Some fluff, but some really important stuff too!

The last few weeks have been a whirl of activity, such that I can barely remember where I've been: my feet have hardly touched the ground!

 

Naked Boys Singing is now well up and running, and going very well. I'm reminded at every show, just how much I love being a Naked Boy, and I think the new cast members are also feeling a deep affection for the piece. There's a wonderful camaraderie inherent in what we're doing: I think the audience get it too - it's like we have a contract with them, saying "we all know that we're doing something unusual up here, and we know that you appreciate that fact." it engenders a lot of good feeling all round, and that HAS to be a good thing.

 

In the main, audience figures have been very good. There's always room for a few more though, so if you haven't seen it yet, treat yourself, and pop down to the Charing Cross Theatre (formerly the New Players) on a Friday or Saturday night, and see for yourself whet all the fuss is about.

 

There's a new Naked Boys Twitter doing the rounds as well, so follow @NKDboyssinging to be kept in the loop!

 

I've also been up to Scarborough, talking about what it means to be a professional actor, in a school, in front of children who it seemed, had no interest in a theatrical career at all. It seemed a bit awkward and embarrassing, to be honest, but I approve wholeheartedly of the initiative of the head teacher for trying to encourage his kids into the Arts.

 

Then came a week in Newcastle, for the premiere of Ben's latest film for the BBC, Tyne & Wear Metro: The Musical.

 

The film was great fun (you can watch it on YouTube here), and the premiere was a great success. It was wonderful to see the way the people of Newcastle responded to being in the film, and to see just how much they all got out if it. I was, again, very proud of Ben, and all that he had achieved.

 

A quick jaunt down to Dorset followed, for the Golden Wedding Anniversary of Ben's aunt and uncle. It was a lovely opportunity to really get to know some of Ben's extended family.

 

Then came a sojourn to the banks of Loch Lomond, to do a drumming workshop session. It was a looooooooong drive in the van, with all the drums, but at least Trevor wad doing the driving. I just had to keep him entertained.

 

We were brilliantly well looked after. We had a little cottage onsite, and the fabulous cook, Gay, had left us the most delicious beef casserole in the fridge, along with a homemade lime cheesecake, and a packet of chocolate fingers. It's almost like she'd done some research into all my favourite things!

 

Then it was back on the road, this time to Devon, with Ben, for a family weekend near Bideford. My mum and her partner Ron have been trying to get both his side of the family and mine all together at the same time for over a year. I had never met his children and their families, so a weekend away in a 20-bed cottage in the middle of nowhere seemed like the perfect answer.

 

We had such a wonderful time. Ron's family are lovely company, and we all mucked in with preparing food, and drinking a lot of alcohol!

 

We spent the Saturday in an absolutely beautiful village called Clovelly. It's a tiny smugglers' village literally clinging to the side of a very steep cliff. You walk down an extremely steep cobbled street, to a picture perfect harbour, with a wall covered with ladders and steps down to the beach. It's absolutely stunning. My mum's grandfather or great uncle (no one is quite sure) used to deliver the post in Clovelly with a donkey. There is a photograph of him doing his rounds in the village museum.

 

We found a brilliant waterfall along the beach, and all dared each other to run through it, getting absolutely soaked to the skin, amid shrieks of laughter.

 

All in all it was a really enjoyable weekend.

 

In other, more disturbing news, my friend Philip Sallon, known throughout the London club scene as a club entrepreneur and fashion guru, was brutally attacked in Soho two weeks ago.

 

At the time of writing this, he is still in hospital with a fractured skull and other nasty injuries. I've seen him a couple of times, and he is definitely on the mend, but that's not the point.

 

It can only be assumed that this was a homophobic attack. It shocks and saddens me that in the second decade of the 21st Century, in our fabulous and inclusive metropolitan city, this abhorrent hate crime can still take place. Particularly in Soho, where Philip has been a recognisable face for over thirty years. Philip is not alone, however. Let's not forget Ian Baynham, who two years ago was beaten to death in Trafalgar Square, for daring to walk hand in hand with his partner.

 

This has to stop. Now.

 

To support Philip and other victims of hate crime, a midnight rally is being organised for Friday night, on the 15th of April.

 

My partner Ben is one of the people responsible for making this event take place. The primary objective is to appeal for witnesses to come forward, as we are working with the police, trying to piece together the events of two weeks ago, as poor Philip still can't remember anything about the attack, but we'll also be there to raise awareness of hate crime in London, and show support for people who have been affected by this evil.

 

If you would like to join us, and help make a difference, we will be gathering at Eros in Piccadilly Circus, very near where Philip was found, at 11.30pm on Friday night. At midnight we will parade through Soho, handing out witness appeal leaflets, and singing some if Philip's favourite songs. At 3am, we'll be back at Eros for a two minute silence, held in honour of Philip, and of those who were not as lucky as he is.

 

Please come. Join us for all or part of the night, and show your support got this cause.

 

For more info, visit this page.

 

I've just heard that the head office of Gap, (Philip wad attacked right outside the Piccadilly branch) are refusing to allow a poster asking for witnesses to be put up in their window. Apparently it goes against their policy, and they "don't allow advertising in their windows.". This makes me sick. if you have a twitter account, perhaps you can ask @GAP why they think this is acceptable? Easier still, follow me at @TheNathanTaylor, and retweet my tweet from today, challenging them to explain themselves.

 

I hope to see many of you at Eros on Friday night. Together we can really make a difference.

 

So this is me, signing off.

 

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