Althea Burey on The Smeds and The Smoos at Parr Hall

The last two years have not been easy for anyone – especially actors in the musical theatre industry.

That is no different for Althea Burey, who plays Janet Smed in The Smeds and The Smoos, a story that is being brought to life in play form at Parr Hall by Tall Stories.

Althea – who narrowly just got home from Malaysia before lockdown – is also a puppeteer for some of the other planets in the play, which explores the intergalactic tale of friendship and tolerance.

Having been out of work for so long in the industry and not able to work her part time job in the hospitality industry, just how do you survive in a time as such?

“It was really hard,” explained Althea.

“I had to go on Universal Credit as when I’m not performing, my downtime job is in hospitality in bars or front of house for theatres.

“Obviously because of that, there wasn’t anything that I could then go and do.

“It didn’t feel like there was an endpoint to be able to say I when I could go into work because the goalposts were being constantly moved.

“Everything moved online including self-tape auditions and everyone just wanted to keep the industry alive as much as they could.

"The flexibility that I got from the hospitality industry I couldn’t have in retail so I had no choice but to go on to Universal Credit.”

Althea, based in Manchester, planned on heading back to London, renting a flat and starting again with new opportunities.

She continued: “It really took a toll on my mental health, especially because I had such high hopes for when I was finishing the contract that I was on.

“It felt like all the opportunities had completely disappeared so it was a massive knock for me.

“It was almost like someone had pulled the plug in a sink and you can see it all spiralling and swirling down the plughole."

Althea thanked the Collective Creative Initiative hosted by Person Casting for providing free workshops for people in the performing arts industry.

“They really helped keep everyone going, keeping spirits up and keeping you fresh with skills,” added Althea.

“It was all on the basis of for when things open back up again and no one really knew when that was going to be.

“In some ways, it was really, really good to have the auditions to keep me active and to keep me going.

“But to not know whether or not this is going to happen or when was tough.

“I still think there is a lasting effect and a lingering feeling of thinking what if the plug gets pulled again? Because no one expected that to happen.

“There’s the thought that this is great and I’m working now, but what if it all stops again, can I have financially and mentally deal with that? It’s a bit tricky.”

The Smeds and The Smoos takes to Parr Hall this month

Althea is best pleased to be back in action

Althea – who was also supported by the self-employment income support scheme during this time – is trying to see it as the past now and she is enjoying being back in action.

The 29-year-old said: “It’s really good, especially after a long time which felt like an absolute lifetime not being able to work.

“It’s nice to come through it and see that as the past. I know a lot of people are still struggling and feeling the effects of Covid financially and mentally because I am myself, but it’s nice to see that everything is hopefully coming back to normality and the before-times.

“It makes it even sweeter to be back. It makes it really exciting and makes you appreciate it that much more.

“You don’t know what you have got until it’s gone, when it’s gone you really miss it and when it’s back you have a whole new appreciation for it.

“The importance of having understudies and swings to step in if needed and there is a lot more respect for them. I can’t emphasise the importance of them enough.

“It’s beautiful because we know what we can do so let’s work together to keep it going and growing.”

The Smeds and The Smoos takes place at Parr Hall on Saturday and Sunday, March 19 and 20.

Tickets are on sale now at parrhall.culturewarrington.org or call 01925 442345.