines may be somewhat thwarted as the venue for our gig on Sunday is um-ing and ah-ing and planning to reschedule. But the gig at Biddles in Hackney last Tuesday went very well with an encore and many happy exclamations from the audience along the lines of "FAB" and "awesome". I particularly liked, "I didn't think you'd be this good".

I am going to be travelling to Berlin next week to catch the fantastic Adrian Gillott perform with the acclaimed Nico and the Navigators http://www.navigators.de/engl/index.html - I can't wait.

James Thierée at the Barbican was, as predicted, one of the best experiences of my life. I saw Le Cirque Invisible recently too. Also, The Times bfi festival has been great - I have been reminded of how much I am a fan of Joe Swanberg and the mumblecore movement.