ADP, Abooo and the start of many good things.

The first Scripts Aloud was just 3 weeks after the birth of my son last year.

I’d submitted my details whilst heavily pregnant and, as I sometimes do, I had a gut feeling I was going to be asked to take part in the first one, scheduled for just 4 weeks after my due date. As it was, the bubs was a week late and so it was 3 weeks after having my son, I found myself sat on stage at The Kings Arms, opening the first ADP Manchester with a stunning script from the pen of Kevin McMahon, one of the many talented writers ADP has attracted. When Diana emailed me the script, there was no chance I was going to let it pass me by; it was A Song Unsung, a beaut of a monologue about the Easter Uprising.

I forget where I’d heard about ADP but had happened upon the FB group and it was exactly what I was looking for. I’d had a couple of tough years career-wise and, although I didn’t realise it at the time, had become rather worn down by the industry. As a result, I’d taken some time out to study law whilst pregnant. Studying something entirely different and intellectually rigorous gave me back the self-esteem which had been eroded and before I’d even taken my exams I knew that I wanted to get back to acting and to meet fellow lovers of theatre and people that I might want to work in the future: PING! There it was, ADP in all its glory!

ADP has become so much more than just a network though: it’s a huge, buzzing community of a kind that I’ve never before experienced; it’s a wealth of extraordinary talent and an overflowing and bottomless pot of positivity and creativity. I’ve met people as passionate and dedicated about theatre as I am, it’s given me friends and inspiration and all in less than a year! The success of Scripts Aloud and ADP Manchester has inspired me to set up Abooo Theatre, a company dedicated to making shows about parenting, made with parents who are professional performers and made for parents to come and watch with their babies. It’s early days yet and we’re still on our way to achieving the kind of success Diana and Hannah have but I am so grateful to them for all that Scripts Aloud/ADP has meant for me and for the Manchester theatre scene.

My son celebrates his 1st birthday shortly and I am so thrilled and pleased for Diana and Hannah and what they have to celebrate on Scripts Aloud’s 1st birthday. My only regret? That I won’t be there to help them celebrate –yep, I’ll be on a family holiday! Here’s to many more years of success, innovation, creativity and positivity: to Scripts Aloud!
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If you want to check out what Abooo’s all about, here’s where we are www.aboootheatre.com

​We love you Clare! One of the most valuable members of the ADP family! 
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