On one hand, I played Soho Theatre. Not only did I perform my show I, Tom Mayhew there, but we managed to sell the whole run out!
Soho Theatre is a venue I have a lot of love for; I saw my first ever solo Edinburgh show there, when I saw Jon Richardson perform This Guy At Night for my 18th birthday present. I also went there on my first 2 dates with my girlfriend back in 2017, watching shows by Mae Martin and John Kearns. It was a dream since I was 18 to have my own show at that venue, so to perform a sold-out run was a wonderful feeling, made even more apt because my show was directed by my girlfriend!
It is a show I love performing, because it is a show that is fuelled by passion, anger and love. If you didn't catch the Soho dates, it will be coming to Leicester on February 14th, Sheffield on March 8th and Glasgow on March 28th, with a Manchester date in July almost finalised.
Things never stop in this game, though - after sold out shows at Soho Theatre on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, I found myself doing new material at an open mic gig on the Monday. In terms of a follow-up show, I am performing the first work-in-progress performance of my new show later this week at VAULT Festival. It should be ramshackle and fun, with all details available here: http://vaultfestival.com/whats-on/milo-edwards-work-in-progress/
I don't know why the link thinks I am Milo Edwards, but there we are.
With all of the good news of Soho Theatre, it would be easy for people to think "hey Tom, it looks like everything is going great for you!" - but, as anyone who attended the Soho shows would know, my Dad was in hospital in January having stem cell replacement treatment, as part of his ongoing battle with lymphoma cancer. He was at Stoke Mandeville hospital for 3 weeks, which is the longest length of time he has been kept in hospital since he was diagnosed back in 2011. This meant that this month has been a strange balancing act between the best achievements of my comedy career, and some of the toughest moments at home. I ended each show by getting the audience to record a little video for my parents: day 1 was for my Dad, day 2 was for my Mum, and then day 3 was for both of them. The video from day 1 is here, if you are interested.
The performances in January became more than comedy shows about real-life, as the timing of them meant that real-life and art were both on show for all the see. While it meant that I probably didn't have the best build-up in terms of preparing for the shows, I have always wanted to write comedy that is real and genuine, because that's the kind of art that I love...though spending one day visiting your Dad in hospital and then spending the next day talking about your Dad on stage is not something I fancy doing again, if I can help it!
It has been both a tough month and a brilliant month, and I am pleased to say that Dad came home from the hospital today, and it feels so much better to have him here. Tons of people from my generation in their 20s/30s have found themselves living with their parents for far longer than they would like, but when both of your parents have had treatment for cancer, it really makes you appreciate all the time you can share with them. Even if it does mean I have to see his bum every day.
Thanks for reading. Look after yourself, and I'll see you again soon.
Tom
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