Robert Daws

A little Christmas cracker

Robert Daws — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 11:05:46 +0000

A busy few weeks filming Jack Whitehall's 'Daddy's Little Princess' for Sky's Xmas Little Cracker series. I play the Daddy of the title - and Archie Lyndhurst plays the young Jack aged eleven. The first time I've ever played someone I actually know - the extraordinary agent and producer Michael Whitehall - and I hope I did him justice. A lovely script and production team, with Jack himself playing a modern day Robin Hood.

Then off down to the BBC's new and wonderfully proportioned 'production hub' in Cardiff. Casualty is relaunching down there and I revisited for an episode after an absence of some considerable time. It is all very impressive and moral seems very high on the show. It's certainly got a fantastic standing set and facilities to play with and the whole studio complex is alive with creativity - Upstairs Downstairs is filming there also.

Didn't have time to visit Port Talbot to try and trace some of my mum's family roots, but fell in love with Cardiff and its very friendly welcome.

The leaves are falling!

Robert Daws — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 13:46:18 +0000

So that was summer. Michael Frayn's 'Alarms and Excursions' now over and the delight of being home knows very few bounds. Having a break from theatre for a while and starting several new projects all at once. Move into my little office in Portobello this week to develop three new projects for tv and one for radio. Very daunting, but action will finally take precedents over sitting around talking about it for months on end. Luckily I have a very efficient and pro-active indie company looking after the bits I don't understand - namely most of it - and hopefully I can just get down to business. Have asked for a basketball net to be placed in the room so I can do that cliche slam-dunk thing whilst fine tuning Bafta award winning concepts. If not possible, they have a very nice latte making machine in the basement to challenge me both mentally and physically.

So hopefully, a bit of balance work-wise betwixt acting and writing over the autumn/winter months. That's the theory anyhooo...

The day and night job.

Robert Daws — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 08:29:43 +0000

Been a busy time, thank goodness. Filming Doc Martin and New Tricks as well as touring Michael Frayn's 'Alarms and Excursions'. Amy starts rehearsals today for Mrs Johnstone in the West End and Betsy appeared as the 'Old Woman' in her school play last night, while her sister performed her dance routines in a show on Saturday. Their brother had a break from the call of show-biz to enjoy his birthday weekend with a visit to ten-pin bowling at MK and the Dr Who Experience in London. The summer hols start next week, so the plate spinning logistics of life become even more interesting.

Seven months later!

Robert Daws — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 08:16:46 +0000

Time just flies by these days. Too much has happened over the last half year to go into great details. The biggest and most tragic event being the death of the great John Sullivan. A wonderful man and dear friend, blessed with a beautiful family and a genius talent.

Mid-term work prospects.

Robert Daws — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 11:58:26 +0000

A busy time, I'm glad to say, on the future job front. A rather big, posh comedy play currently running in the West End has come into the frame. It would knock everything else I'd planned after Christmas on the head, but it is a massive tax bill paying remedy. Under big pressure from certain quarters to count my lucky stars etc. In tough times I am aware that this is a luxury in my game, but am not at all sure my heart would be in it.

Writing commitments coming along at the gallop. New half hour comedy pilot undergoing key-hole surgery. Enjoying it greatly.

Detective pilot getting a little more gruesome with each script conference. Fighting the demand for more blood.

Sondheim Concert for Opera Seven - for whom I am directing Sweeney Todd next year - in December. Am dusting my larynx off and calling in favours from much more talented singers than myself.

Finish Rock and Chips in a couple of weeks. it's been great fun revisiting the pervy Ernie Raynor.

Christmas just around the corner. A plethora of Panto's to visit, but not to be in - thank the Lord!

Ghosts, chips, Pooters and sit-coms.

Robert Daws — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 08:56:37 +0000

The money for 'The Forbidden is finally in place, so will now be running around a 'haunted' house fighting demons in October instead of September. Rock and Chips filming over same period, so should be interesting logistically. Have also been approached to play Pooter in 'Diary of a Nobody' in a new and very clever adaptation and have just started work on a new sit-com pilot - as writer - which will film before christmas. All very exciting, but as my dear, late lamented father-in-law used to say...Quite a lot of work, for not a lot of money. Not that I'm complaining. I'll leave that to my bank manager, accountant,mortgage lender etc etc.

There goes the summer.

Robert Daws — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 10:26:11 +0000

Holmes and Watson may have finished their brilliant run with the BBC, but they are still managing to pack em in at the Duchess Theatre in London. With only five weeks left, the box office has grown and grown and the advance, I'm told, is 'very healthy'. Well that's nice and riding the crest of the unexpected 'Sherlock' boom is proving a happy chance for our producers. The reviews have been very kind for the production and actors and despite sweltering under ten tons of tweed, is great fun to do. We also reveal who Moriarty is and believe me he's not called Jim.

Have just had to turn down a fantastic new play by William Nicholson - due to logistics - but am filming a new 'ghost film' called The Forbidden in Sept and then on to the BBC for Rock and Chips till Nov. So there goes the summer and her comes the rest of the year!

Elementary my dear...

Robert Daws — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 07:33:16 +0000

Just begun a very short rehearsal period for 'The Secret of Sherlock Holmes', opening on the 15th July at The Duchess Theatre. It has toured successfully this year with Peter Egan as Holmes and Philip Franks as Watson. With the sudden demise of The Fantastiks, there was a two month gap at the theatre and the play is therefore stepping into the breach. Philip has directing commitments at Chichester this summer, so by a process of observation and deduction the producers have asked me to play Watson. Never had to learn a piece so quickly, but feel in safe hands with Peter and director Robin Herford. Also, there is an urgent need for me to grow a moustache that is fit for purpose. Not quite the summer I had envisaged then, but there you go...the game's afoot!

A Bit of...

Robert Daws — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 20:16:33 +0000

Recording pieces for a Fry and Laurie appreciation documentary tomorrow. Been looking at A Bit of F and L and finding it just as fresh and funny as it was fifteen years ago. Two of the funniest and kindest performer/actors you could wish to work with.

The Harsh Realities Of Life...

Robert Daws — Mon, 17 May 2010 10:40:12 +0000

Employment for actors at a record low! This comes as no surprise to virtually every actor friend of mine. In a profession that has always offered employment challenges, it is perhaps no great surprise to discover that the recession hit the 'Arts and Entertainment' worlds pretty hard and early on. 'Everyone is available and if a producer wants Anthony Hopkins or Ruth Wilson, they are probably going to get them'. That's the word from the agents and casting directors. Is it getting any better? Not yet and probably not for some time. 50% cuts in pay offers to actors and film and tv workers makes a 5% cut in salary by MP's look a little tame. Hey ho. At least 'boom and bust' is a state hard wired into most actors lives. We'll attempt to do what we've always done. Learn our lines and try not to have to sell the furniture.