So, James has just walked into the office and said ‘I have never known an office go through as much cake as this one’. Very true facts. It’s been a very short three months since I arrived at 43 Aldwych but one thing I have certainly realised as mentioned in my very first blog is that to keep the production office going, it has to be regularly fed with cake. So much so, Hanna, our Administrator, sent us these beauties before Christmas (she is off loving life in New Zealand until next week) in order to keep us perky during the wind down to the festive season.

This week our cakes of choice have been pannetone, one of those caterpillar birthday cakes, a chocolate indulgence cake, and a white chocolate and raspberry victoria sponge. And yes…we have only been in four days this week…and yes, the new year no carbs detox regime WILL start next week…possibly…

So aside from the sugary snacks, what else will I miss about working at the national theatre of new plays?

I’ll miss the warmth of the whole team who work here- James, George, Claire, Tara, Hanna and Bernd- their enthusiasm and drive to meet and nurture not only new writers but also as many emerging actors, directors, designers, and producers as they can and their unfailing commitment to tour as far and wide in the UK so that everyone has the chance to see some top quality new writing no matter where they live.

I’ve had an absolutely brilliant three months here, learnt lots, ate too much cake, read plenty of new plays and booked so much train travel that during November I felt like I spent more time speaking to the people in the trainline call centre then Hanna, Claire and Tara in the office…

Finally, I’ll leave you with a question posed to me in my first week at PP HQ which has kept me thinking for all this time and I still don’t think I’ve found a perfect answer yet…

Who gets the parts that Kate Winslet turns down? See… it’s a toughie!

See you soon Paines Plough!

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