On living outside of the city

Now don't get me wrong - the buzz of a city cannot be replicated. Ambition bubbles up through the pavements, iconic theatres beckon and people move fast!

But contrast that with the creativity that comes from standing on a windy peak with 360 mountain views; or the community where everyone knows everyone and anyone would offer anyone a cup

of tea if they needed it.

Do you need to live in a city to be an actor? Well, my gut says no of course not, it's 2023 and we have self tapes for a reason. But there are a couple of drawbacks. This is a conversation I've had with a few creative friends recently, let me share some thoughts.

If you're a city person, then by all means fill your Chelsea boots with all the culture, theatre, film festivals, music events you can. But if, like me, you've tried #citylife and come to prefer the slow-living, spacious, green, coastal world beyond the urban jungle, then read on.

I adore London in short bursts. I am motivated by everything I see - the pace, the art, the size. But it also feels exhausting. It seems non stop, it seems like everyone is doing everything, and signs on the tube advertising 'meet financially successful singles near you' just feels stressful.

As actors we already know there's no need to be based in Manchester or London or [insert city name here] to be seen. Self tapes are the norm in the first instance, and most actors will be very happy to travel for recalls and of course jobs. Despite the cost (though, even that is outweighed by the savings made living outside of the smoke).

However. Let's say for example I want to upskill. I'm after a jazz dance class for adults - one that is not 'just a bit of fun'; I want to learn a new language, or do some clown training... I'm going to really struggle to find this in a small town. It's not impossible, just unlikely. And I could travel to Manchester to do this, but I need to take the investment in time and transport into consideration for a course that lasts several weeks. There are of course Zoom classes galore, but Zoom doesn't quite do it for me anymore. Nothing beats being in the room where it happened.

Another drawback is the likelihood of getting involved in any profit-share/low paid work. These can be great ways to hone your craft, to network and to invite industry to see your work whilst you are not on a paid job. In general, there are more opportunities for this in cities where there are film and creative arts schools. But again, the investment from a country bumpkin is going to be higher than for someone who lives nearby.

These are the main 'cons' I see at the moment about basing yourself in the big wide world outside of the city.

But, for me at least, the benefits outweigh these navigable issues. Being near the sea, surrounded by sheep and close to family brings a quality of life that I'm not willing to trade in. And having space, time and the inspiration of the great outdoors can only contribute positively to creativity.