Check out my new blog

http://tomurie.blogspot.com/

New sitcom, "Empty" starts Thurs 28th February, BBC2.  Starring Gregor Fisher, Billy Boyd and someone called Tom Urie.  I pop up briefly in a couple of episodes, then my main episode is episode 5, where my charachter Super Barrio is in it pretty much all the way through.

I had a ball making this, it was a pleasure to work with Gregor and Billy, so here's hoping it's a big hit.

Julie Fraser's bittersweet comedy..:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

opens new season at Oran Mor

 

 

T H E   P L A Y

Julie Fraser's tender new drama Maria of my soul  charts the life of Doris Devlin a 73 year old woman whose life has been reduced to one room in a nursing home.  She is angry, vulnerable and rages at her young male carer, who has recently arrived from Turkey. Added to Doris' daily routine is the live community sing-a-long that single dad Bobby Starlite inflicts on the residents.  From the cheeriness of Perry Como's 'Magic Moments' to the foot-stomping rendition of Mud's 'Tiger Feet' Doris despairs. All that keeps Doris going are her memories of one night in Glasgow's fabled Plaza ballroom.

 

C R E A T I V E   T E A M

Maria of my soul  is Julie Fraser's first play for Oran Mor. Recently she enjoyed success with her five part radio drama about florist Constance Spry for Womans Hour. Julie teaches creative writing for various community groups throughout Glasgow.

Director John Binnie is an award-winning playwright/director of Glasgow's Clyde Unity Theatre. This is his first collaboration with Julie Fraser.

The cast of Maria of my soul  is Ann Scott Jones, Gordon Brandie and live piano and vocals from Tom Urie.

 
P E R F O R M A N C E   S C H E D U L E

Performances of Maria of my soul   are from Monday 4th February to Saturday 9th February at 1pm, as part of a Play, a Pie and a Pint season of lunchtime plays. Oran Mor is at the top of Byres Rd, and Great Western Rd, opposite the Botanic Gardens and  the Hilton hotel.

Tickets are £10 and include a pie, and a drink.

Tickets can be purchased at Oran Mor on 08700 600100 or at

www.oran-mor.co.uk

What a night.

I have never felt more privilaged or humbled to be in the company of such strong people. Tonight I met Eileen's grandsons, both of whom are sufferers of Duchemmes. It was heartbreaking, as they were absolutely beautiful, charming kids. Both in wheelchairs. Eileen is probably the strongest person I've ever met - she's determined a cure will be found soon - and do you know what? I believe her.

The show was wonderful, I was the host and managed to get through it without offending too many people! I got to know so many people from River City - most notable John Paul McGilvray who plays Gerry the lawyer - what a phenomenal voice the guy's got. Think Rufus Wainwright crossed with Michael Stipe and you're getting there. And wee Claire who plays Iona brought the house down.

I also got to be in a sketch with Dorothy Paul and Barbara Rafferty - a total scream, and the I had the absolute pleasure to introduce Ricky and Lorraine from Deacon Blue.

The whole night was breathtaking, I cannae go on about it enough, and we raised a good few grand I reckon. Wee Jim Webster that organised it deserves a knighthood.

Roll on next year!!

Hi gang

Just one last plug for the gig tomorrow (sunday) night. It's "Tartan Turns," and I'm hosting the cream of Scottish talent in a gala concert. It's at Oran Mor, Byres Road, Glasgow.  The line up includes Ricky and Lorraine from Deacon Blue, Craig Hill, Dorothy Paul, Johnny Beattie, Barbara Rafferty, Eileen MacCallum and LOADS of people from River City.

If you can make it along, doors open at 6pm and you can pay on the door.  I think it's 20 quid and ALL the money is going to Action Duchenne (formerly PPUK), and for sufferers of Duchennes Muscular Dystrophy.

Please come, it'll be an absolute riot!!!

Hi folks

If anyone isn't busy this Sunday night, I can highly reccomend a night of entertainment at Oran Mor in Glasgow. I was part of this last year and it was wonderful, so if you fancy a night with some of Scotland's best kent faces, come along.

STOP PRESS - The whole evening is being hosted by none other than - yours truly.


TARTAN TURNS a turn, a tipple and a teacake
Sunday 20th January 2008, 6:00 pm

Tartan Turns is a of night Scottish entertainment in the Auditorium. Some of Scotland's best-loved, funniest, coolest and newest stars from the stage, screen and music scene will perform to raise money for Action Duchenne (formerly PPUK), and for sufferers of Duchennes Muscular Dystrophy. This year's line up will be announced shortly.

Last year saw the first ever Tartan Turns, and it's happening again, but this time Tartan Turns goes west to Òran Mór. This year, our compere will be joined by several stars from River City and Taggart with special guests including Dorothy Paul, Tom Urie, Eileen McCallum and Dave Anderson. There will be plenty of live music from The Boppin Heads, Eilidh's Daily Ukulele Ceilidh, Pauline Knowles, the students of the RSAMD and a special one off performance from Lorraine McIntosh and Ricky Ross from Deacon Blue.
River City actors include: Libby McArthur (Gina), Tony Kearney (Scott), John Paul McGilvary (Gerry), Johnny Beattie (Malcolm), Gilly Gilchrist (Archie), Claire Knight (Iona), Laura McMonagle (Zoe) and David Paisley (Rory).
There will also be a prize raffle and auction presented by Colin McCredie (Taggart's DC Fraser).

Tickets:

£20.00 per person – includes a dram of whisky & entertainment - from www.ticketweb.co.uk, or in person in cash from Heart of Buchanan, Byres Road, Glasgow and The Bay Tree Co, Hanover Street, Edinburgh, or by emailing tartanturns@yahoo.co.uk.

It's four years ago today that I lost my Dad.

It's an incredibly difficult thing to describe to someone what it feels like - NOTHING prepares you for it. I remember at the time, thinking that it should have been part of the school curriculum - how to cope with losing a parent. But there is no instruction manual - no map, no rule book. It's just something that happens - and that you have to deal with. My friend Angie lost her Dad the week before mine, and I remember the two of us freaking out about how unbelievable it all was.

Personally, and I don't mean this for everyone - I've never been able to get over it. Every single day, at some point, I miss him. I think of all the things I've acheived in the past few years that he wasn't around to see, he would have loved Tutti Frutti.

My Dad was a quiet, honest, hard working man who didn't drink or smoke and loved his family above all else. He reminded me of the Dad out of the Waltons. When he died, suddenly on that Thursday morning, he was still able bodied and full of life. He just switched off, like a light. It's the way he always said he wanted to go. He always hated being ill.

So where does that leave me? I think I have a "decency" about me that I inherited from him - I could never walk past someone in trouble without offering to help, I have the same pride for my neice and my nephews that he had - he was almost a professional Grampa, and they could do NO wrong. They adored him too.

Not a day goes by that I don't miss him. I have deep spiritual beliefs that I know my Dad shared, so that makes it easier. While I don't feel that he's around all the time, he's here when I need him.

So, Big Tam, wherever you are, we're all ok. 7.

It seems like a million years ago that I went to college, but it also seems as if the time has flown.

I was only 19 when I left home and moved to Perth. I was one of the first students in the early days of its world famous Rock Music College. It was like Fame, but with more smoking and drinking. I was majoring in piano, and wasn't really the best piano player in the world.

After a few days of college, you tend to find your "group" of friends after a few days, and I was no exception. The friends I made in those first few days are still close to me today.

One in particular. Kenny. One of those people that you hit it off with so well that you don't even need conversation? Kenny was an amazing singer/songwriter. He used to silence the rowdiest of parties with his guitar, and was without a doubt the most popular guy in the college. He was the first person to encourage me to sing, and, when I got bitten by the singing bug, he spent his evenings coaching me with what he'd learned in his singing class that day. He was a riot, and a very spiritual guy too.

Kenny died suddenly in a car accident exactlly 19 years ago tonight. It was an event that brought us all to our knees. We were all pretty much teenage kids, away from home, coping with a sudden loss. It created a bond between us all that is still strong to this day, no matter what corners of the world we are all scattered to. And Kenny's family became part of my own extended family, to this day.

So tonight I dug out some old tapes of his songs, and it seemed like yesterday. It almost seemed like he was in the room. I'm going to digitally clean them up a bit and put them on CD and send them out to all of us, now all pushing forty, who were those bewildered and lost kids in 1989.

God bless you Kenny.

Sometimes - not a lot - but sometimes, I speak from the heart on this blog. Maybe not such a good idea, maybe it's stuff that should be left for personal diaries.

I'm in a funny place in life just now - I have no idea where I'm going. I just watched the JK Rowling documentary, where she goes back to her flat where she first started, and I ended up weeping along with her. She spoke of how she had nothing, and didn't know what do do with her life. Then, suddenly, her life took an amazing twist for the better.

I'm in a situation just now where, all at the same time, my close friends and I are all out of work. I used to have "safe" jobs that kept me going, like gigging, but they have all dried up - it's weird, it's really, really weird. 2007 was a horrible year for me financially, I was back to living like a student - I still am.

It feels like there IS something good around the very next corner - and I suppose I wanted to write that down, just to keep a record of the way I'm feeling. I always get the blues after Christmas - this year, I feel better equipped to deal with them, but they are here nonetheless.

JK Rowling talked about the Dementors in the HP books being symbolic of her depression, and while I don't think I'm quite suffering from depression, I know what she means. I can get into a mindset where I start to worry about the future - and once I start, I can't stop. I now have specific exercises I do on awakening, just so that my day can start on a positive footing.

Do you know what would cheer me up? A massive big snow blizzard, with me and my mates all snowed in at the cottage.

Happy New Year to you all - I hope there's something wonderful around the next corner for ALL of us.

xxx

It's been a funny year. Weird funny. There have been many changes, not a small amount of tragedy and also some joy.

The year started with the usual bout of resolutions, all of them trashed by 2nd January. My battle with caffeine addiction is still ongoing, and may well be the one thing that I can never give up. Ach well. At least I gave up the fags and the booze. Here are, in fact, my last year's resolutions. In brackets, are how successful they were.


1 Stop worrying about money. (Nae chance)

2 No more caffeine....ever! (Again, nae chance, still totally addicted)

3 No more chocolate (Aye right. I was wrapping a box of Roses the other night – next think I know I came to, surrounded by wrappers)

4 Stop moaning about the telly on this blog, even Ruth and Marty in River City. (I've given up moaning about Ruth and Marty, and changed my attentions to the X Factor)

5 Take the bins out. I always forget and my neighbour keeps doing it. (He's still doing it, bless 'im)

6 Stop watching so much crap on TV. Cut down on the soaps (River City excepted) and stop watching omnibus editions of soaps I've already seen. (Managed to completely get off EastEnders but still addicted to RC)

7 Get pro-active about my career (THIS one I did keep – I got off my ass and got myself a hot new London agent)

8 Exercise more (har har)

9 Don't, however tempted I am, buy an excercise video. Still not watched the Max and Paddy one from last year. (Jade's workout, anyone?)

10 Keep the house clean. (Kim and Aggie would have a field day!)

Nope, I guess resolutions are made to be broken.

Work wise, my first job of the year (as always) was the Singalonga Sound Of Music. Pretty important this year, as a chance conversation I had with a woman there led to me meeting some people who are now amongst the most important people in my life. You know, one of those "lay-line" days, where if you'd turned a different corner, your life would have scewed off in another direction.

In fact, I moaned on my blog about how I longed for a Christmas full of friends, like the Last Christmas video. I said "perhaps next year." I was right – the main thing that happened this year is that I was suddenly blessed with two or three new, very close friends. And on Saturday, just there, we had a Christmas night together that was just like the Last Christmas video, but without the knitwear and mullets.

The rest of January was spent working on a play called Velvet Love, which re-united me with Tutti Frutti co-star Tam Dean Burn. We recorded it for Radio 4, and also did a week's run at Oran Mor, for the Play, a Pie and a Pint series. A wonderful experience, not least because I got to work with director Alison Peebles.

2007 also saw me doing two or three gigs with the John Beattie band, a collection of amazing musicians – we did a few charity do's, and a couple of gigs at the Jamhouse in Edinburgh
A HUGE change occurred in February when I saw a movie called "The Secret," which changed my life in so many ways. It brought me so much in the way of wealthy life experiences and made me look at my life through completely new eyes. I thoroughly recommend it. It also had something to do with me suddenly parting company with Jumpin' Jaks in Glasgow, a job I adored. There was a situation going on that I could no longer tolerate, and myself and another left on the same night. Financially, I regret my decision – it left me broke for most of the year – but I still made the right decision. I love the place, and would go back in an instant if the circumstances were to change.

I had a run of what we'll call "challenging" luck around my birthday in March – my car thre a complete wobbler and cost thousands to repair. Thankfully, my big sis helped me out, and I eventually found a mechanic that wasn't going to rip me off.

Then, a huge shock. My friend John died. Now, John was one of those people who I hadn't seen for years, and very rarely saw, but when we did see each other, it was like we had never been apart. He had moved to the States a few years ago, where his life took some bizarre twists and turns. He didn't have his demons to seek, and in March 2007 died suddenly. He was a warm, funny, loving and beautiful man, and his death affected me in a way I had not expected. So many old faces at his funeral, all devastated.

Another blessing this year was the arrival in my life of my buddy Matt – and the realization that we worked fantastically well together as songwriters, a thing I've never been able to do. If you watch "The Secret," you'll get an understanding into why I managed to attract that into my life.

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So Spring brought me back to my beloved Tutti Frutti. A quick recap – this was the National Theatre of Scotland's stage version of John Byrne's classic TV series from the eighties. I was at school when it was first on, and it was a huge influence on me. When I first heard about it, I fought tooth and nail to get an audition for the lead part of Danny. In the end it came down to me and someone who's a huge name in Theatre and Film – and lo and behold, they gave it to me.

The original production took place in 2006 in Aberdeen, but this time, it was to be at the King's Theatre in Glasgow, my favourite theatre in the whole world.

And what a blast it was. We played to packed houses, received standing ovations and got amazing reviews. My face was plastered on billboards all over the city and in all the subways, and my head swelled to worryingly huge levels. I met a good few heroes of mine, most impressively Gary Lewis, of Billy Elliot fame – sometimes you meet your heroes and they let you down, but this guy was wonderful – he spent well over half an hour talking to my mum, which is a feat worthy of a knighthood.

It was a cathartic time for me, I felt as if I was finally stretching some acting muscles that I knew were there. The production wasn't without it's backstage dramas – there is a BLISTERING novel in there, I'll have to wait till they're all deid. But to work with those people was a complete honour – Dawn Steele was a delight from start to finish, Julie Wilson Nimmo kept me in stitches and wee Helen Mallon was like my wee sister.

The show then returned to the Kings in Edinburgh, where it played a blistering week of shows, but – duh duh duhhhhhn – we went to Blackpool. Oh. My.God.

It wasn't quite what I would call a disaster, but it became obvious very quickly that we were to early – the season had yet to begin - there were NO tourists there!. We got fantastic reviews, the audiences loved it – but we were playing to half empty houses, a total come down from the Scottish tour.

Highlight of the week was when the theatre had a "midnight most haunted" night. The theatre kindly invited the whole cast, but only me and wee Helen, who played Glenna, were brave enough to go. And what an event – I actually saw a ghost in the place. Loved it. The people at the Blackpool Grand treated us like royalty, they were so welcoming.

It's an experience I would never, ever change – to spend a week in Blackpool with that cast, it was like Carry On Blackpool. Gavin Mitchell and I one day took a taxi to a place called Wray, where we were to take part in a BBC live broadcast to promote the show. Little did we know that the village was holding it's annual "scarecrow festival." It was like the Wicker Man.

The main bulk of us stayed at a place called "The Hollywood Apartments." The people there were lovely to us and we had a riot, but Hollywood it certainly wasn't! I had a wonderful, wonderful time, and to this day, I still miss everyone in that cast. I long to do the show again, but who knows? I've heard rumours, but nothing solid.

 

May was weird - Madeleine McCann went missing, and the world's media went crazy for it. It wasn't until I saw the news on TV that I realised that I knew her Aunty Phil, an old buddy of mine from years back. What a nice family, and Madeleine is still in my prayers.

I also went the the Daily Record "Heroes" awards, which, when you consider that I almost phoned an ambulance during Noel's Christmas Presents, was a total tear jerker. Had a ball sitting with the River City mob, trying to get future storylines out of them. (Not a peep)

June saw me celebrating six years of sobriety (a big, big deal for me) and also getting Wee Elvis - a very spirited West Highland Terrier. So spirited, in fact, that he chewed almost my entire house to bit.

He was a total sweetheart - but needed constant attention. I have a crazy life where I never know where I'm going to be, and it became increasingly obvious that I couldn't look after him the way he needed. I was palming him off to doggysitters and leaving him in the house for too long - the wee soul needed a better home. Which he now has. It broke my heart, but he's now living in Dumfries with a family who adore him. But they changed his name to Fergus!!!!! Ach well, it sounds like Elvis.

Of course, I can't talk about this year without mentioning the terrorist attck on Glasgow Airport. You never think of terrorism as being on your doorstep, but my wee cottage is right on the flightpath - I sat watching the TV, not quite believing what I was seeing. And of course, John Smeaton summed up the feelings of the Glasgow people pefectly. "We'll set about ye."

My relationship with Jumpin Jaks came to a very abrupt end when Dumfries ended my contract - still not sure what happened there, but I parted with them on good terms. Think it was a budget thing (or maybe I was just shite!) But this happened at exactly the same time that my friend Eddie decided to make a movie - a short film, called Gravity, about Robert The Bruce. Eddie had watched "The Secret" that I went on about earlier, and had managed to attract everything he needed to make this film. It was a wonderful experience, everything fell into place, and it saw me playing my first "serious" role, as John Comyn. With full Brian Blessed beard!

Probably the highlight of my whole year was my surprise trip to Russia. I had been approached by music biz entrepeneur and general all-round whizz kid Bill Matthews to travel to Moscow to DJ at their annual St Andrews Day celebrations. It was all expenses paid in a 5 star hotel. WHAT an experience. The hotel was stunning - thank God, cos Moscow was weird. It was like being in an alternate reality. But the St Andrews society looked after us so well, and the party in a square in the centre of Moscow was amazing. I was there with Lateshift, a band that is managed by Bill and features the stunning Tracey Braithwaite on lead vocals, and what a lovely group of people. I made a good friend in Deke the sax player, and we all spent a lot of time together. The highlight of the whole trip was dancing with Tracey B to "Sailing" by Rod Stewart, under a beautiful, warm Moscow evening sky.

As the summer drew to a close, I went through a very sad experience. Those of you who know me know that my cats are like my family - and I had to say goodbye to Gabrielle, who had been with me as a rescue cat since 2000. She had developed a bone tumour, and I had to get her put to sleep. She was always the boss in the house - I had originally wanted a tough-guy cat who could catch mice, but I ended up getting Gabby, a one-eyed nervous wreck. I consoled myself with the fact that she got an extra 7 years with me, and she freaked me out by regularly appearing around the house AFTER she died.

 

2007 also contained my first trip to Ireland! Me, Matt, Jenny and Mojo all piled into Andrew's car and headed off for the weekend. It was like a Famous Five adventure. The first night we stayed at Matt's brother's house in Donegal, and then we went down to Sligo to his sister Libby's house for a christening party. It was a riot, not least cos all the kids were totally star struck by Andrew (he plays PC Plum in Balamory)

This was the group of friends who had miraculously appeared in my life - within three days of me using "The Secret" to ask for friends, they all suddenly appeared. I can't go on about "The Secret" enough, you need to see it - you can watch it online at www.thesecret.tv or buy the DVD at Borders. Anyway, we all had a ball, and Matt's family were wonderful to us - his sister Libby reminds me a lot of my own sister Irene.

Not long after, I was down in London, laying down some backing vocals on the debut album by "Parka." It's out soon on ultra-cool indie record label Jeepster.

So it really has been a year of travelling - not just Russia and Ireland, but also Scotland. Autumn came, and with it came the very first ever Karen Dunbar Show tour.

Bliss. I can't describe it better. 21 shows, all sold out to packed houses. We started in Aberdeen, went as far south as Langholm and Galasheils nd then ended up in Findhorn and Orkney. I saw the whole of Scotland, and the tour promoters, the Gilded Baloon, treated us like royalty. We had hotel suites, all expenses taken care of.....it was like a two month holiday. And Karen was an absolute pleasure to work with, and to watch her grow in confidence as a stand-up was wonderful. Her new manager and I got on like a house on fire - think Marianne Faitfull crossed with Doris Day crossed with Cruella De Ville and we're halfway there.

My favourite experience was the show in Findhorn, which is a new age centre for spiritualism and healing. I got such a wonderful vibe from the place that I've decided I have to go back.

This year also saw me finally getting off my arse and getting a London agent. I had always been represented by the Comedy Unit, who were fantastic to me, but circumstances there changed, and I left with their blessing. I now have a totally FAB agent called Sherina who tells me she has lots of plans for me!

So, it's now getting towards the end of what has been an action packed year. After the tour finished, I went straight on to work with Gregor Fisher and Billy Boyd on a new sitcom called "Empty." Then I had a fantastic, if not challenging experience working on a play for the Prince and Princess of Wales hospice. I say challenging, cos there were a few technical hitches on the night. But it flexed some acting muscles that needed flexing.

This year also saw me finally drawing a line under Big Brother. The Jade stuff earlier this year disgusted me - not so much Jade, I think she was more stupid than racist - but for what reality TV has become. The summer series was painful, and I ended up switching off. For good. Ricky Gervais summed it up in Extras, when talking about the X Factor ' "They wheel out the bewildered, who get sniggered at by multi-millionaires."

Ah, the X Factor. And the unexpected success of this blog each Sunday morning, as my after show rants and venom spilled their way onto the net. How innapropriate the incesty people were, the stupid puppy dog guy, hating Rhydian then loving him then hating him again, HATING Louis all the way through, as usual and then cheering as the wee man won. Gawd bless 'em all, and, as predicted, I don't think I could tell you the names of more than three of them now.

So I end the year here - in my wee cottage. I don't have two ha'penny's to rub together - things really are that rough. But I have a wealth of life experiences and precious friends that I wouldn't swap for anything. What have I achieved this year? I have made new friends, one of whom has become like my wee brother. I have travelled the world and done some exciting work. I do feel somewhat in a rut just now, but as I get older, I find it easier to spot these ruts, and to see them for what they are - temporary. I have been in this situation before, and it's usually just before something miraculous happens.

Next year? 2008? So far, I have one job lined up. I'm returning to Oran Mor, to appear in the opening play of the A Play, A Pie and a Pint season. That's at the beginning of February. After that, I'm on God's good grace.