Actor Joe McGann is well-known to many of us for his work on screen and stage. And we’re proud that he’s frequently been a writer for us here at Silver. But he’s taken a leap of faith, inspired to co-write – and perform in – a play with Jake Norton, centred around ‘an intervention.’

Sober Companion explores the funny, raw, and sometimes dark places of fame, addiction, and recovery.

Dan (played by Norton) is a high-flying prime time television presenter. He also has a bad habit which he denies, but he’s not hiding it as well as he thinks. 

Gerard (played by McGann) has seen it all before. He has personal experience of recovery that could be useful to Dan, so his services have been engaged. 

There is an intervention, intrusion of privacy, a stranger in the midst. We all need a little help sometimes, but it can be difficult to admit.

As Oscar Wilde once said, “No good deed goes unpunished.”

I caught up with Joe to find out how it’s going, what it’s like acting in something you’ve written, and how he’s coping with doing it all.

L-R Joe McGann and Jake Norton with Bill Elms and Antony Proctor-Williams of Liverpool Theatre Festival

How does it feel to have your work premiere this weekend then!?

Well, it’s both exciting and terrifying! It’s at this point, four days before the first performance of anything, that I usually think “why the hell do I put myself through this?” 

It will pass as I get nearer to showtime, but the struggle is real, as they say. That said, this is slightly different in that it’s going to be in my home city, a play that I’ve co-devised and co-directed, so there’s a genuine excitement at performing in front of friends and family. 

The venue is also an interesting one; they call it The Bombed Out Church, and the stage is built at what was the altar end of the church. It’s open to the sky, and so the whole experience is different from the usual theatre atmosphere. And I think all the better for that. So… bring it on!

Your play explores the theme of an intervention…

Jake and I were looking for something that two actors could do, and we were excited dramatically by the idea of an intervention. An intervention, especially in the workplace, is one of those things that absolutely nobody would welcome, that anybody would kick against, that no one would admit that they needed. 

Since we started writing, of course, the Phillip Schofield and now Huw Edwards stories have broken, and the murky world behind the scenes, in dressing rooms and HR departments, has come under scrutiny.

In the ever more increasing reach of the world of HR and this notion of a ‘duty of care’ they are becoming more common. This is very fertile ground, dramatically, and when we, purely coincidentally, happened on the idea of setting the intervention in the dressing room of a fictional ‘National Treasure” of a TV presenter we were pleased because it gave us a setting that many people are curious about. 

Since we started writing, of course, the Phillip Schofield and now Huw Edwards stories have broken, and the murky world behind the scenes, in dressing rooms and HR departments, has come under scrutiny. These dressing room fiefdoms are where media monsters are made, and often these people believe themselves genuinely untouchable. 

We thought it would be good to examine the relationship one such person had with themselves, with their loved ones, and, frankly, with reality. The patterns of behaviours that come with any addiction are pretty similar, and this gives us a template to ask universal questions about fame, recovery, privacy and publicity in what we hope is an entertaining way.

Writing is a very exposing thing. How did you push through self-doubt?

Ah, my constant friend, imposter syndrome. It’s always been with me, and I guess I’m so used to ‘pushing through it’ that this has actually become an intrinsic part of my process. It’s always there, and nothing I’ve ever done has managed to quiet it for longer than very brief moments, so the only thing to do is to embrace it. I hope that it sort of helps keeps me grounded. 

I’ll be twenty years sober next year, and the self-doubt can stay. It’s much easier to deal with than going back on the lash

Hand on heart, the only thing I ever found that I felt quieted it was a cocktail of alcohol and drugs, and that didn’t go too well as a plan. I’ll be twenty years sober next year, and the self-doubt can stay. It’s much easier to deal with than going back on the lash; for me and all of those I love. Low self-esteem and self-doubt are among the most common reasons that people turn to drugs and alcohol in the first place. We touch on this in the play. 

How will you balance the roles of writer and actor?

Jake Morton (left), Joe McGann (right) during rehearsals for Sober Companion

Pretty easily I would think- I mean my dance card isn’t exactly full of offers for either, so I will always have time, I should think. I would like to carry on writing plays, though. 

I think this process has pushed me through to a place where I feel confident enough of my ideas. I have another play in development as we speak, and that is exciting me just now. I guess the learning curve is perpendicular from my feet, and I feel that that’s a very privileged place to be.

What aspects of the theme do you find most intriguing or challenging to portray?

While I’ve said that there are many recognised symptoms shared between addicts of all kinds, I think that we are way too quick to judge the addict by their transgressions rather than recognising their pain. 

…we are way too quick to judge the addict by their transgressions rather than recognising their pain.

It also strikes me as odd that we see so many Instagram accounts and books all trumpeting about the ‘joys’ of the recovery ‘journey’. Getting one’s life back together after the horrible mess of addiction is most definitely a journey, but I feel that it’s more pilgrimage than parade. 

I’ve never felt comfortable when people congratulate me for straightening myself out. All I’ve done is stopped being destructive to myself and those around me. I’ve just come up to par, if you like. Made the basic requirements, and I’ve tried to explore this in the play. 

Sober Companion is showing as part of the Liverpool Theatre Festival 2023
Book tickets here

Sam Harrington-Lowe

Sam is Silver’s founder and editor-in-chief. She’s largely responsible for organising all the things, but still finds time to do the odd bit of writing. Not enough though. Send help.

The post Joe McGann’s Sober Companion: an interview about an intervention appeared first on Silver Magazine.

Just as The Rolling Stones and The Who are still rocking all over the world well into their 70s, so too have more recent bands built reputations on making new music accessible regardless of their age – which is exactly what sea-shanty folk group The Salts are all about.

Founded by singer and guitarist Jeremy Hart, the band – which proudly boasts a collective band age of 265 – fuses maritime, seafaring musical tradition with their own energetic and unique sound.

“About eight years ago, a mutual friend introduced us with the concept of a modern take on shanties,”

“About eight years ago, a mutual friend introduced the original line-up of the band to each other, with the idea of a modern take on shanties,” says Hart. “We felt the history of sea shanties was really interesting and could lead somewhere musically.”

Initially playing pub gigs in and around Surrey, the quintet soon realised that they were onto something with their sound. It wasn’t long before they released their debut album, She Rises, and began performing in theatres and joining a wide range of festival rosters, before securing a record deal with Braccan Records for their follow-up release, Brave, due for release on April 20th this year.

Not bad for a bunch of oldies, right? And what’s with the ‘record deal’? Do those things even exist any more?!

“Many artists, probably younger and more media-savvy than us, do self-publish, but we’re too old for that and have jobs, families and mortgages,” Jeremy continues. “So this is a great route and opportunity for us.

“I’m surprised we’re signing record deals in our 40s and 50s, yes, but I’m not surprised that someone would want to sign The Salts, as it’s the best band I’ve ever been in. I’d sign us!”

Today, the line-up comprises Jeremy on vocals and acoustic guitar, along with Brian Doran on vocals and mandolin whistle, Lee Collinson on vocals and banjo, Richard Nash on vocals and drums, and most recent member, Tim Cantrell, on double bass.

Despite their seasoned status as older rockers, they remain unfazed by any stigma, accentuating the positives in their level of experience, which can only come with age.

“I think our age is a benefit, as the sort of music that we do lends itself to our current ages”

“I think our age is a benefit, as the sort of music that we do lends itself to our current ages,” explains Jeremy. “After all, we’re not a boy-band bunch of rappers – if anything, we’re more ‘hip-op’ than hip-hop!

“We’re proud of our age and experience; think of all the knowledge we bring to our music. I wouldn’t have imagined myself to still be writing and gigging at this age when I was younger, but can’t see any of us giving it up for a while yet.”

So, what are the challenges that they face as an older group?

“Making sure there’s always a toilet nearby!” Richard jokes. “But no, actually, the challenges of doing it at our age are the other life commitments, such as work and family. The advantages are that we don’t have young, fragile egos and all get along really well. But it’s harder to organise a time for us all to rehearse and record, especially since there are five of us. Also, there’s the general tiredness; stuff like how my back aches when packing up the drums!”

“The advantages are that we don’t have young, fragile egos and all get along really well”

But the show must go on, as a whole host of live Brave dates have been pencilled into the band’s diary, including upcoming shows at Croydon Folk Club, The Old Court in Windsor and Chatham’s Brook Theatre in April, to name but a few. As for still getting, shall we say, ‘special attention’ from their adoring female fans backstage after a set, however, they’re not holding their breath when it comes to groupies.

“I wish – we don’t even get ‘gropies’!” laughs Lee.

Adds Jeremy; “Apart from the occasional pair of Spanx and surgical stockings thrown on stage, it’s all very polite – especially considering the subject matter. I did get my bum pinched by the organiser of a festival we played last year, which was a bit awkward. Does that count?”

“Groupies? I did get my bum pinched by the organiser of a festival we played last year, which was a bit awkward. Does that count?”

It’s clear that these guys have lost none of their sense of humour, and don’t take themselves too seriously – except when it comes to the music, of course. With the new album and record deal, they’ve certainly pushed themselves further, but Brave is only one part of the puzzle, paving the way for more radio play, better festivals and bigger venues, while growing their audience and gaining new fans.

Which isn’t to say that they’re stuck in the past, of course, as they’re well aware of how much the musical landscape has changed in 2018.

“The ‘youth’ bracket has extended, and music has no real gatekeeper anymore, leaving audiences to find their own likes and dislikes,” Jeremy considers. “Plus, the social media thing nowadays opens up the possibility for our music to cross traditional demographics. It’s great to see older people reclaim the gig scene, but also to see young people seek out traditional music.”

“The ‘youth’ bracket has extended, and music has no real gatekeeper anymore, leaving audiences to find their own likes and dislikes”

It’s this transience that has become a big appeal for The Salts and their followers, safe in the knowledge that, despite appearances, preconceptions or stereotypes, age really is just a number as far as rock and roll is concerned.

“I think the media is obsessed with age, but most real people don’t care,” reveals Brian. “They decide on merit, and our audience covers all age groups. It’s important to remember that a lot of 70-year-olds now were 20 year-old-hippies during the 1960s.”

Agrees Richard: “The age landscape is changing partly due to the fact that rock and roll has come of age – The Rolling Stones are in their mid-70s, and everyone is living longer.”

As for what’s next for Jeremy and the boys, only time will tell. But one thing’s for sure – they’re not letting their age slow them down, and are going to keep rocking ‘til they drop.

“I think this band has the potential to play larger and larger venues, and we will try to make that happen,” Brian concludes. “We’d love to take this abroad – there’s a lot of interest in shanties in places like Sweden, Poland, Canada and the US, and it’d be great to capitalise on that. Anywhere with easy parking and a cup of tea!”

Adds Lee: “We haven’t got much time left, so if we get to have a nice little extra part-time income, that would be nice – that, or the O2 for 64 consecutive nights. I’m not fussed. Ultimately, I hope to make millions, but realistically I’d be over the moon if I made a moderate living. But I’ve got a whole season of Jessica Jones to watch now, so I’m staying in.”

The Salts’ new album, Brave, is released on April 20 and available to download on iTunes. To find out more, head to www.thesalts.co.uk

Fred Latty

The post More than a midlife crisis – why signing a record deal later in life is just rock’n’roll appeared first on Silver Magazine.

WHAT THE PRESS SAY
Offering a one-off mixture of virtuoso comedy and virtuoso music, Bill is one of the best loved comedians in the land, and the critics would agree. The Evening Standard declares that, “Bailey cuts a world-beating swathe all of his own. Absolutely genius on so many levels.” Time out says that, “Bailey is on top form; joyous, playful and effortlessly funny.”

He is described by The Guardian as, “Approaching the status of national treasure”, while The Times affirms that he is, “At the top of his game”. The New York Times enthuses that, “Bailey is an unalloyed pleasure, a treat for the funny bone, the brain and the ear.” The Daily Telegraph, meanwhile, calls him, “The brainiest comic of his generation.”

PUB TALK
You will no doubt be delighted to hear that Bill is just as delightful in person as he is on stage. An hour in his company at his local pub in West London simply whizzes by. Over orange juice and cheese and onion crisps – rock ‘n’ roll, eh? – we touch on everything from Indonesia to stone masonry. It’s like being treated to a Royal command performance – to an audience of one.

The comedian, who over the past 20 years has enjoyed a dozen immensely successful international stand-up tours, begins by underlining how much he is looking forward to touring.

He asserts that nothing beats the heady feeling that comes from live comedy. “There’s nothing quite like it. It’s a singular experience. I don’t think there is anything that quite matches up to it in all of performance art. When you’re in a play or a band, it’s still a collaborative thing.

“When everything comes together and you think of an idea, a joke or routine that connects with people, it’s incredible. It’s the most amazingly satisfying experience hearing an arena full of people laughing at something you’ve thought up. It’s a tremendous buzz.”

“I’m lucky that after all these years, people still want to come and see me”

Bill, who won the Best Live Stand-Up gong at the British Comedy Awards in 1999, adds that, “The best of those times come when you’re laughing along with them. It’s like you’ve hit on a bit of funny. It’s a bit of funny that was out there, a bit of universal funny that you’re just lucky enough to have plucked and shared with everyone. Those moments rare, but they are wonderful.

“There’s a great folk singer who said that the tunes are out there. You just have to tap into them or capture them before someone else gets them.”

WEAVING STORIES
Larks in Transit features long-form stories about the weird and wondrous places that Bill has visited. He recounts to me one particularly amusing traveller’s tale. “We were on a birding trip in the jungles of Indonesia. I cannot tell you how remote this place was. It was like some sort of Eden. I was just standing there naked in this river. I was the only person there, and I was thinking, ‘This is one place where I won’t meet anyone’.

“Then out of the blue, a couple of Aussies just came out of the bush and shouted, ‘Oh, look at that – it’s Bill Bailey! What the bloody hell are you doing here?’ That just suddenly brought me back down to earth.” The comic, who has starred in such widely-adored TV comedies as Black Books, Spaced and Is It Bill Bailey? continues, “The two elements of what I’m talking about in this show come together in that story. The show is about being lucky enough to have those kind of experiences where you get to think about the world and our relationship with Nature. But it’s also about how my life has led me to the point where people do recognise me in those same places.”

WORK ETHICS
Larks in Transit also has some thought-provoking things to say about the merits of perseverance. Bill, who for 11 highly popular series was a team captain on BBC2’s hit comedy pop quiz show, Never Mind the Buzzcocks, reflects that, “My grandfather was a great influence on me. He was a stone mason, and he had a very strong work ethic. Somehow, through all the chats I had with him, I get the feeling that’s rubbed off on me.

“He used to tell me about the dignity of work and really developing a craft. He taught me that you shouldn’t give up too easily. You continue, you endure, you keep moving forward and somehow work gains its own meaning. You don’t have to think too much about it. You just keep going. I hope I have been true to the spirit of what my grandfather said.”

MUSIC AND LANGUAGE
The tour, to which 36 shows and 50,000 seats have just been added, will also include some of Bill’s inimitable musical flights of fantasy. He will, for example, create a symphony out of ringtones.

The comedian considers the importance of music in his show. “It’s another dynamic really, it’s a bit of light and shade. I always think it’s a tremendous art and a tremendous skill to keep people’s attention with the spoken word for a couple of hours. I’m always aware of that. So when I was starting out in stand-up, I was looking for ways to break it up.

“I think music works on a different level to language. Some of the words create a picture and can feed people’s imaginations. Often slow-burn, great, long routines can build up to great crescendos. But music gets you on the gut level. It gets you straight away. It’s a more instantaneous kind of reaction.”

Another standout characteristic of Bill’s comedy is his captivating use of language. “I think we’re very lucky to have English as our language,” muses the stand-up. “It’s just so expressive and so endlessly supple, and it has myriad ways of telling the same story. You can tell the same story, embroider it, put in new language, and it becomes something completely different. It’s a treat and a wonder.”

“My priority is always funny first. Then if you have the time and the experience to refine it to the level where maybe the odd phrase does get through to people – well, that’s as good as it can get really.”

So as you can see, those of you fortunate enough to secure tickets have a terrific night out in prospect. Bill’s shows remain so entertaining because, after more than three decades in comedy, Bill is still as passionate about it as ever.

In fact, he observes, “I appreciate it even more now because I realise that I’m lucky to have this career. I’m lucky to still be doing this and to do something I love. I’m lucky that after all these years, people still want to come and see me.

I’ll leave the final word to The Mail on Sunday critic who simply concludes that, “Bailey live is a joy to behold.” I defy anyone to argue with that.

Bill Bailey – Larks in Transit at The Brighton Centre on Friday 20th April 2018
www.brightoncentre.co.uk and 0844 847 1515
Full tour information also available at www.BillBailey.co.uk
Interview with Bill Bailey by James Rampton
Photos: Andy Hollingworth

silvermagazine

If you’d like to receive a regular mini-magazine direct to your inbox with a selection of editorial features to read at your leisure, please sign up for our newsletter. We also run the odd competition and offer and whatnot, and newsletter members get the heads-up first.

The post Bill Bailey, still buzzing appeared first on Silver Magazine.