BLACK BOY MEETS MR. SHAKESPEARE

Hey everybody! Welcome to episode 2! To the new readers welcome to my mind and my journey of being a Black storyteller in the United Kingdom.

To start, I want to say HAPPY NEW YEAR! I wish nothing but peace, love, and goal achieving for everyone this year. I’ve learned some new English lingo. It’s quite odd to hear if you’re from America. “You alright” is how the English in Birmingham ask, “How are you doing?” Now, where I’m from when people ask me if I’m alright, they seem to think something is wrong with me which is so frustrating, so imagine my reaction when I hear it. I’m adapting though. First time I heard it some drunk man said it to me at a bar while offering me a drink. Another phrase is “CHEERS!” You know when you’re toasting with wine? Well out here it’s often used as thank you.

I’ve seen some new places! First, London is always a VIBE when I go. My frat brother Ronald Sewell always make sure my visit is wonderful. He took me to a Jamaican restaurant a few weeks ago and I had some Jamaican Rum which was to die for and some amazing seafood. I was eating shrimp with the heads on them, I swore I’d never (I still didn’t eat food that looks at me) but you got to explore and try new things, right? You know what’s so weird to me? It’s legal to drink at 18 here. When I go out to Pubs (Bars) there are so many young people it’s ridiculous. It makes me appreciate the American legal drinking age.

In London, I visited Shakespeare’s Globe and got the chance to play on the stage with my classmates. Probably one of the most humbling experiences is my life. The stage is so huge and there is nowhere to hide when you’re on it. You literally have people at every angle watching you. The energy built up in there is otherworldly. I felt like If I wanted to fire a Kamehameha wave, that’s the place to go. It’s such a dream hearing about this place so many times from my teachers in America and actually living in what they described and taught. 

I’m still in love with Drama school. I finished my first term (semester) and I’m beginning my second one. Macbeth was my classes final project. I’m so grateful for working with my first professional theatre company this summer (Shout out to all of my friends from Theater at Monmouth) in Maine. It was my first time being creative in a non-Black space (I didn’t start acting until undergrad). I was on a new journey of discovering my voice in a room of people from different backgrounds, wanting to speak efficiently about how I view things. I’m continuing that journey here in England. It’s personally a challenge but I enjoy being an educator for my ancestors. Thank God, I went to an Historically Black College University previous to this, because without PVAMU I wouldn’t really even understand myself, nonetheless where I come from. This past summer in Maine I was in 4 plays, one of them being Macbeth. There was just so much information and specificity that I didn’t know about Shakespeare’s work and that story (Which I think might be the hardest play from Shakespeare). I got to revisit it this past term and I’ve discovered so much about the language, Shakespeare, the rhetorical devices, the period, (The Gunpowder Plot and how that connects with everything) the characters’ beliefs, and a more in depth, immersion into the play, I was also fighting my own actor habits and eliminating everything that I don’t need. I got to play the king himself, and live through my favourite soliloquy (which I wrote about a few years back in a previous blog. You can access it). It was an ensemble piece so we were all running around in different roles. I’m so grateful for it. And I believe more that I can execute a lead role. I can finally say that I truly love Shakespeare. (Heart Heart Heart) Thank God for our director/tutor Andrew Potter. That man is a brilliant educator. And a dynamic artist.

Winter break in England was quiet. I missed my mom, family and friends but I also got the chance to celebrate the holidays and my birthday with people who actually care about me out here. Sometimes I still feel lonely. Like a lonesome young foreign boy in the woods seeking to know every living organism. Even the ones that bite; I’m okay though! (PS: I met two new friends last night that also go to my university. They’re both actors who go to my Drama School on the B.A. course. Shout out to Hayden Thomas and Janeks Babidorics!)

We’re going to get this degree in 2019, I’m going to set out and be a star and live out my life’s purpose of changing the molecules of people that need guidance. Creating art that promotes unity and empathy, and discovering yourself. We’re going to change the world and I’m already sparking something by you reading.

Speak it into existence and anything is achievable friends! Keep striving for your best selves, accept the journey YOU are on and don’t worry if your journey doesn’t match someone else’s, it’s yours. stay prayed up and if you see the door of opportunity, KICK THAT SUMNABITCH DOWN!

And in the words of the late great playwright August Wilson in his play, The Piano Lesson

“But you’d be surprised how many people trying to go North get on a train going West. They think train’s supposed to go where they going rather than where it’s going” 

Till next month family for Issue no.3!

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BLACK BOY U.K. JOY

One of my mentors, Tezya Jackson ignited the idea in me to write about and share what it’s like being a Black male actor in the United Kingdom. I had the idea of sharing my experience out here as well so I’m combining the “What’s it like living in the U.K.” and “are you enjoying it?” questions, so here goes: 

It took me two tries to get into a school. Blood sweat and tears but I ended up where I am at the desired time God told me to go. I just want to start this blog by saying what’s meant for you is meant for you. Everything happens for a reason that’s beyond our explanation. The first year I tried for Graduate school and didn’t make it, I took pretty hard. However, I learned later that instead of me graduating from Prairie View A&M University in May of 2016, I graduated in August. Everything made sense to me after that. The following year I received double the amount of callbacks from schools and optional offers. When I received the message of me moving to England to study Acting in late March my dreams, my prayers, my goals and wishes were met and it’s everything I asked for and more.

I want to now start this blog by saying; I’m not in Birmingham, Alabama! I’m not in London! I have to start this yelling at my friends and family reading. I love you all. I just want you all to know where I really am. I started telling folk that I’m living in Birmingham and they assume Alabama knowing that I’m not even in the United States so I started just telling people London. I’m actually 2 hours and 30 minutes away from London. It’s lovely there. It looks just like how it looks on television. I’ve been there a couple of times.

As soon as I came to England I discovered that I had to learn a new version of my primary language. (Yes, It’s English I know) The English spoken here is very different from American English. The lingo, the phrases, the names of food, greetings, salutations, it’s all used differently. One week I spent days trying to get McDonald’s to give me jelly for my breakfast but I soon found that they only know the term Jam. When I’m walking to class people walk in a horizontal line on the sidewalk when they’re in groups. Just picture people moving like turtles and there’s no space for you to pass them on the sidewalk. I spend my time running to class like Will Smith in the pursuit of Happiness movie. England is lovely. The history, the historic cathedrals and buildings and the culture are all magnificent in sight. It’s surreal for a Black boy from the slumps of Arlington/Dallas Texas to even be here.

Fish and chips are kind of overrated to me. I haven’t eaten any that has made me fall in love yet. Birmingham, England is a beautiful city. It’s filled with Canals, buildings that are fine in architecture. It’s very easy to get around, though I haven’t completely figured out the bus system yet. I’m getting used to the military time. I always have to double check when I am scheduled to be somewhere. I look at a time like 17:30 and tilt my head like a German Shepard. The trick is to subtract 12 and I’d get the time I understand. Speaking of time, I’m still getting used to how Brits tell time out here. I’m not stupid and I know what the phrases mean, it’s just sometimes if it’s 5:30pm I wish someone would just say 5:30pm. When I ask for time I either get “Half past” or “Quarter till.” My response is always “Sooooo… __insert time here_?” If you look up in the sky you will usually see a grey sky. I think I can still count on 1 hand how many times I’ve seen a blue sky or maybe I’m exaggerating.

Being a Black Actor in the U.K. is fun, interesting and challenging. I’m grateful to have graduated from PVAMU, an HBCU (Historically Black College University) because it taught me so much about myself and my culture. I think If I came to any Predominantly white institution before my undergrad I would be unknowingly lost. My HBCU taught me how to be a H.O.T.T. (Humble, Open, Teachable, Tenacious) artist who knows that I have to work twice as hard as anyone not of color in this field just because I’m Black. It sucks being in a society where as 45 (Trump) says "They should be grateful for their success." Why must I be grateful for something I earned through hard work? I'm at the point as an actor where things are becoming second nature so I don't have to kill myself to accomplish certain things like I did in my undergrad. Dr. Cristal Chanelle Truscott, my acting coach/stage mom/mentor at PVAMU pushed my classmates to strive and be our best selves because of this.

I’m also the only Black American male in the whole drama school, let alone in my class. Drama school is amazing! My classmates are all dope and from different backgrounds with many stories to tell. We’re all from America too! So many unique individuals that I get to build wonderful relations with. We are usually in class from “Half past 8 till 18:00.” I have good and bad days. Some days I’m bouncing off the walls feeling like my child self and somedays I feel like no one really understands where I’m coming from. I’m speaking about the U.K. in general. I feel like only a couple of people have taken the time to get to know me, and I’m so far away from home so when I do talk to people that do know me I feel relieved. This is a temporary feeling though and I have 2 years here so I'm sure I'll leave with a new family. I spend most of my time living as other people (Which I love of course.)

I’m excited at where I am now as an actor and how much more I will learn just at this program. I’m excited at what I will bring to the program. I’m so happy to learn and grow every day. These are the steps that God has given me so that I can be what my heart seeks. Someone that the whole world will soon know.

Someone that will help as many people as I can find themselves.

Someone that will inspire the youth, hell and even adults to seek what the heart desires, to follow dreams. I pray about what I want to do and it happens.

I’m an athlete of the imagination. I’m a student of the human condition. I’m standing on my ancestors shoulders. I will be a star.

And like the late great playwright August Wilson said in his play The Piano Lesson

“If the train stays on the track… it’s going to get where it’s going.”

Till next time family! I'm gonna try to release a blog on my life in the U.K. every month (Or every other month). 

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Sharing Macbeth's Lament

Hello All,

I haven't posted anything in awhile. I just want all of you to know that I'm alive and breathing. I ran across this "Soliloquy" today while viewing some old emails. a Soliloquy (is an act of speaking one's thoughts aloud when by oneself or regardless of any hearers, especially by a character in a play).This is one of my favorites by William Shakespeare from the classical tragedy, Macbeth:

MACBETH. "She should have died hereafter; There would have been time for such a word. To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow, Creeps in this petty pace from day to day., To syllable of recorded time; And all our yesterdays have lighted fools The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle! Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player, That struts and frets his hour upon the stage, And then is heard no more. It is a tale Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing."

I really admire the organic, beautiful words that Shakespeare shares with us. These thoughts are dark but it is another experience that we all have probably thought about. When the world is weighing heavy and we feel like nothing has meaning. This is a great piece of literature that brings empathy. 

My message to you is: If you're in a dark place in your life, keep your head high and know that God gives his hardest battles to his strongest soldiers. Everything happens for a reason. I've entered dark places but I am now surrounded by light because I believed greater days were coming. By any means do not feel sorry for yourself. Look in the mirror, your life has meaning. Lastly, I want to tell you to fight for your dreams. Anything is possible because someone else has done it. There is no reason for you to think anything is practical. You're in my prayers.

Yours In The Arts,

CJ "MIDAS" Stewart

(FUN FACT: This is a photo of an African American male named Jack Carter, playing MACBETH in 1936. Thought I'd share this with you. You learn something new every day!.)