THIS JUST IN:

I took part in a play reading last year at Shakespeare's Globe on the South Bank. Soon after that, always the hustler, I sent them an early draft of my play for eight actors, "The Prince of West End Lane". As a result, the Globe will be producing a staged reading on 29 January, 2012. This is my first stage play for a full cast (rather than a solo show) and I'm thrilled that it will receive a reading at the perfect venue; the plot revolves around a production of Hamlet in a Jewish retirement home.
Tickets are available here

In other news, I recently appeared in the BBC TV series by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, "Life's Too Short", playing a movie director who insults Warwick Davis and reassures a tearful Helena Bonham-Carter. I'm dying to see the DVD special features, as we filmed dozens of takes with increasingly tasteless improvised insults.



I spent September and October in Manchester, where I played the part of "Maurice" in the award-winning play Good at the Royal Exchange Theatre (above). I loved every minute of it. Even the panic and terror of appearing in my first stage play for over four years. Especially the panic and terror.

Then I made another visit to Glasgow for an evening on The Review Show. Despite the fact that it's a nationally broadcast live arts programme, it was quite relaxing compared to stage terror. Mark Kermode was the host (his first time in Kirsty and Martha's chair) and did a terrific job. I even found myself agreeing with him from time to time. I'll be reviewing for Saturday Review in December.

I continue to co-organise and MC the event called True Stories Told Live at the Compass Pub in Islington. You can attend - for free - by registering on the TSTL web site:

www.truestoriestoldlive.com

Peruse some press reaction to TSTL here:

TSTL Time Out Article

TSTL Observer article

True Stories Told Live put together a special benefit in July. It was held at "The Crypt" in Clerkenwell (we'll be back at The Compass in mid-September). 250 people showed up to listen, laugh and learn. Here's a taste of how it went, filmed by Tim Bentinck:



Last summer, I had a cameo in "A Fantastic Fear of Everything", based on a story by Bruce ("Withnail & I") Robinson, written and directed by Crispian (Kula Shaker) Mills and starring Simon (Big Hollywood Star)Pegg. I play a deeply creepy murderer (or is he?) with a moustache. And what a moustache. Release date: June, 2012.



What else? I'm currently recording Series 2 of "The Amazing World of Gumball", an animation for The Cartoon Network. Series 1 is currently being broadcast in the UK and the USA. And recording begins early next year for more animated children's fun with a new series of "Thomas and Friends" in which I voice the legendary Sir Topham Hatt.

That's it and that's all. Stay tuned.