´óÏó´«Ã½

I got into a taxi earlier today to go interview the actress . The taxi driver was listening to Hugo Duncan and I found myself tapping along to the music as I was reading up on Lady Nunn (her official title since her husband Trevor Nunn was made a Lord). I then felt a bit car sick but put this down to reading in the back seat of the taxi rather than Hugo's choice of music!!!!! Honestly I am not a good traveller and usually always go for the front seat so I can scan the horizon!

When I looked up we were on the motorway, heading into the countryside for my firstÌývisitÌýto the . I asked the taxi driver could I put the window down, still feeling a bit wobbly, and as the wind blew in, I saw a tattered banner which had one word, Mill, slung haphazardly over the roof of a big pre fab.ÌýAre we here?

But he drove past and turned into Newtownabbey's impressive new venue at the back of the restored Mossley Mill.ÌýAnd even better, there was Imogen Stubbs waiting for me outside.ÌýShe's here to play Amanda Wingfield in a touring production of Tennessee Williams' . She tells me she and the cast just made it hereÌýlast night in one of the windows of non ash cloud disruption.ÌýNot so for the ´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio 4 producer she had arranged to meet this morning in Belfast toÌýrecord interviews for a programme she's frontingÌýon exam pressure on contemporary teenagers. The producer was grounded in London.ÌýAnd while she says she hasn't got the knack right yet for being a presenter, ie asking questions, "I'm tooÌýquick jumping in with my own opinion" she says, her passion is utterly engaging. Whether it's A levels,Ìýyoung women and binge drinking, the metropolitan arts world versus regional theatre, "I'm here aren't I?" putting her money where her mouth is, orÌýwhy there isn't a Play for Today on the ´óÏó´«Ã½Ìýany more, has me wishing she doesn't have to go and stand under a light on the stage for the techinical boys to check the cues for later or my taxi isn't waiting outside to take me back into Belfast.ÌýAnd yes Hugo is still on the radio when I get back in. "Uncle Shugo loves you".

You can see Imgoen Stubbs on stage at the Theatre at the Mill from tonight until saturday 9th May.ÌýÌýÌý