MJ. Mortimer

Well it’s an end of a bittersweet era…

For a while I’ve been discontent and disconnected with the Arts Industry, so as of today I have made a few big & quite frankly bold decisions in my life and my career.

I am stepping away from the Arts Industry altogether and leaving behind a place I know and used to love to find a new direction for me. I am in desperate need for a work-life balance ! 😬

I am stepping into a completely new job with transferable skills from stage management and stepping into a Corporate job as a Cover Receptionist for some of the biggest London City buildings that includes meeting & greeting clients, guests and those whom occupy the large businesses. For me it’s a step in the right direction, I need a level of stability with restricted hours and decent pay which theatre unfortunately isn’t offering that at this time. I am fighting to survive in a suffering industry and for once I want to live without a fight or taking every hour of my life to achieve something that doesn’t even get recognition. I truly hope I’ll be back at some point in the industry some day but right now this is my goodbye to the industry I’ve worked in for over 7 years.

On this topic, I have also made the executive decision to step down from working with Pride in London after 7 years, the direction just isn’t for me anymore but I am so thankful to everyone whom has guided, helped and aided me in all things Pride in London as well as my career.

Thank you to every single person for the opportunities I’ve been given, I’ve truly reached some massive highs and bottomless lows within my career in the arts sector and I’m so glad I crammed so much into a short few years, I feel like I’ve achieved so much in my life & career to date & for that I’m incredibly humble & thankful. I’ll never forget the friends & family like people I’ve met along the way. You are all incredible & I’m so thankful to you all for your support in a job I love. But it’s time for a change of direction.

Stage & Events Manager Matt - Over & Out for the final time.

Dartford’s Pantomime of Cinderella 2022.

What can I even say! It’s been challenging, exhausting but the most fun! This team, these people! Theatre is so much about the people around you that make the show what it is. I’m so thankful to everyone for being the most professional, kind, caring and wonderful people to work alongside.

We still have a couple of weeks remaining of this fantastic panto but if your around Dartford, come see us! You’ll definitely be laughing plenty! 😂

We have a Stage Management team of dreams & I’m so thankful of the incredible team we have! .thackeray & - You both rock! 🥲👏

I’ve never done Tech ASM & Sound 2 as a combined role before, so it’s definitely been interesting to say the least but so far we are making it work and it’s definitely never a dull day! 🤣🤪

Here’s to the rest of the run with some fantastic people! 👏🎭

Well folks - Here goes nothing. My last two show day & get out for a while. Team Singin in the rain - thank you for the experience, I cannot say it’s been an easy one but it’s definitely been a rollercoaster ride with plenty of highs and lows.

I’m honoured to have worked and met all the lovely & kind people I’ve crossed paths with on this tour. The show is truly magical because of the people within it and this show has taught me that actually my words mean something and reminded me that my health, whether mental or physical should always come above a job & when I need to take a step back in order to take steps forward and being burnt out in our industry is an even higher possibility than most other industries. It wasn’t an easy decision at all because it was in fact a necessary one that I had to make for my own health and my own safety. I have never been one to stand down from a challenge, but even I am reminded that I’m only human and it’s okay to not finish a challenge when it becomes too great.

Thank you to all whom have cheered me on, supported me and sent lovely messages and said such kind things over the past few weeks. I appreciate you & I thank you dearly.

To the rest of the Happy Rain Team - I salute you and I wish you all the luck in the world for the rest of the tour. Look after yourselves & I truly hope our paths cross again in the future! 🤞

As one journey concludes, another one begins - And who knows where it will lead me this time. 🤔

All the best,

Matt x
[Head of Video & Technical Swing for SITR ‘22]

☔️🎭❤️

Why do I love my job? There’s always a challenge that needs to be overcome! 💪🎭

Let’s go hit the UK Tour of as Technical Swing with an all star cast & technical company! ☔️😌❤️

Canterbury fit up day one - Let’s go! ☔️🎭

Coming to a venue near you over the next 6 months, so there’s no excuse to not book your tickets! - https://singinintherainshow.com/uk-tour/

Canterbury
Woking
Southend
Milton Keynes
Edinburgh
Newcastle
Manchester
Bristol
Cardiff
Dublin
Birmingham
Southampton
Liverpool
New Wimbledon
Nottingham
Bradford
Sheffield
Aberdeen
Glasgow
Plymouth

Time for the next adventure of my career to begin… as Technical Swing for Japan & UK Tour…I can’t wait to get stuck into this job with an incredible company of people as I primarily work on video while occasionally covering stage management, lighting & sound! 😍🎭

🇯🇵 Japan stretch - Tokyo / Osaka

🇬🇧 UK Tour stretch - Canterbury / Woking / Southend / Milton Keynes / Edinburgh / Newcastle / Manchester / Bristol / Cardiff / Birmingham / Southampton / Liverpool / London / Nottingham / Bradford / Sheffield / Aberdeen / Glasgow / Plymouth.

Let’s go Sing in the Rain for the next 8 months! 🙏❤️🎭

Well after an intense couple of weeks, we opened ‘Robin Hood’ Pantomime in Nottingham (ironic right 😜) a little over 2 weeks ago.

We have a first class set of artists, an incredible set and props (if me & Caitlin say so ourselves 👌) and the dream team of a stage management/ technical team & in-house stage crew team.

As you can tell from being bedazzled by the cast, we are all having the best of times so far and we are only 16 performances down, with many more to go. Let’s smash pantoland season. 🥰❤️🎉🎭✨