A short but important Blog.

Hallo folks! 

I hope you are all full of festive frivolity and holiday happiness! 

I have just returned to Oxford from a darling day off at home in London. I really needed to have some quality time with people close to my heart who I love dearly. There was Muppets A Christmas Carol, a honey bee, a face stroke from Joanna Lumley, gallons of mulled wine and tons of mince pies - all in a night and a day. But all the while I was having this glorious time I couldn’t help but think of the millions of people all over the world who are suffering at this time of year whether they are hungry, with out a home, without a family or with sickness. It is such a special time of year when we come together to share quality time, love and special moments with our friends and families, but there are many many people the world over who can not share in this happiness. That is why I have contacted Helen and Douglas house this week (a children’s and adults hospice in Oxford) to offer my help in anyway that I can to bring some Christmas magic into some of the patients lives. I am going read stories, sing, play the flute and possibly the piano. It is a small act, but it is one that I can realistically achieve while I am here performing in Panto land. If we can all think of one small act to carry out this Christmas in our local community, wherever we may be, we can make the world a slightly better place full of a bit more love and bit more joy. It isn’t out of the realms of possibility for us to carry out just one act of compassion this Christmas, and no matter how small or insignificant it may seem to someone else, it will create an unimaginable cause for goodness in the future both for those you act on behalf of, for ourselves and for the entire world.

A short but poignant and important Blog this time.

x MUCH LOVE x

3rd Blog and a very special idea...

Hallo folks,

I hope you are all well and ridiculously happy! 

So, what have I learnt about life and the universe this week?

As the airing of my new E4 television show "Playing It Straight" approaches I am becoming increasingly more concerned and aware of how I present myself to the world. It is really important to me to keep a good heart and a great spirit and to keep my Karma in good shape... What do I mean by that???

It is very easy in this industry to become too focused on oneself which can quickly turn into arrogance, ignorance and shallowness. Performing is all concerned about how we look, how we sound, how we move... me me me. I feel it is important for us performers to keep that in check - 8 shows a week for a year, year after year - that is a whole lot of me me me-ness! This can really infiltrate out minds and spirits and change us in some way, not always for the better. So, what am I going to do about it? HA! Well, the first step is being aware of it... I am well aware of the affects any kind of fame or success can bring. So the only way to combat these negative forces is to strike them back with a big old dose of positivity. And what do I mean by positivity. Well, having studied Buddhism for a year and a half, I have learnt a lot about creating value in society by making good causes, genuinely from the heart and as long as we do this in life we will be protected by our good karma. Now I am not saying that we should only do good things because it will benefit ourselves but helping others and relieving the suffering of others is the quickest and most effective route to happiness. Which leads me on to my exciting idea...

... Ever since I can remember I have had a strong connection to India. I remember even at junior school looking for the Indian story books... I remember being obsessed over this lovely little story about an Indian girl and her family celebrating Diwali. I just couldn’t stop reading it over and over. I could taste the tastes, smell the aromas and hear the sounds. I even started going home from school trying to talk in an Indian accent and almost got into trouble in my local corner shop one day as the owner thought I was being rude and insulting. He didn’t realise it was an innocent game fuelled by my love for his country. Some years later we moved into a flat next door to the most beautiful little old Indian lady and I used to clear the leaves from her garden for a few pounds. I used to call there about three times a week to see if she needed any jobs doing. I was only about 13. Of course I hated doing the actual jobs, but it was all a ploy to get into her house and smell the incense, feel the plush thick bright red carpet under my feet, to take a peep at the altar she knelt down at to pray, and to just generally be in her presence and in the warm comforting environment that all Indian households seem to posses. Her name was Sue. She used to offer me herbal tea and mini Indian pastries and sweets. I turned my nose up to the tea and used to take an extra sweet instead. Ever since I have been interested in, drawn to and fascinated by India, it’s culture and it’s people. It came as no surprise to me to discover recently that Nepal is where the origins of Buddhism began. Why am I telling you all of this? Well, I have been thinking this for a long time but have now fully decided and am planning on making a trip to travel around India at the end of next year with a view to checking out some areas where I can go to do some charity out reach work with children and the community in 2013. What and where I have no idea, but I have such a strong and burning pull in my heart to go there to figure something out. I have a friend who works for Amnesty International so maybe she can help me with some ideas. If you have any tips on where to go, who to see, who to talk to or have any ideas yourself please do get in touch. I  most definitely want to use my music and performing skills in some way...  

If you are a performer, and even if you are not just have a think about what I have written at the top of this Blog... let’s all be aware of others and their happiness. Our own happiness will increase as a result. 

Much love for now

x

2nd Blog and lots of exciting news...

Hello All,


I hope you are all well and very happy.


So, how time flies huh? Here I am with two days before we open Mother Goose at The Oxford Playhouse and I am currently sat in the theatre on hour 10 of 12. This is actually a rather lovely tech compared to a lot I have done in the past... maybe because it is such a spiffingly sparklingly glitteringly glutinous gaggle of fun and frolics. Plus the fact that we have 10 kids in the theatre with us. HA! Right now they are dressed as little goslings doing the baby goose song and dance... I can't describe how cute it is! You must try to get up here to Oxford to see it. You can book tickets here: http://www.oxfordplayhouse.com/panto


I am really trying my best to build my own buzz over the next two months leading up to Playing It Straight on E4. I am playing a singing narrator for the returning hit reality dating show and my role is to sing to the viewers at home about the happenings that unfold in the house. To add to my collection of online luggage I have set up a Facebook Fan Page which you join by pressing the like button here: http://www.facebook.com/garyalberthughesofficial


I am very pleased and excited to announce my partnership with PR company RKM Communications who are going work with me for the months of December and January to help me up my profile leading up to the airing of the show. Excitingly Rob Castell  and I have completed all the music for the show and it is being edited as we speak. I am beyond excited! I am SO proud of our work together on this project and it could lead on to some really exciting other projects, one of which I can mention to you now...


... I have a meeting with Amnesty International this month to talk about the possibility of Rob Castell and I writing a satirical pop song for one of their amazing causes. The idea is that Rob and I film the song as our double act from Playing It Straight. It would be amazing to use any success I have to help a good cause and do something worth while... Lots more of that please! 


In other news:


- Chase and Status released their newest single and music video Flashing Lights last week and I am playing the dark and mysterious character of Vinnie in it. It's always fabulous fun playing the evil one. MOOOOOHAHAHAHAHAHA! Check it out here: Flashing Lights and see if you can spot me in the beginning section and the end section. ENJOY! 


- I was interviewed on BBC Radio Oxford today (30.11.2011) to talk about my role as The Dukes Son in Mother Goose and about the world of Panto in general. It was a great interview with the lovely presenters and you can have a listen on my website here: Gary's Interview


But for now dearest darlings, on with the tech! 


Much love
x

FIRST EVER BLOG!

Well HALLO!

Here it is, my first ever Blog. Funny word huh?! BLOG. B - L - O - G - Ok, it's starting to sound funny in my head now! BLOG BLOG BLOG...! BLOGGEDY BLOGGEDY BLOG...!

Er, aaaaaanyway, what have I been up to warrant a Blog you ask?!! Well, my little creative fingers have been in a few new hot, tasty and rather exciting pies recently...

I returned home to British soil just a few weeks ago from the stunning Girona in Spain where I was filming a really exciting role for a new E4 television show! Do you remember "Playing It Straight" from, what was it now... like, 7 years ago? Well it is coming back in January 2012 and I am your new all singing, dancing Troubador! Basically, I am part of a fabulous double act named Pablo and Gerald the Troubadors and our role was to write the lyrics and compose the music on set for lots of songs that guide the viewer at home through the drama as it unfolds through out the 8 episode series. "But what is the drama?!" I hear you cry! Well "Playing It Straight" is a new reality dating show where 12 guys are all trying to convince one beautiful girl they are the man for her. But what they discover on the 2nd night in the Villa is that some of them are gay and some of them are straight! HA! And it is up to her to figure who is who by putting them through a series of tasks and challenges. If she picks a straight man at the end of their time in Spain they share £50,000 and if she picks a gay man he keeps the lot... And I am your singing narrator through out the series. EXCITING HUH?! PS Just to make it completely clear, I am NOT a contestant, I am a character!

In other news, I have been in lovely Oxford for a week now rehearsing for Panto; Mother Goose directed by Peter Duncan at The Oxford Playhouse, and it is all very exciting and hilarious. I've never been in a pantomime before. In fact I have never even seen a pantomime (mother, what were you thinking?!)

Now then, I am convinced, and I have been telling everyone I am playing the Young Prince, when in fact my character name is Dukes Son. I just can't shake off the Young Prince (oh I say!) Quite embarrassing on the first days' meet and greet when we all step forward and introduce ourselves and I say "Hallo, my name is Gary and I am playing the Young Prince" and the directer goes "er, no your not." HAAAAAAA!

We have the most cutest bunch of kids performing with us on stage too, so lovely and it really lightens the mood after a 7 hour rehearsal when they arrive... bless their little cottons. Although I am sure they'll be terrorising us before long!

While I am in Oxford I am determined to learn some new skills so I have picked up a guitar and am learning... I can already play "Ode To Joy" by Bach and I have only been playing 2 days... now working on "Let It Be" by The Beatles (only melodies tho, not full out funked up riffy chords or anything! Soon tho.) I also found a Tap Dance class which turned out to 5 middle aged women. VERY funny. I certainly shook things up there I can tell you. So, by the time I come home to London in January I shall be a tap dancing guitarist... my next big role perhaps???

See you soon.

Lots of Love
xxx