Tweenage Dreams

On Saturday I went to see one of my oldest friends in a play. My school friends and I met when we were mere tweenagers, clad in bottle-green gingham shirts, wooly jumpers and polyester skirts. Fast-forward almost a decade we are still the best of friends and support each other in our endeavors. Saturday was Kelly’s night. A double billing of watching her play and celebrating her birthday! My beautiful friend plays two characters Miss Peterson the estate agent and the wacky neighbour Jacqui Henderson in the horror play ‘Nightmare’.

The poster for ‘Nightmare’, showing at The Space until 10^th November. (For tickets go to http://space.org.uk/?p=7462)

I love watching Kelly perform. Earlier this year, she was in the fabulous musical ‘Street Cries’, which she performed at the Edinburgh Festival. Whereas ‘Street Cries’ was full of dynamism and really delved into the diversity found in city life. ‘Nightmare’ is a horror play set in a quiet village, and all throughout the show the audience is kept in suspense. Things don’t seem to be quite right. From the creepy gardener to the mystery of the locked cupboard, the intimate venue really envelops the audience as the nightmare unfolds. The venue (an old converted church) adds to the chilling atmosphere and the close proximity to the actors really showcases the talent on offer.

 

Kelly blowing out the ball of fire a.k.a. Apple Blondies!!

After the show we headed up to the bar at the venue, where we surprised our little star with an Apple Blondie cake! Loudly serenading Kelly with a not-so-pitch-perfect rendition of ‘Happy Birthday’, we really set the tone for the rest of the evening… which turned out to be, well… interesting!

 Casual night in… 5 excited girls + 1 iPod + champagne + dress up box = carnage!

After a short detour round to Barbican, we ended up back at my flat. After a delivery of Domino’s and some celebratory champagne we channeled our inner 7-year-old. Slipping into some fancy dress and blasting out some tunes, we danced like crazy ladies and sang ourselves into a stupor. With a thesp in our midst, we giggled and danced through endless rounds of "Dance Like You Are..." - highlights including "Dance Like You Are A Molar Being Extracted" and "Dance Like You Are A Pineapple Being Cut Up". Staying in is officially the new going out! BEST SLUMBER PARTY EVER!!!