Choral Director
Teaching Director
Christine is a versatile performer and performing arts teacher working in the United Kingdom and Australia.
The Dream Continues...
Time flies. I just thought I'd tell you that in case you hadn't noticed. I can't believe that it's January 2017. I refuse to believe that the speed of time passing has anything to do with my age. However I can't deny that when I was a child the magic of Christmas seemed to last forever and this year I blinked and nearly missed it.
I actually know where that time has gone…I've been busy- as you can see from the list of shows I've seen since my last blog. Then there's the photograph! That's me as the Granny in Little Red Riding Hood. I spent most of December rehearsing and then driving round the south of England. It certainly was an experience. It echoed something from my past. Musical Memories! There is so much benefit in taking music to those who are restricted due to age or physical circumstances.
Apart from that I've been working on some projects for the coming months.
The first is a cabaret spot at the Pheasantry in Chelsea. I started working with maestro Richard Link in November with the objective of working up repertoire for auditions. Richard suggested the cabaret. Since I love to perform it was a no brainer and so on March 8th I'll be singing at the Cabaret Confidential. If you're in London please come along and say hello.
I've also been working with a group called the Acting Gymnasium under the aegis of director Gavin McAlinden. It's a weekly workshop that will culminate in a season of Lady Windermere's Fan in February at Theatro Technis in Mornington Crescent. Details are as yet to be confirmed. The concept of the weekly class is interesting. There is some voice work in the Alexander technique followed by group improvisations and then script work. It's a formula that has worked for McAlinden in the past and garnered 5 star reviews for the productions.
Bring it on universe! I'm still here. I'm still living the dream. And I'm ready for more.
Best wishes to you all for a Happy New Year. May 2017 bring us all peace, love and joy.
Christine xox
Chicago; New Victoria Theatre, Woking;17 October 2016 (R)
Moby Dick! The Musical; Union Theatre; 18 October 2016 (R) Quick note: This one was like watching my old life. Except the kids at school are doing the best they can to be fabulous…and this cast was doing the best they could to appear ordinary. I know which I'd rather see.
The Giant's Loo Roll; Arts Theatre; 24 October 2016 (R)
Groundhog Day; Old Vic Theatre; 25 October 2016.
Fairytales for Grown-ups – The Iron Man; Soho Theatre; 24 October 2016 (R) This was entrancing! One man telling a traditional folk story in a vivid performance.
Magnificence; Finborough Theatre; 27 October 2016 (R) This starred one of the men from the Actors Rechoired group I sing with. He was….magnificent!
Lunatic; Theatre N16; 30 October 2016 (R) Oh dear….not good…
Fool For Love; Found111; 31 October 2016 (R) Pop up theatre in a disused warehouse? And why not? Would people in Sydney go for this kind of theatre?
Sunny Afternoon; New Victoria Theatre; 1 November 2016 (R) A juke box musical…yawn!
Still Ill; New Diorama Theatre; 5 November 2016 (R) You have to be really careful what font you use for this play. I read it as 'Still 3' for ages. It was a very interesting mixed media production.
Stick Man; Leicester Square Theatre; 6 November 2016 (R) It was supposed to be a Christmas show…it was not!
Trumpageddon; Kings Head Theatre; 8 November 2016 (R)
Feathers; The Hen and Chickens Theatre; 10 November 2016
King Lear; Old Vic Theatre; 12 November 2016.
Rumpy Pumpy; Union Theatre; 15 November 2016 (R)
Princess; Lost Theatre; 16 November 2016 (R) An hour long Rock Eisteddfod item…beam me up Scottie!
Where Do Little Birds Go?; The Old Red Lion Theatre; 18 November 2016 (R)
Half a Sixpence; Noel Coward Theatre; 24 November 2016.
Another Night Before Christmas; Bridge House Theatre, Penge; 29 November 2016 Now this was definitely a Christmas show. And the night was cold and frosty. Heaven.
This House; Garrick Theatre; 8 December 2016. Another member of Actors Rechoired to go and see in a West End play. J
Muted; The Bunker; 10 December 2016 (R)
Soho Cinders; Union Theatre; 17 December 2016
Nice Fish; The Harold Pinter Theatre; 17 December 2016. Absurdist theatre…it's absurd!
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Parts 1&2; The Palace Theatre; 30 December 2016. I was so lucky to get these seats. I've been a HP fan since the beginnings and this stage version didn't let me down. Some lovely acting, great special effects and a…spellbinding story!
Nutcracker on Ice; The Imperial Ice Stars; Hyde Park; 31 December 2016.
And So It Begins...
Christine Firkin Breaks Out.
Welcome to my blog. I'm guessing in these early days that if you're reading this, you know me already. And so you'll know that I'm a very open person. You've probably heard all about my adventures on Facebook or through friends.
Well that's right. I do share what's important to me with those I know and love... but I don't put it all in a Facebook post. Brevity is essential there. So this is to fill in some blanks.
This first entry is to tell the world what has lead to my current space in life. I'm sure the world is interested! Even here you'll get the abridged version. Ancient history is hardly relevant.
Two years ago towards the back end of 2014, I had an epiphany and changed the direction of my life. I realized I was not living the life that I really wanted and furthermore, I could change that! So with a lot of help from eqEvents, bless you Niki Bowen, I became a firewalker and fought my demons. If you're really interested in the nuts and bolts of that send me a message and I'll fill you in. Just know that you can do it too.
It was my turn to shine. The Edinburgh Fringe Festival was my initial goal. I had been there as a punter in 2012 and was bowled over by the energy of the event and the promise of opportunities unimaginable. My friend Brent Thorpe had written a play, The Fabulous Punch and Judy Show and that became my vehicle of choice. 2015 was the year we first took it to Edinburgh.
Brent and I had worked together many times since he played the Stepmother and I the Fairy Godmother in Cinderella. Thankfully he decided he could go to the Festival and play Punch and I took the role of Judy. Billy O'Riordan and Tim Garnham completed the company. The show was a theatrical success. Hurrah!
In a feat of great daring I had decided to stay in Britain when Brent and the boys flew back to Sydney. I had left my paid employment in Sydney not knowing when or if I would return. I left Sally and Patrick, two of my offspring, to pay the rent on the apartment in Sydney while I was in England. I, well more correctly my lovely son Tony, sold my car…now that was a wrench but it made more sense to let it go.
At last I was free to follow my life dream and what's more I wasn't at all afraid. I'm a firewalker. I can face anything.
For the record this is my stated aim:
To live in England as an actress.
And this is what I'm doing….like 93% of the acting population I am not currently working in a paid acting job...but that will come.
Right now this is what I'm doing:
I'm auditioning like crazy and sending off my details to casting agents all over town…and I network.
I'm doing classes to keep my skills fresh…and I network.
I'm seeing as much theatre as is humanly possible to expand my knowledge base…and I network.
I joined The Actors Centre to be a part of it all…and I network there too.
I've got a showreel…I've joined Spotlight and Casting Call Pro.
Agents and casting agents I've spoken with tell me I'm doing all the right things and that work will come. I choose to believe that too.
Sally, Tony and Patrick all believe in me and in my dreams as do many of you lovely people. There are others who clearly think I'm nuts but even they can see what a joy my life has become.
So that's it in a nutshell. My intention with this blog is to do a regular summary of classes I've done and theatre I've seen. Below is a list of all that I saw in the last year and classes, workshop, coaching that I've attended. Way too much to give historical details but in my new year there'll be more.
I'm new to this so your feedback is welcome, though negativity has no place in my life so keep it to constructive criticism.
Plays that I have seen since being in the UK in August 2015:
I haven't counted them…feel free and do let me know. If there is a (R) after the entry that means I have reviewed the performance I saw. The reviews are too long to put on here but I will write short ones for the blog for any shows I see from here on.
Dillie Keane, Edinburgh Fringe, August 2015
Looking Through A Glass Onion, Edinburgh Fringe, August 2015
Edmund the Learned Pig, Edinburgh Fringe, August 2015
Where Do Little Birds Go, Edinburgh Fringe, August 2015
The Importance of Being Earnest, Adelphi Theatre, September 2015
Gypsy, The Savoy Theatre, September 2015
Dead Dog in a Suitcase, A Knee High Production, Manchester, September 2015
The Crucible, The Exchange, Manchester, September 2015
Casa Valentina, Southwark Playhouse, 18 September 2015
Eventide, Arcola Theatre, 25 September 2015
Kinky Boots, Adelphi Theatre, October 2015
In The Heights, Kings Cross Theatre, October 2015
Farinelli and the King, Duke of York Theatre, October 2015
Waste, National Theatre London, 5 November 2015 (R)
Four Minutes Twelve Seconds, Trafalgar Studios 2, 12 November 2015 (R)
Mr Foote's Other Leg, Theatre Royal Haymarket, November 2015
All Or Nothing, The Vaults Theatre, November 2015
Echoes, Arcola Theatre, 17 November 2015 (R)
Blues Brothers: Xmas Special, Arts Theatre, 3 December 2015 (R)
Around the World in 80 Days, St James Theatre 8 December 2015 (R)
You for Me for You, Royal court Theatre, 10 December 2015 (R)
Cinderella, Yvonne Arnaud Theatre Guildford, December 2015
Cinderella, Richmond Theatre, December 2015
The Play That Went Wrong, December 2015
LSO plays Alice in Wonderland, Albert Hall, December 2015
The Book of Mormon, December 2015
Kinky Boots, December 2015
Miss Saigon, December 2015
Dinosaur Park, St James Theatre, 5 January 2016 (R)
Grey Gardens, Southwark Playhouse, 10 January 2016 (R)
The Fear and Misery of the Third Reich, Union Theatre, 12 January 2016 (R)
Jekyll and Hyde, The Cockpit, 15 January 2016 (R)
Botallack O' Clock, The Old Red Lion, 21 January 2016 (R)
You Tweet My Face Space, Theatre N16, 25 January 2016 (R)
Good Night Polly Jones, Theater N16, 2 February 2016 (R)
Hamlet Peckham, CLF Theatre, 8 February 2016 (R)
The Way We lived, Theatre N16, 9 February 2016 (R)
Road Show, Union Theatre, 11 February 2016 (R)
Round The Horne: The 50th Anniversary Tour, Museum of Comedy,15 February 2016 (R)
The Great Jewish American Songbook, Upstairs at the Gatehouse,16 February 2016 (R)
A Steady Rain, Arcola Theatre, 18 February 2016 (R)
Janis Joplin: Full Tilt, Theatre Royal, Stratford East, 20 February 2016 (R)
Firebird, Trafalgar Studios: 2, 22 February 2016 (R)
Cleansed, National Theatre, 23 February 2016 (R)
The Caucasian Chalk Circle, The Jack Studio Theatre 25 February 2016 (R)
Paris on the Thames, Le Crazy Coqs, 27 February 2016 (R)
Transports, Pleasance Theatre, 1 March 2016 (R)
Cosi, Kings Head Theatre, March 2016
Hangmen, Wyndham Theatre, March 2016
All That Fall, Wilton's Music Hall, 24 March 2016 (R)
The Government Inspector, Birmingham Repertory Theatre, 22 March 2016 (R)
The Master Builder, The Old Vic, March 2016
Nell Gwynne, 26 March 2016.
Only the Brave, Wales Millennium Centre, 31 March 2016 (R)
Danny and the Deep Blue Sea, Theatre N16, 4 April 2016 (R)
Sunset Boulevard, The Coliseum, 5 April, 2016
Labels, Theatre Royal Stratford East, 7 April 2016 (R)
Mrs Henderson Presents, Noel Coward Theatre, April 2016
Gatsby, Union Theatre, 13 April 2016 (R)
Low Level Panic, The Bread and Roses Theatre, 15 April 2016 (R)
Guys and Dolls, The Phoenix Theatre, 16 April 2016 (R)
The Girl and the Giraffe, Half Moon Theatre, 19 April 2016 (R)
Forever Plaid. St James Theatre, April 2016
I Am Thomas, Wilton's Music Hall, 22 April 2016 (R)
Blue on Blue, Tristan Bates Theatre, 23 April 2016 (R)
Blind Man's Song, Pleasance Theatre, 28 April 2016 (R)
The Mikado, ENO, April 2015
The Maids, Trafalgar Theatre, 2016
The Kings of War, The Barbican, May 2016
Might Never Happen, Kings Head Theatre, 2 May 2016 (R)
The Killing of Charles Bravo, Theatre N16, 9 May 2016 (R)
Jelly Beans, Theatre 503, 10 May 2016 (R)
David Baddiel: My Family: Not the Sitcom, Menier Chocolate Factory, 15 May 2016 (R)
This is Living; Trafalgar Studios 2; 19 May 2016 (R)
We Wait in Joyful Hope; Theatre 503, 21 May 2016 (R)
The Buskers Opera, The Park Theatre, 21 May 2106 (R)
The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged), Bread and Roses Theatre, 26 May 2016 (R)
People. Places and Things, Wyndham Theatre, May 2016
Showboat, London Theatre, May 2016
Madame Butterfly, ENO, May 2016
Twist of Lemon, St James Studio, 1 June 2016 (R)
Off the Kings Road, Jermyn Street Theatre, 6 June 2016 (R)
Tristan and Isolde, English National Opera, London Coliseum, 9 June 2016 (R)
La Boheme, Hampden Park Opera, 10 June 2016
Aladdin, Prince Edward Theatre, 11 June 2016
Heels of Glory, Chelsea Theatre, 12 June 2016 (R)
You're a Good Man Charlie Brown, Hayes Theatre Sydney, July 2016
Cinderella, State Theatre Sydney, July 2016
Austentatious, Edinburgh Fringe, August 2016
Pulse! Mairi Campbell, Edinburgh Fringe, August 2016
Dandy Darkly, Edinburgh Fringe, August 2016
Hynoprov, Edinburgh Fringe, August 2016
The Lipsinkers, Edinburgh Fringe, August 2016
Counting Sheep, Edinburgh Fringe, August 2016
Giant, Edinburgh Fringe, August 2016
Shaedates, Edinburgh Fringe, August 2016
My Leonard Cohen, Edinburgh Fringe, August 2016
Starman, Edinburgh Fringe, August 2016
Penny Arcade, Soho Theatre, September 2016
In the Heights, Kings Cross Theatre, September 2016
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, September 2016
The Bodyguard, The Dominion Theatre, September 2016
Groundhog Day, The Old Vic, 14 September 2016
In the Heights, Kings Cross Theatre, 17 September 2016
The Greater Game, Southwark Playhouse, 19 September 2016 (R)
Romeo and Juliet, Ambassadors Theatre, 27 September 2016 (R)
Pigeon English, Ambassadors Theatre, 28 February 2016 (R)
R and D, Hampstead Theatre Downstairs, 29 September 2016 (R)
Funny Girl, The Savoy Theatre, 3 October 2016
Undead Bard, Theatre N16,4 October 2016 (R)
This Little Life of Mine, Park Theatre, Park 90, 5 October 2016 (R)
Acorn, The Courtyard Theatre, 6 October 2016 (R)
The Libertine, Her Majesty's Theatre, 7 October 2016
The Barber of Seville, Royal Opera House, 8 October 2016
Straight to the Heart, Above the Arts, 11 October 2016 (R)
When We are Married, Kingston Theatre, 11 October 2016
Octopus, Theatre 503, 12 October 2016 (R)
Don Giovanni, ENO, The Coliseum, 13 October 2016
Classes and courses I have participated in since arriving in the UK in 2015:
Rose Bruford College, Acting, Term 1 and 2, 2015/16 (discontinued due to clashing with Edinburgh Fringe production for 2016): meant to formalize the random training I've had hitherto. It didn't.
Authentic Artists Workshop: 3 days of inspired lunacy. 'We Have Come to be Danced!' I found out what's been holding me back as an actor. Repressed feelings.
Character Creation Winter Workshop: The opening of the floodgates of repressed feelings to allow access in acting moments. Invaluable. I'm continuing this work with another series of workshops now.
Singing lessons with Sue Appleby: Retrieving my voice from the ravages of teaching and overtraining.
Singing coaching with Richard Link: to develop a bank of material suitable for auditions and a cabaret act to be performed at The Pheasantry in March 2017.
Acting gymnasium: with director Gavin McCalinden: This is a weekly session that leads to a performance of 'Lady Windermere's Fan' in February 2017 at Theatro Technis in London. Watch this space. My London acting debut is coming.
Creative Movement weekend workshop with Annie Stainer and Kinny Gardner (Arcola Theatre; Wolverhampton; 24/25 September 2016): another revelation. This time very Feldenkrais oriented. I now have a new centre of balance and that's working well for me. No ankle pain anymore!
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